Researchers Identify 4,200+ ‘Chemicals of Concern’ in Plastics

Toxic Endanger Humans and the Environment

A 2025 Nature study by researchers at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology explores the scope of plastics. It finds over 4,200 “chemicals of concern” that could be toxic to the aquatic environment or human health out of 16,325 unique chemicals that are present in plastics.

1. Of 16,325 unique chemicals, about 25% (or 4,219) were “chemicals of concern” based on four hazard criteria: persistence, bioaccumulation, mobility, and toxicity.

2. The 4,219 figure could be an underestimate given that 10,726 plastic chemicals “lack official hazard classifications by regulatory agencies or industry.”

3. Polyethylene terephthalate (or PET) had the most detected chemicals of concern (472), of which 143 have evidence for being released into foodstuffs and other avenues for human contact.

4. Of the chemicals of concern, about 65% (or 2,760) were classified as toxic to the aquatic environment.

5. About 57% (or 2,421) of the chemicals of concern were classified as toxic to human health. These included 1,774 with toxicity for specific organs; 1,489 as carcinogenic, mutagenic, or toxic for reproduction; and 47 as endocrine-disrupting chemicals.

Sources:

• Mapping the chemical complexity of plastics - Nature Study