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New Study Finds Toxic Chemicals in Both Recycled and Virgin PET Plastics

Environment
Articles & Research

A new peer-reviewed study published in Environmental Science: Processes & Impacts has raised important questions about the safety of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) — the plastic used in most disposable beverage bottles, many food packages, toys, pillows, and clothing.

Researchers from the Ecology Center, Defend Our Health, the Alliance of Mission-Based Recyclers, and Toronto Metropolitan University analyzed contaminants that leach out of both virgin PET (new plastic) and recycled PET (rPET) under real-world conditions.

What the researchers did

The team tested:

  • Soda and water bottles made from virgin PET and recycled PET

  • PET textiles, including children’s clothing, toys, and pillowcases

They screened these products for:

  • Known plastic additives (such as plasticizers and flame retardants)

  • “Non-intentionally added substances” (NIAS) — chemicals formed during manufacturing or recycling

  • Hormone-disrupting (endocrine) activity in cell-based assays

Key findings

The results show that both virgin and recycled PET can leach complex mixtures of chemicals.

  • Researchers identified dozens of chemicals, including 12 “persistent, mobile, and toxic” (PMT) additives, six organophosphate ester flame retardants, and 15 NIAS.

  • Recycled PET bottles frequently contained benzene, a known carcinogen, which did not show up the same way in virgin PET.

  • Virgin PET had its own signature contaminants, including higher levels of ethylene glycol–related compounds.

  • Some contaminants varied by location (for example, different chemical profiles in bottles purchased in Michigan versus California), reflecting differences in manufacturing and recycling streams.

  • When extracts from PET products were tested in the lab, they showed moderate to high hormone-receptor–blocking activity, suggesting possible endocrine-disrupting effects — and this was true for both virgin and recycled PET.

In short: recycling PET reduces waste but does not automatically make plastic safer for food contact or for our bodies.

Why this matters for anticancer living

Many people choose recycled plastic thinking it is the “healthier” or more environmentally friendly option. This study suggests a more complicated reality:

  • Recycled PET can bring in additional contaminants from previous uses and the recycling process itself.

  • Virgin PET also leaches chemicals — including some that had not been documented in this way before.

  • Because PET is widely used for food and drink packaging and textiles that touch our skin, these leaching chemicals may contribute to everyday exposures that can affect hormone health and long-term disease risk.

How ACLP can help you lower exposure

In our Environment module and related resources, we offer practical ways to reduce contact with problem plastics like PET, including:

  • Choosing glass or stainless steel for water and food storage whenever possible

  • Cutting back on single-use plastic beverage bottles

  • Being selective with children’s textiles and toys, favoring natural fibers when you can

  • Using our checklists and guides to simplify safer swaps in your home

This new research reinforces a core Anticancer Lifestyle Program message: progress, not perfection. You don’t have to remove every piece of plastic from your life, but small, consistent steps to reduce plastic exposure — especially around food and kids — can meaningfully lower your toxic burden over time.

Further reading (for those who want to dive deeper):