The Impact of Persistent Organic Pollutants in Plastics on the Reproductive Health of Women and Children

 

Investigation: Ahmed Abdel Halim

 

Amid growing scientific evidence and international warnings, concerns are growing about the health risks posed by persistent organic pollutants (POPs) found in plastics. These dangerous chemicals, including phthalates, are a group of industrial chemicals used in the composition of plastics, along with other substances widely used as plasticizers (substances that make plastic softer and more flexible when molded), particularly in polyvinyl chloride (PVC), as well as in other products such as cosmetics, paints, and adhesives. Phthalates that are released from polyethylene during reuse are considered endocrine disruptors because they can interfere with natural hormones in the body.

 

A global threat to hormones and health.

 

The International Pollutants Elimination Network (IPEN) has issued an urgent warning about organic pollutants in plastics, particularly endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs). It also emphasized that these pollutants, even at low concentrations, pose a direct threat to public health and the hormonal systems of men and women, increasing the risk of chronic diseases such as cancer, diabetes, and immune diseases. The network highlights their extreme danger to children and fetuses, as they are transmitted through the placenta and breast milk, causing hormonal imbalances that affect fertility, reproductive problems, and breast and ovarian cancers. IPEN calls on governments and international organizations to take decisive action to reduce these substances and promote safe alternatives to ensure the protection of future generations.

 

In a related context, Al Rowad Foundation for Projects and Development has focused its efforts on raising awareness of the risks of persistent organic pollutants found in plastics. To prevent these risks and their health impacts, the foundation is working to find and promote sustainable alternatives.

 

The risks of misuse and the impact of metals.

 

Prof. Dr. Mr. Mahmoud Hammad, Professor of Nutrition and Food Sciences at the National Institute of Nutrition and an international auditor of food safety regulations, emphasized the need for strict adherence to the codes specified for each type of plastic and safe storage conditions. He pointed out that the real problem with plastic does not lie in its presence, but rather in its misuse and non-compliant types, especially in products that come into contact with human food, cosmetics, children’s clothing, and toys. He explained that heavy metal residues and ferrocene are among the most dangerous toxins that migrate from plastic to food, especially during prolonged storage, at high temperatures, or in contact with acidic and alkaline foods. These substances, particularly cadmium and lead, have negative effects on the nervous system and increase the risk of cancer in the long term. He emphasized that this also applies to plastic toys and baby teethers. Therefore, it is important to ensure that products meet standard specifications before purchasing and using them to protect our children’s health.

 

Fresh foods protect against packaging risks.

 

Dr. Hammad pointed to the increasing health risks resulting from the leaching of chemicals and heavy metals from various packaging materials, such as plastic, paper, and aluminum foil. He called for adopting a nutritional approach that relies primarily on fresh, unpackaged foods. He emphasized that reducing the concentrations of these substances that may reach the body should be a top priority. He emphasized that excessive reliance on processed, canned, and packaged products, especially ready-made children’s snacks, poses a risk to public health.

 

Tips to protect your health before consumption.

 

The nutrition professor offers essential advice to consumers to ensure food safety, emphasizing the importance of carefully reading food labels to verify ingredients and warnings, examining the quality of packaging materials and ensuring they comply with international standards, and seeking products from certified companies. He also emphasizes the need to check storage conditions and expiration dates upon purchase, ensuring that the product is displayed at the appropriate temperature, and the importance of storing it refrigerated or frozen according to instructions and protecting it from direct sunlight to avoid high temperatures in plastic containers and increased leakage of harmful substances. He emphasizes the importance of following proper food preparation and consumption guidelines, and storing leftovers properly to ensure their safety and quality.

 

Threat to reproductive health and fetuses.

