Plastic Products Leach Chemicals That Induce <i>In Vitro</i> Toxicity under Realistic Use Conditions

Plastic products contain complex mixtures of extractable chemicals that can be toxic. However, humans and wildlife will only exposed to plastic are released under realistic conditions. Thus, we investigated the toxicological chemical profiles leaching into water from 24 everyday covering eight polymer types. We performed migration experiments over 10 days at 40 °C analyzed migrates using four in vitro bioassays nontarget high-resolution mass spectrometry (UPLC-QTOF-MSE). All induced baseline toxicity, 22 an oxidative stress response, 13 antiandrogenicity, one estrogenicity. Overall, between 17 8681 relevant features were present migrates. In other words, 1 88% associated with product migrating. Further, tentatively identified ?8% all detected implying most remain unknown. While low-density polyethylene, polyvinyl chloride, polyurethane endpoints, a generalization for materials is not possible. Our results demonstrate readily leach many more than previously known, some which toxic vitro. This highlights currently considered public health science policies.