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Global NGO calls for the phase-out of hazardous chemicals used in plastic

2021-08-06


A Global NGO network, International Pollutants Elimination Network (IPEN), based on its research, has found levels of Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) in almost all the free-range chicken eggs it collected near plastic waste disposal sites in 14 developing countries.

Therefore, the network is calling on these countries’ governments to phase out the use of hazardous chemicals in plastics and also refuse permits for chemical recycling pyrolysis plants.

According to their research, the food chain in developing countries is at high risk of contamination, resulting from plastic waste exportation and disposal practices. IPEN also described free-range chicken eggs as active samplers often used for chemicals in soils due to the accumulation of POPs in them.

Their study collected eggs from 25 plastic waste disposal sites. These include e-waste dismantling operations, landfills and recycling plants in 14 countries in Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe and Latin America. The samples collected were discovered to contain levels of dioxin – a POP released when plastic is burned.

Other discovered contaminants include Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs), Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers (PBDEs) and Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFASs) such as Perfluorooctane Sulfonate (PFOS). Countries found to have the highest levels of PBDEs in egg samples per the research are Tanzania and Ghana, comparable with the most e-waste contaminated sites on record in China.

Some of the proffered recommendations by IPEN include:

  • Phasing out of the use of hazardous chemicals in plastic, including any new plastics treaty agreed by UN countries
  • Establishing a right to know regulation mandating companies to publicly disclose toxic additives in products
  • Banning the recycling of plastic materials containing POPs; and
  • Refusing permits for pyrolysis plants producing fuels and auditing existing chemical recycling plants claiming to produce outputs for plastic production.

IPEN also called on companies to halt the usage of toxic additives in plastics and invest more in plastic-free alternatives whenever possible.



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