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Food packaging and endocrine disruptors
Leila Cristina Pedroso de Paula1, Crésio Alves2
1Hospital de Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Residência de Endocrinologia e Endocrinologia Pediátrica, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
Jornal De Pediatria
|November 1, 2023
Summary
Food packaging, particularly plastics, leaches endocrine disruptors like bisphenols and phthalates into food. This chemical contamination poses health risks, necessitating further research and consumer awareness.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Health
- Food Science
- Toxicology
Background:
- Food packaging materials, especially plastics and recycled content, are significant sources of chemical contamination.
- Endocrine disruptors (EDs) are chemicals that can interfere with the body's hormone systems.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the scientific literature on food contamination by endocrine disruptors originating from food packaging.
- To highlight the health implications of exposure to EDs from packaging and suggest mitigation strategies.
Main Methods:
- A narrative review of studies published between 1990 and 2023.
- Searches conducted in PubMed, MEDLINE, and SciELO databases using keywords 'endocrine disruptors' and 'food packaging'.
- Inclusion of studies in humans, published in English, French, Portuguese, and Spanish.
Main Results:
- Plastic and recycled food packaging are identified as primary sources of ED contamination.
- Bisphenols and phthalates are the most commonly detected EDs in food packaging.
- Unknown and authorized substances can pose risks, especially with chronic exposure or additive effects.
Conclusions:
- Despite the necessity of food packaging, chemical contamination is a concern.
- Further research is needed to identify EDs, understand chronic exposure effects, and develop safer alternatives.
- Collaboration between regulatory bodies, industry, and consumers is crucial to minimize risks associated with EDs in food packaging.
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