TY - JOUR
T1 - Printed paper and board food contact materials as a potential source of food contamination
AU - Van Bossuyt, Melissa
AU - Van Hoeck, Els
AU - Vanhaecke, Tamara
AU - Rogiers, Vera
AU - Mertens, Birgit
N1 - Copyright © 2016. Published by Elsevier Inc.
PY - 2016/11
Y1 - 2016/11
N2 - Food contact materials (FCM) are estimated to be the largest source of food contamination. Apart from plastics, the most commonly used FCM are made of printed paper and board. Unlike their plastic counterparts, these are not covered by a specific European regulation. Several contamination issues have raised concerns towards potential adverse health effects caused by exposure to substances migrating from printed paper and board FCM. In the current study, an inventory combining the substances which may be used in printed paper and board FCM, was created. More than 6000 unique compounds were identified, the majority (77%) considered non-evaluated in terms of potential toxicity. Based on a preliminary study of their physicochemical properties, it is estimated that most of the non-evaluated single substances have the potential to migrate into the food and become bioavailable after oral intake. Almost all are included in the FACET tool, indicating that their use in primary food packaging has been confirmed by industry. Importantly, 19 substances are also present in one of the lists with substances of concern compiled by the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA). To ensure consumer safety, the actual use of these substances in printed paper and board FCM should be investigated urgently.
AB - Food contact materials (FCM) are estimated to be the largest source of food contamination. Apart from plastics, the most commonly used FCM are made of printed paper and board. Unlike their plastic counterparts, these are not covered by a specific European regulation. Several contamination issues have raised concerns towards potential adverse health effects caused by exposure to substances migrating from printed paper and board FCM. In the current study, an inventory combining the substances which may be used in printed paper and board FCM, was created. More than 6000 unique compounds were identified, the majority (77%) considered non-evaluated in terms of potential toxicity. Based on a preliminary study of their physicochemical properties, it is estimated that most of the non-evaluated single substances have the potential to migrate into the food and become bioavailable after oral intake. Almost all are included in the FACET tool, indicating that their use in primary food packaging has been confirmed by industry. Importantly, 19 substances are also present in one of the lists with substances of concern compiled by the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA). To ensure consumer safety, the actual use of these substances in printed paper and board FCM should be investigated urgently.
UR - http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0273230016301830
U2 - 10.1016/j.yrtph.2016.06.025
DO - 10.1016/j.yrtph.2016.06.025
M3 - Article
C2 - 27389280
VL - 81
SP - 10
EP - 19
JO - Regulatory Toxicology and Pharmacology
JF - Regulatory Toxicology and Pharmacology
SN - 0273-2300
ER -