 

Dr. Samia Galal Saad, a professor at the Higher Institute of Public Health in Alexandria and a United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) consultant, emphasized that the health risks of plastic compounds stem from two main sources. Microplastics are formed from the breakdown of polymer chains, a process that accelerates particularly during plastic recycling, making recycled products more concentrated with these tiny particles. She noted that scientific research is currently focusing on studying the effects of these particles on human health, especially when they migrate from containers that come into contact with food and beverages and are transferred to them. Studies have also demonstrated the ability of these particles to penetrate the placenta surrounding the fetus and to be present in male semen, exposing fetuses to the risk of birth defects. Studies have also shown similar damage to major organs in adults, most of which remain unknown, but research suggests that microplastics may cause sudden death syndrome. The Risks of Plastic Plasticizers The UN Environment expert also pointed out the serious health impact resulting from the transfer of chemical compounds added to plastics, especially “plasticizers,” to the food and medicines we consume, and that these Chemicals migrate from plastic containers to their contents. This phenomenon is exacerbated when the plastic is exposed to heat or sunlight. She emphasized that prolonged storage of food or medicine in plastic increases the chances of these chemicals migrating. She noted the need to pay attention to the type of plastic used, as not all types of plastic are safe for food contact. She noted that prominent examples of these migrating compounds include bisphenol A (BPA), which is found in some plastic water bottles and metal cans; phthalates; plasticizers widely used to increase plastic flexibility and are used in various industries; and styrene, which is often found in lightweight foam containers such as fast-food boxes. These warnings summarize the importance of being aware of the type of plastic we handle and how to use it to protect our health and safety.

 

Impact on Human Health and the Environment.

 

Dr. Samia explained that the hidden risks of plastic pollution to human health and the environment stem from these materials, which contain invisible toxins. The potential health effects go beyond visible pollution, including hormonal disturbances, as they negatively impact fertility and endocrine function, as well as growth and development problems in children and infants, an increased risk of cancer, and negative effects on the liver, kidneys, and nervous system. BPA, a common substance in our lives, also hinders the absorption of vitamin D, which negatively impacts calcium absorption, weakens bones, and increases the risk of fractures, especially in women. A recent American study shows that levels of this substance in our bodies are 44 times higher than expected, due to outdated measurement methods. On the environmental front, Dr. Samia emphasized that plastic pollution is a critical environmental threat, as it contaminates water and soil and takes hundreds of years to decompose, transforming into tiny particles known as microplastics. These particles accumulate in the food chain and ultimately reach humans. In addition, the plastic manufacturing process and unsafe waste disposal lead to increased greenhouse gas emissions, exacerbating the problem of climate change. Therefore, we must all adopt more responsible and safer consumption behaviors to protect our health and our planet.

 

Critical recommendations.

 

Dr. Samia emphasized the importance of taking decisive measures to mitigate the growing risks of microplastics to human health. She outlined several key recommendations for reducing exposure to these particles, highlighting the need to exercise caution when using plastic containers, even those labeled “food-safe.” She emphasized that these classifications do not prevent the formation of microplastics with frequent use. She also advised against heating food in plastic containers, especially in the microwave. Her advice extended to not storing food in plastic containers, even inside the refrigerator, due to the potential presence of microplastics in their walls from the manufacturing stage, especially when recycled plastic is mixed with new plastic. She called for supporting legislation that limits the use of single-use plastics, promoting safe recycling initiatives, and developing environmentally friendly alternatives. She emphasized the crucial point of not allowing the use of recycled plastic in the manufacture of food or medicine packaging materials, and instead recommended relying on it in the manufacture of plastic products that do not come into contact with food. Health risks and the need for control. Dr. Elham Refaat Abdel Aziz, environmental expert, member of the International Pollutants Elimination Network (IPEN), former national focal point for the Stockholm Convention, member of the International Persistent Organic Pollutants Review Committee (POPRC), and former Director General of the Hazardous Substances and Waste Department at the Ministry of Environment, confirmed that persistent organic pollutants (POPs) are industrial chemicals or by-products of some processes, known for their high ability to remain in the environment for long periods and their resistance to biological and chemical decomposition. These pollutants pose a serious threat to human health, especially to the endocrine glands of women and children, due to their ability to accumulate in living organisms and move through food chains, which increases their danger when present in plastic. She pointed out that these persistent organic pollutants, which are used as flame retardants and increase the flexibility of plastics, such as phthalates and flame retardants, are known as endocrine disruptors (EDCs), which requires reducing exposure to them, developing safe alternatives, and tightening control over the manufacture and use.

 

Plastic products to protect current and future generations.

