The chemical dangers of plastics are highlighted in a scientific report.
Keystone / Rungroj Yongrit
A study of plastic, co-authored by the Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology (Empa), has laid out the chemical toxicity of plastics.
This content was published on
1 minute
swissinfo.ch/mga
Español
es
Un informe destaca el peligro de las sustancias químicas en los plásticos
“A quarter of them have been shown to be problematic, and we know far too little about another 50%”, said Empa researchers Zhanyun Wang and Narain Ashta.
The chemicals take the form of solvents used in manufacturing of plastics and additives, such as flame retardants.
Ten of the chemicals are extremely hazardous as they can easily be released into the environment.
Plastic products used in agriculture and fishing, as well as toys, food packaging, electronic devices, furniture, textiles, vehicles, building materials are particularly problematic.
“Chemicals in plastic are a hidden danger that can impact public health and the environment at the global scale,” Wang and Ashta explain. “Their use should be regulated under international treaties.”
The report was released on World Environment Day on Monday, which is dedicated to the fight against plastic pollution.
More
More
Polluting particles from car tyres – how worried should we be?
This content was published on
Our vehicles shed tyre particles every time we drive, and they’re everywhere. How do the microplastics affect our health and environment?
Train vs plane: would you take a direct train between London and Geneva?
Eurostar is planning to run direct trains from Britain to Germany and Switzerland from the early 2030s. Would you favour the train over the plane? If not, why not?
Man charged with flying drone at women’s Euro 2025
This content was published on
A man flew a drone around the venue on Wednesday evening during the first match of the Women's EURO 2025 in St. Gallen. The 30-year-old violated the absolute ban on flying during match days. He was reported to the police.
More than 250 Swiss companies sign CO2 reduction initiative
This content was published on
A total of 257 companies from Switzerland have signed up to the Science Based Targets Initiative (SBTi). In doing so, they are committing to CO2 reduction targets that are compatible with the Paris Climate Agreement.
Swiss accident prevention group sees federal targets at risk
This content was published on
The Swiss government's target for accident figures is at risk, reckons Mario Cavegn, member of the executive board of the Swiss Council for Accident Prevention.
Feminicide: Swiss justice minister calls for electronic monitoring
This content was published on
Swiss Justice Minister Beat Jans has called for electronic monitoring and an ankle bracelet warning system for perpetrators of violence against women.
This content was published on
American artist Chaka Khan ‘and friends’ opened the 59th Montreux Jazz Festival on Friday. For over three hours, their show, dedicated to their friend and mentor Quincy Jones, thrilled the audience,
Consumers snubbed plastic bags after charge imposed
This content was published on
The introduction of a small fee for plastic bags in shops has had a dramatic effect on the number of bags being used by consumers.
Polluting particles from car tyres – how worried should we be?
This content was published on
Our vehicles shed tyre particles every time we drive, and they’re everywhere. How do the microplastics affect our health and environment?
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.