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U.S. EPA finds that the production of PET plastic poses an “unreasonable risk” to workers and fenceline communities from release of cancer-causing 1,4-dioxane

PET plastic use for beverage bottles and polyester clothing must be phased out

This week a panel of independent scientists began review of a draft supplemental risk evaluation prepared by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for a toxic chemical known as 1,4-dioxane. The production of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic is the largest source of environmental releases of 1,4-dioxane, according to industry self-reporting (see Table 1, page 7). 

1,4-dioxane, which is a cancer-causing chemical, poses an “unreasonable risk” to the health of PET plastics workers and to community residents whose drinking water has been polluted by discharges from PET plastics factories, according to EPA’s draft risk evaluation. 1,4-dioxane is discharged to waterways and emitted to the air by twelve PET plastics and related chemical plants located in the Southeast and Gulf Coast of the United States. 

Once EPA finalizes its “unreasonable risk” determination for 1,4-dioxane, the agency has two years to adopt a final rule to reduce or eliminate exposures so that the chemical no longer presents a risk to vulnerable populations, under the Toxics Substances Control Act, which was strengthened by Congress in 2016.

In response to EPA’s risk assessment for 1,4-dioxane, Defend Our Health, a nonprofit public health and social justice organization, issued the following statement from Chris Chavis, Vice President of Programs and Policy:

“Once again, the best available science shows that petrochemical plastics can’t be produced without endangering the health of workers and fenceline community members. No one should have to pay this tragic price for the beverage industry’s addiction to disposable plastic bottles and the fashion industry’s polyester obsession. We applaud the U.S. EPA for documenting the unacceptable cancer risk that results from PET plastic production. 

EPA’s conclusion marks an important milestone toward fully protecting human health and ensuring environmental justice for those harmed by PET plastic production. 

EPA must next act swiftly to eliminate the “unreasonable risk” posed by 1,4-dioxane pollution from the PET plastics industry. This plastics risk disproportionately impacts the vulnerable communities of color and low-income people. No one should bear the risk of getting sick, disabled, or suffering an early death because they were born and raised near a plastics factory.

To solve this health threat, we call on the U.S. EPA to phase out the production of PET plastic and polyester over time in favor of safer solutions. This plastic is simply too dangerous to make for the millions of people who live, work and play in the shadow of these petrochemical factories. To eliminate the “unreasonable risk” posed by 1,4-dioxane, EPA must phase out single-use packaging made of PET plastic and replace remaining uses with safer, more sustainable materials.”

Defend Our Health submitted written comments and testified this week before EPA’s Science Advisory Committee on Chemicals on the Draft Supplemental Risk Evaluation for 1,4-Dioxane.