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Assessment of The Environmental and Human Health Impacts of Plastic Additives Used in Plastic Manufacturing in Vietnam
Summary
As Vietnam's plastic industry booms, this review paper looks at how chemical additives in plastics—like phthalates and bisphenols, which are added to make plastic more flexible or durable—can leak into air, soil, water, and household dust during manufacturing, everyday use, and disposal. People end up exposed to these chemicals by breathing them in, swallowing them, or absorbing them through skin, which raises health concerns since many of these additives have been linked to hormone disruption and other health risks. The takeaway: cutting down on toxic additives, being more transparent about what's in plastic products, and improving recycling could help protect both
The plastics manufacturing industry in Vietnam has expanded rapidly, reaching nearly 11.13 million tons by 2025, leading to the widespread use of additives such as phthalates, bisphenols, flame retardants, heavy metal stabilizers, etc. Although these substances improve the properties of plastic products, they pose serious risks to the environment and human health. This study surveys the current status of plastic additive use in Vietnam, classifies the main types of additives, examines their emission mechanisms into the environment through production, use, and disposal stages, and assesses their impacts on air, soil, water, and human health. The results show that plastic additives can be emitted through industrial emissions, waste incineration emissions, leachate, microplastics, and indoor dust; leading to environmental pollution, bioaccumulation, and human exposure through inhalation, ingestion, and skin contact. The study also proposes several management solutions, alternative technologies, and policies, such as applying green chemistry, regulating the concentrations of toxic substances, ensuring transparency in the chemical composition of plastic products, and improving the collection and recycling of plastic waste. These measures aim to minimize the use of toxic additives, thereby limiting negative impacts on the environment and public health.