A new review is the first one to show which chemicals have been identified in bodies and how much humans are exposed to food contact chemicals, of which 3,601 chemicals have been detected in food packaging and other articles that come into contact with food.
The authors state that is also evident from this review, there are major gaps with regard to biomonitoring and toxicity data. Scholars in a new study revealed the high levels of human exposure to food contact chemicals, FCCs in a peer-reviewed Journal of Exposure Science and Environmental Epidemiology.
The authors identify which of the many chemical substances in food packaging and other food contact articles have been noted in human bodies, including urine, blood, and breast milk.
It also reveals large research deficiencies in biomonitoring and toxicity information. This information is presented in an explorative analysis tool called the FCChumon database that the team of scientists from the Food Packaging Forum developed in collaboration with co-authors from four academic institutions.
To this end, the authors performed a systematic analysis of over 14,000 known FCCs with experimental data using cross-comparisons of five human biomonitoring programs, three metabolome/exposome databases, and the scientific literature. This was followed by confirmation of 3,601 FCCs in human organisms which is 25% confirmed FCCs to date.
Dr Birgit Geueke the co – author of the study adds, “Our study maps the relationship between FcCs, exposure and human health. We identify those chemicals that have not been measured in biomonitoring research. Above all, our study can help in prevention and protection of health.
Some specific classes of chemicals which include bisphenols, PFAS, phthalates, metals and volatile organic compounds have been identified in human matrices and FCMs. Most of the chemicals, which are used in carpets and rug manufacturing possess some hazard characteristic, which have been associated with negative impacts on human health.
Another co-author, Dr. Jane Muncke, shared the same worry saying, “This work shows while food contact materials may be legal, they are not fully safe because they introduce known dangerous substances into people We would like to see this new body of knowledge be used for the enhancement of the safety of food contact materials – in relation to regulation but also innovation.
”Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology’s Dr. Ksenia Groh, the following commentary on this knowledge shortfall: “In fact, our study demonstrates that antioxidants, which are widely utilized in plastics and manufactured in high amounts, are not encompassed in monitoring programs at all. Suffice to say that the information concerning metabolism, fate, and impact of these chemicals is profoundly limited.
Reference: 1.in. Scientists highlight widespread human exposure to packaging-related chemicals. Chemicals