 

The environmental expert pointed out the danger of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) as environmental pollutants that accumulate in the food chain, affecting growth, development, and reproductive functions, and increasing the risk of cancer. Children and pregnant women are most at risk; women suffer from reproductive disorders, and these pollutants are transmitted to infants through breastfeeding, with evidence suggesting a link to breast and ovarian cancer. Early exposure to POPs also leads to neurological and hormonal developmental problems and an increased risk of chronic diseases later in life. She concluded by emphasizing the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) recommendations to reduce the use of these compounds, intensify international efforts to develop safe alternatives, and tighten controls on the manufacture and use of plastic products, with the goal of protecting public health and preserving the environment in the long term.

 

Microplastics infiltrate the human ovary.

 

While a recent scientific study revealed the presence of tiny plastic particles (microplastics) for the first time in the human ovarian fluid of Italian women, which raised the concern of the organization “Greenpeace Middle East and North Africa”, which considered this Discovering a new, dangerous chapter in the plastic pollution crisis, Farah Al-Hattab, Greenpeace’s plastics campaigner, expressed her shock at the penetration of these particles into the most private and essential areas of the human body. She emphasized that the presence of plastic in the material that embraces prenatal life is an alarm bell that the world cannot ignore, given that the Middle East and North Africa region has the highest per capita rate of plastic leakage into the marine environment. Greenpeace renewed its call for a strong and binding global treaty to limit the production of single-use plastics, and called on individuals to reduce their exposure to plastic in their daily lives, emphasizing that the battle against plastic is a battle for our right to a healthy life and a livable future. On August 4, 2025, just before the final and decisive round of negotiations for the Global Plastic Treaty in Geneva, Greenpeace Middle East and North Africa issued a statement calling on the region’s leaders to take a unified and bold stance. In its statement, Greenpeace emphasized that the plastic pollution crisis is no longer just an environmental issue, but a public health emergency threatening societies, economies, and ecosystems in the region. The organization also called on Middle East and North Africa leaders to demand a strong treaty that includes four key objectives: reducing plastic production, banning single-use plastic products, setting ambitious reuse targets, and providing financing mechanisms to support countries in the Global South in implementing the treaty. Greenpeace considered these negotiations a historic opportunity to eliminate the plastic pollution crisis and protect the health of people and the future of the region.

 

Recommendations and solutions to reduce plastic pollution in Egypt.

 

The recommendations for addressing the plastic pollution problem in Egypt aim to: For policymakers and decision-makers, it is recommended to enact national legislation on the plastic lifecycle, from manufacturing to safe waste disposal. It is also recommended to adhere to minimal levels of persistent organic pollutants (POPs), and to attempt to establish threshold limits for POPs, particularly BPA and phthalates, in plastics and food packaging. It is also recommended to establish standards for “food-safe” materials, ban or restrict the use of recycled plastics in packaging, especially for food and medicine, and fund national research to study the levels of plastic pollution in humans and the Egyptian environment. Regarding community awareness, national awareness campaigns should be launched to educate the public about the dangers of plastic misuse, methods for choosing safe products, and finding alternatives to plastic packaging.

 

Product Oversight.

 

Regarding consumer protection and public health, it is necessary to tighten control over the quality of plastic products, especially children’s toys, food packaging, and cosmetic containers, and to promote clear labeling of “BPA-free” and “phthalate-free” products. Regarding environmental action, it is encouraged to support environmentally friendly alternatives to plastics, such as biodegradable materials, promote the circular economy, and encourage Egypt’s participation in international agreements such as the Stockholm and Basel Conventions and the upcoming international treaty to reduce plastic pollution. To reduce exposure to BPA in particular, it is necessary to avoid the use of polycarbonate plastic containers (especially when heating food), ensure that glass or stainless steel is used for storing food and drinks, purchase products labeled “BPA-free,” reduce the consumption of canned foods, wash hands after handling paper receipts, and support legislation prohibiting the use of BPA in food and medicine packaging. Egyptian personal hygiene and beauty industries should also be supported, adopting a system that accepts the packaging produced by each industry for reuse in the manufacture of new packaging in exchange for a financial incentive. This incentive is paid for by the savings generated by the industry from purchasing new plastic packaging. This supports these industries’ implementation of the extended producer responsibility system and ensures the product’s share of the market it occupies.

 

It is worth noting that these warnings are not merely a warning, but rather an explicit call for immediate action at the individual and international levels to protect the health of current and future generations from this silent and growing threat.