Ban use of toxic chemicals in plastic pellets, says consumer group

Ban use of toxic chemicals in plastic pellets, says consumer group

The Consumers' Association of Penang says the chemicals pose a threat to the environment and people.

The Consumers’ Association of Penang says plastic pellets containing toxic chemicals have been found on beaches all over the world, including Malaysia.
PETALING JAYA:
The use of toxic chemicals in plastic pellets should be banned as they pose a threat to the environment and people, a consumer group said.

The Consumers’ Association of Penang (CAP) said the plastic pellets were known to leak during the production and transportation of plastic material and are found on beaches all over the world, including Malaysia.

“The health effects associated with these chemicals include causing cancer or changing hormone activity which can lead to reproductive, growth and cognitive impairment,” its president, Mohideen Abdul Kader, said in a statement.

He said that plastic pellets acted as “toxic sponges” and drew pollutants to them and could enter the food chains of fish that eat them, leading to negative impacts on the ecosystem.

“More than 220 marine species have been shown to eat microplastics like plastic pellets as well as other plastic debris,” he said.

Mohideen also called on the authorities to ban the import of plastic waste, minimise the use of plastics and promulgate laws governing the production, use, recycling and disposal of all plastics.

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