Plastic fragments cover the planet. From the depths of the ocean to Arctic glaciers and even European mountain peaks, it’s become a major and growing issue. Much recent study has focused on how plastic items break down into smaller pieces in the environment and where those pieces end up. However, according to two new research, it’s not just the plastic parts that are an issue. Plastics that are still intact can emit tens of thousands of toxins into the environment. These pollutants, according to the study, are likely to end up in water and food.

Additives are responsible for a large number of these compounds. Pigments, fire retardants, and other additives are examples. They improve plastics by making them tougher, more colourful, or in some other way. Those additives, on the other hand, are not chemically bound to the plastic. That implies, through a process known as leaching, they can flow out and into the environment.

The majority of research on plastic contamination has been on pure plastic. These are the sorts that haven’t had any additives added to them yet. Both of the new experiments employed ordinary plastic bags and containers, replete with chemicals, in the same way that we do. These polymers can also release additional compounds as pollutants as a result of everyday use, according to new research.