Overview of high-level quantitative evidence for the
effects of five classes of plastic-associated chemicals on
human health. Each square represents a summary of findings
from all included meta-analyses that have evaluated the
combination of internal exposure to a plastic-associated
chemical and a human health outcome according to the
following color code:
RED: Consistent and statistically significant evidence of
harm 95% confidence of association with harmful health
effects on meta-analysis. Defined by a statistically significant
adverse association between total exposure to a class of
chemicals and a health outcome OR a statistically significant
adverse association between each chemical evaluated within
a class and that health outcome OR a mix of statistically
significant adverse associations and non-significant trends
towards adverse association for each chemical evaluated
within a class (without any trends in the other direction).
ORANGE: Strong reason for concern Statistically significant
evidence of harmful health effects on meta-analysis (95%
findings. Defined by a mix of statistically significant adverse
associations and non-significant trends and / or null findings
for various chemicals in a class and a health outcome and no
statistically significant protective associations.
YELLOW: Reason for concern Some evidence of harmful
health effects on meta-analysis but not meeting statistical
significance (95% confidence). Defined by consistent nonsignificant
trends towards adverse associations for various
chemicals in a class and health outcomes, but no statistically
significant findings.
LIGHT BLUE: Reassuring Statistically significant evidence against
harmful health effects on meta-analysis (95% confidence).
Defined by statistically significant protective associations
between total exposure to a class of chemicals and health
outcomes OR statistically significant protective associations
between each chemical evaluated within a class and that
health outcome OR a mix of statistically significant protective
associations and non-significant protective trends for each
chemical.
GRAY: Unclear No consistent pattern of harmful health
effects on meta-analysis but, equally, safety is not
established. Defined by no statistically significant adverse
associations and no consistent trends towards adverse
associations OR non-significant trends towards protective
associations but no statistically significant findings OR where
there are both statistically significant adverse associations
and statistically significant protective associations.
CLEAR: No data No data from systematic reviews with meta-analyses.
