Scientists highlight widespread human exposure to packaging-related chemicals

A new study is the first to reveal the extent of people’s exposure to food contact chemicals (FCC). 3,601 chemicals have been found in human bodies used in food packaging and other food contact items. The authors say this review also reveals significant gaps in biomonitoring and toxicity data.

This is evident from a new study published in the Journal of Exposure Science and Environmental Epidemiology, scientists describe widespread human exposure to food contact chemicals (FCCs). The study shows which chemicals used in food packaging and other food contact items have been found in human samples such as urine, blood and breast milk.

It also points to significant gaps in biomonitoring and toxicity data. The data is made available in an interactive tool, the FCChumon databasecompiled by a team of researchers from the Food Packaging Forum, together with colleagues from four academic institutions.

In a systematic approach, the authors compared more than 14,000 known FCCs with data from five human biomonitoring programs, three metabolome/exposome databases, and the scientific literature. This showed that there are 3,601 FCCs present in humans, which represents 25% of known FCCs.

Dr. Birgit Geueke, co-author of the study, said: “Our research links chemicals that come into contact with food, exposure and human health. It highlights the chemicals that have so far been overlooked in biomonitoring studies. And it highlights an important opportunity for health prevention and protection.”

Certain groups of chemicals, such as bisphenols, PFAS, phthalates, metals, and volatile organic compounds, have been widely detected in human samples and food contact materials. Many of these chemicals have concerning hazardous properties and have been linked to harm to human health.

Dr. Jane Muncke, another co-author, expressed concern about this widespread exposure, stating: “This work highlights the fact that food contact materials are not completely safe, even though they may comply with regulations, because they contain known transfer dangerous chemicals to people. We would like to see this new evidence base used to improve the safety of food contact materials, both in terms of regulation and in the development of safer alternatives.”

However, for other chemicals that enter food from packaging, such as synthetic antioxidants and oligomers, little is known about their presence and fate in humans. Dr. Ksenia Groh from the Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Sciences and Technology comments on this knowledge gap: “Our research highlights that antioxidants, despite their high production volumes and widespread use in plastics, are largely missing from monitoring programs. Knowledge about metabolism, fate, and effects of these substances is generally scarce.”

In addition, the study indicated that the potential hazards of many chemicals have not yet been sufficiently investigated. Although food packaging is not the only source of exposure, data from this study will increase understanding of how food contact materials contribute to human exposure. It is likely that the actual number of FCCs present in humans is higher than currently detected because only a subset of FCCs have been examined in detail.

Prof. Dr. Martin Scheringer, co-author from ETH Zurich, says: “There are a surprising number of hazardous chemicals used in food contact materials, and not only do they stay there, but quite a few of them reach human health to some extent . This is concerning and there is a clear need for safer and simpler food contact materials.”

These results are intended to help researchers focus on important gaps in our knowledge about human exposure to FCCs and better understand the health effects of these chemicals. Like Dr. Geueke states, “Our research helps establish the link between food contact chemicals and human exposure, highlights chemicals overlooked in biomonitoring studies, and supports research into safer food contact materials.”

All data are easily accessible and searchable in the associated Database on Food Contact Chemicals Monitored in Humans (FCChumon). FCChumon builds on the previously published Food Contact Chemicals Database (FCCdb) and Database on Migrating and Extractable Food Contact Chemicals (FCCmigex). This work is part of the Food Contact Chemicals & Human Health (FCCH) project.

Supplied by the Food Packaging Forum Foundation