Health–Polymer Relationship

For plastic packaging manufacturers, one of the most important issues—perhaps the most important—is the recurring and unfortunate claim that plastics may be carcinogenic. Plastic packaging manufacturers are members of a young and dynamic industry, partly because plastics are a much newer material compared to alternative materials.

As members of such a young, dynamic, and sensitive industry, we find ourselves facing a serious accusation related to human health.

Our primary wish is that the commercial field from which we earn our livelihood does not conflict with our social and moral responsibilities; on the contrary, it should support them and give us satisfaction in that respect. Such accusations, therefore, impose on all of us the responsibility to inform the public accurately.

To those who go so far as to imply that cancer practically began with the use of plastics, I would like to remind them that the earliest signs of cancer were detected in mummies found in ancient Egypt dating back to the 15th century BCE.

Currently, plastic packaging continues to be safely used in all developed countries of the world, including the United States and the European Union.

Logically speaking, our industry exports to hundreds of countries around the world, and the food packaging we produce—made of plastic—enters countries such as the U.S. and EU only after being tested and approved by their authorized health institutions. If plastics truly posed such a risk, why would these countries endanger their own citizens? Moreover, while even the tobacco industry, run by powerful global corporations, has been restricted through bans and warnings due to cancer risks, why have the products of the plastic sector—which consists mostly of small and medium-sized enterprises—not been banned? Is the so-called “plastic lobby” stronger than the tobacco lobby? Are the losses of citizens due to cancer less important than the lobbying power of the plastics industry? The answer is, of course, no.

Plastic is the material of our century. Being much younger than its alternatives such as steel, wood, and glass, plastic and the plastic industry have achieved a remarkable victory against these materials and industries in a very short time. This success is due to plastics being easier to process, requiring less raw material, and producing much more affordable products.

Many of the products in our lives today are inexpensive thanks to the plastic industry.

For example, automobiles have become more affordable due to plastics. Consider that 15–20 years ago most components in cars (such as dashboards, steering wheels, even exhaust components) were metal, whereas today many parts are plastic. Bottles, cups, and kitchenware have become cheaper and accessible to wider populations. Naturally, this situation has had very negative consequences for rival industries such as the iron/steel, wood, and glass industries.

Worldwide, the plastic industry consists mainly of small and medium-sized companies. Meanwhile, its rival industries of iron/steel and glass are dominated by giant corporations. In other words, plastics have achieved the impossible—they took market share from industries many times larger than themselves. As a result, plastics have become the target of major smear campaigns funded by these giant industries in an attempt to protect their markets. A memorable slogan—“Glass is Health”—is a good example. This slogan, emerging from an industry that feels threatened by PET bottles capturing the lucrative beverage bottle market, clearly conveys the message “Plastic is unhealthy.”

As such, many false claims about plastics—reinforced by media power and repetition—have been enough to confuse consumers.

Among many possible examples, one of the most striking was a news segment I watched recently. I recall a researcher making statements completely lacking scientific basis or even basic research. The researcher claimed that PVC cups were harmful to health (even carcinogenic) and that using them for hot beverages increased the risk. He then added that foam cups were better insulated and therefore “healthier” and more preferable. Toward the end of the news, the channel added its own commentary, implying that paper cups were the healthiest option. Unbelievable!

Here are the facts:

1. No PVC cups are manufactured anywhere in the world. Cups are made from PS, PP, and PET.

2. Even if we imagined that PVC cups were produced, they would deform because PVC cannot withstand high temperatures.

3. The insulation property of foam cups has nothing to do with health. It only preserves internal temperature and prevents heat from being felt externally.

4. The claim that foam cups are healthier is false. Foam cups and regular cups are usually made from the same raw material—PS—and are identical from a health perspective.

5. The claim that paper cups are healthier than plastic cups is also incorrect. Paper cups do not absorb water because they are coated (laminated) with plastic. Therefore, the surface in contact with the liquid is plastic—both in paper cups and plastic cups.

Cancer, defined as the uncontrolled growth and spread of abnormal cells, is one of today’s most significant health problems. Due to its high frequency and mortality, it is a major public health issue. After cardiovascular diseases, it is the second leading cause of death. In Western societies, 1 in 250–350 people develop cancer each year. In the population over age 60, the rate rises to 4–5 in 300. Although we lack exact statistics in our country, the rate is estimated to be about half of this.

The claim of a link between plastics and cancer first arose during studies conducted in the U.S. in 1987. These studies focused on two main issues:

1. Certain chemicals released during the production of some plastics are carcinogenic.
   (Example: Vinyl chloride and dioxins produced during PVC manufacturing.)

2. Certain chemicals leaching from specific types of plastics may interfere with hormonal functions and indirectly cause cancer.
   (Example: Phthalates from PVC and Bisphenol A from polycarbonate.)

None of the conclusions from these studies have received full support from scientific authorities. But even if we accept these possibilities, we see how unfair the accusations against plastics are, because the materials used in the plastic packaging industry are not those mentioned above.

Many different types of plastics are used today—from food packaging to aerospace technology. To generalize and say “all plastics are harmful” is like saying “cyanide is poisonous, therefore all chemicals are harmful.” Many chemicals used today in the pharmaceutical industry save lives. Even if we assume the above concerns to be valid, the risk associated with plastic use is not even 1% of the risk associated with smoking.

The British Breast Cancer Foundation, after conducting research, has confirmed that PET, PP, HDPE, LDPE, and PS are not carcinogenic for humans. However, the residual monomer levels in PS should still be carefully monitored.

The best approach is to ensure that all products reaching the end user undergo legally required testing (under the Ministry of Agriculture’s regulation on food-contact materials) and are analyzed in authorized laboratories to verify compliance with the Turkish Food Codex, including residual monomer and migration levels.

The conclusion is this: although accusations that plastics cause cancer are unscientific and often driven by unfair competition, we—members of the plastics industry—must do our part and defend our sector strongly. We must support our industry associations (ASD, PAGEV/PAGDER), enabling them to present a powerful defense and inform the public.

Furthermore, as a sign of our sensitivity on this issue, instead of prejudice and misinformation, we must highlight scientific truths. Most importantly, through our associations, we should support cancer research to help those suffering from this disease, regardless of the cause.

With a strong sense of responsibility, as an industry, we will warn companies producing food-contact packaging about their obligations, provide necessary training, and eliminate improper practices. We will not only ensure the food safety certification and testing of all raw materials we use, but also continue to work with government authorities to prevent the import of unsuitable materials.

Cancer is the disease of our age, and as members of the plastic packaging sector, we must support efforts toward its treatment—financially and morally—and adopt a proactive stance that goes beyond merely defending ourselves against unjust attacks.

Because educating consumers, protecting their health, and combating misinformation are responsibilities of everyone working in this sector.