Plastics and Toxic Chemical Mixtures: Understanding NIAS and the Emerging Health Concerns

 

Introduction

Plastics are not just polymers but far more complex, they are a sophisticated blend of additives, byproducts, and impurities. These include non-intentionally added substances (NIAS), a term describing impurities, degradation products, and reaction byproducts unintentionally present in plastic materials. Increasingly, science reveals that the chemicals in plastics such as bisphenols and phthalates pose significant health concerns for both humans and the environment. In fact, in the United States,
bisphenol and phthalate compounds have been detected in over 90% of people tested.[LINK]

 

This report explains why understanding the composition and toxicity of plastics is crucial, especially those used in food contact materials, and how advanced analytical approaches like PLS regression support this effort.

 

Why It Matters

 

1. Ubiquity of Harmful Chemicals in Plastics

 

  • Plastics are a main source of exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs), notably bisphenols like BPA and phthalates
  • More than 13,000 chemicals have been identified in plastics, with many more yet to be discovered. A significant proportion are EDCs, which are known for disrupting hormone regulation and leading to diverse health problems
  • Non-intentionally added substances (NIAS)— such as remnants from manufacturing, degradation products, and reaction byproducts—are often overlooked but commonly present and contribute to the overall toxicity of plastic materials. 

 

2. Health Risks: Endocrine and Metabolic Disruption

 

  • Studies confirm over 90% of humans have measurable levels of bisphenols and phthalates due to widespread use in food packaging and other everyday items
  • These substances disrupt the endocrine system, resulting in increased risks of:
    • Cancer
    • Diabetes and obesity
    • Reproductive and developmental problems
    • Neurological disorders in children
  • Bisphenols and phthalates are also classified as Metabolism Disrupting Chemicals (MDCs), which promote metabolic disorders—obesity, type 2 diabetes, and related non-communicable diseases. MDCs can act through nuclear receptors such as PPARĪ³, PXR, and ERĪ±, directly impacting energy homeostasis.

 

3. Chemical Complexity in Plastic Food Packaging

 

  • Plastics used for food packaging—such as Polyvinyl chloride (PVC), Polyurethane (PUR), and Low-Density Polyethylene (LDPE)—often contain numerous additives and breakdown products
  • The mixture of chemicals in these materials can activate multiple hormone receptors, indicating the potential for combined—and possibly amplified—toxicity
  • Research shows that food contact articles can leach active compounds, with most methanolic polymer extracts testing positive for receptor activation in cell-based assays

 

4. PLS Regression for Toxicity Analysis

 

  • The enormous chemical complexity in plastics makes it difficult to directly assess health risks of individual compounds.
  • Partial Least Squares (PLS) regression is a promising tool to analyze complex chemical mixtures and their biological activities
  • . It connects experimental data from receptor assays with the presence and concentration of specific chemicals, allowing identification of features driving toxicity.

 

Implications

 

  • Food packaging is a significant source of chemicals that interfere with metabolic health and endocrine function in humans. Exposure to these chemicals—especially from PVC, PUR, and LDPE—can disturb energy balance and promote diseases.
  • Most plastic packaging contains multiple, sometimes unknown, chemicals; those with more chemically simple compositions tend to be less toxic. Nonetheless, more research is needed to identify and monitor all active compounds within plastics.
  • Microplastics and nanoplastics can also leach EDCs, enlarging the scope of chemical exposure and associated health risks
  • Advanced analytical techniques—like PLS regression, reporter-gene assays, and high-throughput screening—allow us to better characterize the chemical makeup of plastics, relate their profiles to biological effects, and identify the most hazardous compounds 

 

Conclusion

 

Plastic products—especially those used in food contact—can represent a major, underappreciated source of toxic chemical exposure. From NIAS to established contaminants like bisphenols and phthalates, these substances disrupt hormone systems and metabolic health, increasing risks for a wide array of chronic diseases.

 

Improving the safety of plastic products requires:

 

  • Better identification and monitoring of chemical components in finished goods.
  • New designs for simpler, less toxic plastic formulations.
  • Continued research to fill knowledge gaps about health risks.
  • Regulatory action to limit hazardous chemicals in consumer plastics. 

 

The path forward: Enhanced chemical analysis and toxicity testing—using PLS regression and related methods—will enable more effective monitoring, awareness, and ultimately, protection of human health in a world full of plastics.

Location: Chandigarh, India