Saturday, December 28, 2024

 

Toxic chemicals from food production pass into the human body




A new study has found that more than 3,600 chemicals that leach into food during manufacturing, processing, packaging, and storage end up in the human body – and some are linked to serious health issues.

Martin Wagner is a professor of biology at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology in Trondheim who was not involved in the research. 

“This is a staggering number and shows that food contact materials are a significant source of chemicals in humans,” Wagner told CNN. 

“The study is the first to systematically link the chemicals we use in materials to package and process foods to human exposure.”

Cancer-causing food chemicals 

Published in the Journal of Exposure Science & Environmental Epidemiology, the study identified 79 food-processing chemicals found in the body that are known to cause cancer, genetic mutations, endocrine and reproductive issues, and other health concerns.

Senior study author Jane Muncke, managing director and chief scientific officer at the Food Packaging Forum – a nonprofit foundation based in Zurich, Switzerland – emphasized that many more chemicals may be harmful in ways science has yet to determine. “We’re measuring not only the chemicals that were known to be used in the food manufacturing process, but all the gunk as well – the byproducts and impurities that we call non-intentionally added substances,” said Muncke. 

“Those substances are always present in plastic, in can and package coatings, in printing inks and so on. They may not have a technical function in the food processing, but they are there regardless and migrating into people, and we measure them.”

Chemical regulation and food safety

The American Chemistry Council, an industry association, responded by stating that its members are dedicated to food safety.  “It is essential, however, when assessing potential risks to consider a broader context, including existing regulatory frameworks, scientific evidence, and the actual levels and degree of exposure that may exist,” said a council spokesperson. “Any proposed actions lacking this context, particularly when causality has not been definitively established, is inconsistent with risk-based U.S. chemical regulation laws.”

Muncke pointed out that while food contact materials may comply with current government regulations, the study highlights that these chemicals may not be fully safe. “We don’t know exactly what the amount is that’s been used in food packaging or other food contact materials versus the amount that’s being used for cosmetics, personal care products, textiles, and so on and so forth, right? I would like to have that information,” said Muncke. “I think it would be fantastic to make it a regulatory requirement for companies to declare how much and what type of chemicals they are putting into my food or plastic water bottle.”

Bisphenol A exposure

One chemical detected in both food and the human body is bisphenol A, or BPA, which was used to create baby bottles, sippy cups, and infant formula containers until concerned parents boycotted those products more than a decade ago. BPA is an endocrine disruptor linked to fetal abnormalities, low birth weight, and brain and behavior disorders in infants and children. In adults, it has been associated with diabetes, heart disease, erectile dysfunction, cancer, and a 49% higher risk of early death within 10 years. Bisphenol A can leach into food from the linings of canned foods, polycarbonate tableware, food storage containers, and water bottles, according to the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences.

Forever chemicals in food materials 

“The study also shows that food contact materials can contain mutagenic chemicals that harm our DNA, such as heavy metals,” Wagner said. “There is strong evidence that humans are exposed to PFAS, so-called forever chemicals, from food packaging that are very persistent, bioaccumulate, and cause organ toxicity.” Perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, are present in the blood of an estimated 98% of Americans, according to the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. These hormone-disrupting chemicals are so concerning that in July 2022, the Academies set “nanogram” levels of concern and called for testing of high-risk individuals, including infants and older adults.

Additional chemicals in food packaging 

Another chemical group in food packaging that has migrated into people is phthalates, the research revealed. Found in shampoo, makeup, perfume, children’s toys, and food containers, phthalates have been linked to genital malformations and undescended testes in baby boys, as well as lower sperm counts and testosterone levels in adult males. 

Previous studies have also associated phthalates with childhood obesity, asthma, cardiovascular issues, cancer, and premature death in people aged 55 to 64. In the new study, researchers compared 14,000 chemicals known to come into contact with food during the packaging process with worldwide databases that monitor human exposure to potential chemical toxins. All the research data has been uploaded to an open database for scientific use.

“We’ve got, say, 60 years of research into the migration of chemicals into food from food processing and packaging equipment. It’s been studied very extensively,” Muncke said. “And at the same time, there’s increasingly good, powerful studies coming out on Bisphenol A, on phthalates, on PFAS, brominated flame retardants and so forth that are associated with diseases in people.”

Tracking chemicals in the human body

What was lacking in the literature was a comparison between what was found in people and the chemicals known to migrate into food during processing. 

To connect the dots, Muncke and her colleagues looked at national and regional biomonitoring databases that track chemicals in human blood, urine, breast milk, tissue samples, and other biomarkers.

For the study, researchers used data from the U.S. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), which gathers yearly health and nutrition data on Americans, as well as other databases. 

About

Award Information - International Analytical Chemistry Awards

Welcome to the International Analytical Chemistry Awards - International Analytical Chemistry Awards, a premier event in the realm of International Analytical Chemistry Awards. Here's what you need to know about this exciting Award :

  • Theme: The theme for International Analytical Chemistry Awards is "Sustainable International Analytical Chemistry Awards for a Connected Future."
  • Hybrid Event: International Analytical Chemistry Awards is an innovative hybrid event, offering two dynamic ways to participate.

at

No comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)

  Advanced Mid-Infrared Sensors for Molecular Analysis Introduction to Mid-Infrared (Mid-IR) Sensing Mid-infrared (mid-IR) sensors, operati...