Hidden danger in our food packaging: The health risks of plastic monomers

Plastic packaging is produced through a process called polymerization, where monomers (the building blocks) are linked together. Usually, monomers are stable in the polymer chain; however, the presence of low molecular weight substances, such as LDPE, prevents the monomers from being packaged closely. This leads to their spread to food through various means, such as contact, penetration, gas-phase diffusion, condensation, and set-off migration. Although their quantity is lower in the packaging, after consumption, their concentration increases to levels that can be detrimental to human health.