Report: Thousands More Chemicals in Plastics than Estimated

Report: Thousands More Chemicals in Plastics than Estimated

　　A recently released report from European scientists says there are 16,000 chemicals in plastic materials around the world.

　　The report said not enough is known about the safety of all those chemicals. They estimate that about 25 percent of these chemicals are possibly harmful to human health or the environment.

　　The Norwegian Research Council supported the creation of the report. It was released as officials are negotiating a United Nations treaty on plastic pollution. The U.N. estimates 400 million metric tons of plastic waste are produced every year.

　　Jane Muncke helped write the report. She is with the Swiss nonprofit Food Packaging Forum¹. She said to deal with plastic pollution, people must look at the "full life cycle of plastics."

　　Researchers fear chemicals from plastics can spread into water and food.

　　Muncke said, "We're finding hundreds, if not thousands, of plastic chemicals in people now and some of them have been linked to adverse² health outcomes."

　　Activists³ say such effects include possible harm to the reproductive system and cardiovascular disease.

　　Martin Wagner is the lead writer of the study. He is an environmental scientist at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology. He said researchers find hundreds, if not thousands, of chemicals in everyday products when they look for them.

　　Kimberly Wise White is with the American Chemistry Council, an industry group. She said the findings "ignore real-world exposures." She added the findings "paint an incomplete picture" for policy makers⁴ and the public. The plastics industry has said any worldwide treaty should support recycling and re-use of plastic.

　　But the writers of the recent report said that only dealing⁵ with plastic waste does not go far enough. They said there is a need for more information on chemicals in plastics, including recycled products. About 25 percent of the chemicals found lacked information on their chemical identity, the report said.

　　Wagner said the problem "is the chemical complexity⁶ of plastics." He is a leading member of the Scientists' Coalition⁷ for an Effective Plastics Treaty. It is an organization of scientists and experts seeking to advise the plastics treaty process.

　　Wagner said, "Often producers don't really know which kind of chemicals they have in their products and that comes from very complex value chains."

　　Six percent of the chemicals found in plastics are regulated internationally. Wagner said that without regulations, there is no reason for companies to identify what is in the plastics.

　　Last year, the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) said there were around 13,000 chemicals in plastics.

　　Negotiations⁸ will continue in Ottawa, Canada. The aim is to finish a version of a treaty by December in the South Korean city of Busan.

　　Words in This Story

　　life cycle – n. the series of changes that a product might go through form when it is made to when its use is over

　　adverse – adj. bad or unfavorable: not good

　　cardiovascular – adj. of or relating to the heart and blood vessels⁹

　　exposure – n. the fact or condition of being affected¹⁰ by something or experiencing something

　　recycle – v. to make something new from (something that has been used before)

　　regulate – v. to make rules or laws that control (something)

1 forum   

n.论坛，讨论会

参考例句：

• They're holding a forum on new ways of teaching history.他们正在举行历史教学讨论会。
• The organisation would provide a forum where problems could be discussed.这个组织将提供一个可以讨论问题的平台。

2 adverse   

adj.不利的；有害的；敌对的，不友好的

参考例句：

• He is adverse to going abroad.他反对出国。
• The improper use of medicine could lead to severe adverse reactions.用药不当会产生严重的不良反应。

3 activists   

n.（政治活动的）积极分子，活动家( activist的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• His research work was attacked by animal rights activists . 他的研究受到了动物权益维护者的抨击。
• Party activists with lower middle class pedigrees are numerous. 党的激进分子中有很多出身于中产阶级下层。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 makers   

n.制造者，制造商（maker的复数形式）

参考例句：

• The makers of the product assured us that there had been no sacrifice of quality. 这一产品的制造商向我们保证说他们没有牺牲质量。
• The makers are about to launch out a new product. 制造商们马上要生产一种新产品。 来自《简明英汉词典》

5 dealing   

n.经商方法，待人态度

参考例句：

• This store has an excellent reputation for fair dealing.该商店因买卖公道而享有极高的声誉。
• His fair dealing earned our confidence.他的诚实的行为获得我们的信任。

6 complexity   

n.复杂(性)，复杂的事物

参考例句：

• Only now did he understand the full complexity of the problem.直到现在他才明白这一问题的全部复杂性。
• The complexity of the road map puzzled me.错综复杂的公路图把我搞糊涂了。

7 coalition   

n.结合体，同盟，结合，联合

参考例句：

• The several parties formed a coalition.这几个政党组成了政治联盟。
• Coalition forces take great care to avoid civilian casualties.联盟军队竭尽全力避免造成平民伤亡。

8 negotiations   

协商( negotiation的名词复数 )； 谈判； 完成（难事）； 通过

参考例句：

• negotiations for a durable peace 为持久和平而进行的谈判
• Negotiations have failed to establish any middle ground. 谈判未能达成任何妥协。

9 vessels   

n.血管( vessel的名词复数 )；船；容器；（具有特殊品质或接受特殊品质的）人

参考例句：

• The river is navigable by vessels of up to 90 tons. 90 吨以下的船只可以从这条河通过。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• All modern vessels of any size are fitted with radar installations. 所有现代化船只都有雷达装置。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

10 affected   

adj.不自然的，假装的

参考例句：

• She showed an affected interest in our subject.她假装对我们的课题感到兴趣。
• His manners are affected.他的态度不自然。