EPA Plans to Regulate Common Chemicals Used in Plastic: What to Know

The Trump administration kicked off 2026 by gearing up to regulate dozens of ways that phthalate chemicals are used in America. Phthalates are common chemicals used to make plastics more flexible, but they pose risks that have health experts sounding the alarm. Here’s a breakdown of what The Epoch Times has learned about the family of chemicals and how it will be regulated. What Are Phthalate Chemicals? Phthalates are a series of widely used chemicals that are supposed to make plastic soft, bendy, and flexible, according to the National Library of Medicine. Plastics combined with the softening chemicals can be found in the workplace and in many households across the U.S. in items such as food packaging, shower curtains, cosmetics, and synthetic clothing....