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Environmental activist Gary Aboud has called for greater scrutiny of plastics used for drinking water in Trinidad and Tobago, warning consumers about potential exposure to chemicals and microplastics.
In a video shared publicly, Aboud urged consumers to pay closer attention to the types of plastic used for food and beverage packaging and called for stronger regulations and clearer information for the public.
“Understand what you’re using and know how you’re using it,” Aboud said, as he encouraged people to conduct their own research into plastics and their potential health effects.
Aboud, who has spent decades advocating on environmental issues, also revealed that he is living with cancer. He stressed that he could not say what caused his illness but said the diagnosis had caused him to think more seriously about everyday environmental exposures.
A major focus of his comments was bisphenol A, commonly known as BPA, a chemical historically used in certain plastics and resins.
However, an important distinction exists between different types of plastic. BPA is associated particularly with polycarbonate plastics and some resins and is not automatically present in every plastic drinking-water bottle.
Aboud nevertheless argued that Trinidad and Tobago should introduce stronger safeguards surrounding plastic food and beverage containers, including greater consumer information and warning requirements where potentially harmful substances are present.
His concerns come amid continuing international scrutiny of BPA.
The European Union adopted a ban on BPA in food-contact materials in December 2024 following a scientific assessment by the European Food Safety Authority, which identified potential harmful effects on the immune system. The measure covers products including certain reusable plastic drink bottles, food containers and coatings used in cans, subject to transitional periods and limited exceptions.
Regulatory assessments are not identical worldwide. The United States Food and Drug Administration continues to state that available evidence supports the safety of BPA at levels associated with currently approved uses in food containers and packaging.
Aboud also raised concerns about microplastics and nanoplastics and urged consumers to reconsider repeatedly reusing bottles intended for single use.
He further questioned how bottled water is transported and stored in Trinidad and Tobago’s tropical temperatures and called for authorities to examine whether existing standards adequately protect consumers.
Aboud stopped short of claiming that his own cancer was caused by plastic exposure, but said his experience had strengthened his determination to raise questions about environmental and public health risks.
“I don’t want you to panic. I want you to think,” he said.
His intervention raises a broader question for Trinidad and Tobago about whether local regulations, labelling requirements and monitoring of food-contact plastics should be reviewed as international standards continue to evolve.
