In 2024, Cheng Fang and a team from the University of Newcastle, Australia, studied micro- and nanoplastics (MNPs) released from self-sealing Ziploc bags used for food storage. Using scanning electron microscopy and Raman imaging, they found that opening and closing bags creates friction, releasing thousands of MNPs per use, ranging from hundreds of nanometers to millimeters.

In 2022, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) reviewed studies on Bisphenol-A (BPA) and Bisphenol-S (BPS) in thermal receipt paper, used for grocery, pharmacy, and restaurant receipts. They cited research showing BPA levels in receipts are 250-1,000 times higher than in canned food, with 54-79 micrograms/cm² in half of 18 tested Minnesota businesses. These chemicals absorb through skin, especially in cashiers handling receipts often.

A 2025 study by UC Davis analyzed 201 toddlers (ages 2–4) from four U.S. states and found 96 different chemicals in their urine—48 found in over half of the kids, 34 in more than 90%—many not even tracked by national surveys.

A 2023 U.S. Geological Survey study found that at least 45% of the nation’s tap water is estimated to have one or more types of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). PFAS are used in various products like non-stick cookware and firefighting foams and are known for their persistence in the environment.