Statement by Karen Wirsig, Senior Program Manager, Plastics

Toronto | Treaty Lands and Territory of the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation, and the traditional territory of the Anishinaabeg, the Haudenosaunee, and the Wendat – A new study of 28 people from across North America found microplastic particles in the blood of all but one participant, confirming the urgent need to reduce our everyday exposure to plastic. The likely sources reflect the degree to which plastics have colonized our everyday lives, including contact with food packaging, synthetic clothing and electronic devices.

To date, governments have taken almost no steps to reduce the amount of contact between people and plastic. Medical research has been slow to keep up with the impacts of exposure to plastics, which has been increasing for nearly a century around the world as more and more consumer products are made from the material. While correlations between exposures and health harms are starting to emerge, we should not wait for definitive evidence linking exposure to plastics with the onset of specific diseases before taking preventive action.

Governments in Canada and around the world must take a precautionary approach and require the companies that sell everyday products to eliminate unnecessary plastics, particularly packaging, and provide full disclosure on the types of plastics and related chemicals in their products. Actions must include eliminating unnecessary single-use plastics and toxic chemical additives while supporting the shift to safe refillable alternatives.

ABOUT ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENCE (environmentaldefence.ca): Environmental Defence is a leading Canadian environmental advocacy organization that works with government, industry and individuals to defend clean water, a safe climate and healthy communities.

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For more information or to request an interview, please contact:

Carolyn Townend, Environmental Defence
media@environmentaldefence.ca