Plastics, additives, human health and taking action on chemicals of concern

This briefing from the Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment and Environmental Defence urges the Government of Canada to prioritize human health by regulating plastic additives and precursors. It advocates for a class-based approach to managing chemicals like phthalates and bisphenols, strengthening the Plastics Registry, and supporting legally-binding provisions in a global treaty to phase out chemicals of concern.

• The document asserts that many of the 16,000 chemicals found in plastics are linked to exposure-related diseases, including reproductive harms, endocrine disruption, and cancers, resulting in billions of dollars in health care costs for governments.
• The authors recommend that the Government of Canada prioritize specific classes of plastic additives and precursors in its Chemicals Management and Priority Planning processes, specifically naming heavy metals, flame retardants, PFAS, bisphenols, and phthalates.
• Specific health risks are associated with different additive classes: phthalates are linked to asthma and neurodevelopmental disorders; bisphenols to breast cancer and diabetes; PFAS to liver damage and thyroid disease; flame retardants to lowered IQ and hyperactivity in children; and fillers, colourants, and heavy metals to central nervous system effects and bone fractures.
• The briefing proposes several domestic policy tools, including expanding the Plastics Registry to include additives, prohibiting harmful additives and recycled content in food contact packaging, and increasing safety testing at ports of entry to prevent Canada from becoming a dumping ground for plastics rejected by US Customs.
• Regarding international efforts, the document urges Canada to support globally legally-binding provisions in the Treaty, such as a "negative list" annex and a timeline for the worldwide phase-out of chemicals, polymers, and products of concern.

APA

Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment (n.d.). Plastics, additives, human health and taking action on chemicals of concern. https://cape.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Backgrounder_Plastics_Additives_and_Human_Health_ED_CAPE_BCAQ_WHEN.pdf

Chicago

Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment. Plastics, additives, human health and taking action on chemicals of concern. n.d. https://cape.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Backgrounder_Plastics_Additives_and_Human_Health_ED_CAPE_BCAQ_WHEN.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment |title=Plastics, additives, human health and taking action on chemicals of concern |url=https://cape.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Backgrounder_Plastics_Additives_and_Human_Health_ED_CAPE_BCAQ_WHEN.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{canadianassociationofphysiciansfortheenvironmentndplastics, author = {{Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment}}, title = {{Plastics, additives, human health and taking action on chemicals of concern}}, institution = {Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment}, url = {https://cape.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Backgrounder_Plastics_Additives_and_Human_Health_ED_CAPE_BCAQ_WHEN.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }