Petrochemicals and Our Health

Petrochemicals and Our Health

PFAS are far from the only harmful chemicals threatening our communities and families. Petrochemicals, made from oil and natural gas, can be found in products that most of us have in our homes including plastics, cleaning products, cosmetics, clothing, and furniture. Many of these chemicals haven’t been tested for their effects on health and for those that have, scientists are increasingly alarmed at the damage many of these chemicals can cause.

A Growing Body of Research/Evidence

• A 2022 report revealed that chemical pollution has crossed a planetary boundary, the point at which human changes push the Earth past a stable environment.
• Scientific research has identified over 16,000 chemicals used in plastic and over a quarter of these chemicals can harm human health, including having devastating impacts on children.
• Plasticizers like phthalates and bisphenols have been linked to infertility, cancer and developmental harm yet are ubiquitous in plastics, building materials, food packaging, and even food.
• At any given moment up to 36 million pounds of toxic vinyl chloride, the same chemical that spilled in the disaster in East Palestine, are being shipped via rail across the United States.

Harmful Petrochemicals in Everyday Products

• Toxic flame retardants are still commonly used in electronics and building insulation despite evidence of neurodevelopmental harm caused by these chemicals and questions about whether they provide true fire safety benefits. In fact, in a recent peer-reviewed study toxic flame retardants were even found in black plastic toys, sushi containers and kitchen utensils that likely came from recycled electronics.
• Industrial solvents and solvents in common household items pollute the air we breathe and water we drink, even killing some who use them.
• Firefighters at front lines of exposure: Cancer is a leading cause of death among firefighters due to the high number of chemicals they are routinely exposed to.

States Are Helping to Create Safer Solutions

Common sense solutions are available and being implemented. States have eliminated harmful chemicals from furniture, clothing, food packaging, and more. To learn more about what states have done to protect our health, check out Safer States Bill Tracker.