In a new research study published in Environmental Science and Technology Letters, fluorinated high-density polyethylene (HDPE) plastic containers– utilized for family cleaners, pesticides, personal care products and, potentially, food product packaging– evaluated positive for PFAS. Credit: University of Notre Dame
Researchers at the University of Notre Dame are expanding their list of consumer items which contain PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl compounds), a damaging group of fluorine-based compounds called “forever chemicals.”
A brand-new research study released in Environmental Science and Technology Letters has actually revealed that fluorinated high-density polyethylene (HDPE) plastic containers, which are typically used for family cleaners, pesticides, individual care products, and potentially food packaging, contain PFAS. The research study was triggered by a report from the EPA which showed that these containers were contributing high levels of PFAS to pesticides. This brand-new research study represents the very first measurement of the leaching of PFAS from these containers into food and the impact of temperature level on the seeping procedure.
Outcomes also showed the PFAS can migrating from the fluorinated containers into food, leading to a direct route of substantial exposure to the hazardous chemicals, which have been connected to numerous health issues consisting of prostate, kidney, and testicular cancers, low birth weight, thyroid, and immunotoxicity disease.
” Not just did we determine considerable concentrations of PFAS in these containers, we can approximate the PFAS that were seeping off developing a direct course of direct exposure,” stated Graham Peaslee, professor of physics in the Department of Physics and Astronomy at Notre Dame and an author of the study.
Its important to note that these types of containers are not planned for food storage, but there is nothing avoiding them from being utilized for food storage at the minute. Not all HDPE plastic is fluorinated, the researchers noted, its frequently difficult for a customer to understand whether a container has actually had that treatment. And undoubtedly, Peaslee included, if substances like pesticides are saved in these containers, and after that are used on agricultural crops, these very same PFAS will get into human food sources that method.
In 2021 the EPA revealed its PFAS Strategic Roadmap– promising to act upon prevalent exposure to PFAS. The plan includes establishing a more comprehensive understanding of the health and ecological effects of PFAS direct exposure, preventing further contamination of water, land and air, and addressing the need for cleanup of PFAS already in the environment.
For the study, Peaslee and graduate student Heather Whitehead evaluated HDPE containers that were treated with fluorine to develop a thin layer of a fluoropolymer, as a method to impart chemical resistance and improve container performance over long storage periods. Experiments were created to determine the capability of these chemicals to move from the container to samples of different foods and solvents.
Analysis of the containers found parts-per-billion levels of PFAS that might migrate into both solvents and food matrices in as low as one week.
” We determined concentrations of PFOA that considerably exceeded the limitation set by the EPAs 2022 Health Advisory Limits,” stated Peaslee. “Now, think about that not only do we understand that the chemicals are migrating into the compounds kept in them, however that the containers themselves work their way back into the environment through garbage dumps. PFAS doesnt biodegrade. It does not go away. As soon as these chemicals are used, they enter the groundwater, they enter our biological systems, and they cause considerable illness.”
Peaslee and Whitehead determined PFAS concentrations in olive oil, ketchup, and mayo that had been in contact with the fluorinated containers for 7 days at different temperature levels. Based on the quantity discovered in the different food samples, the study approximates enough PFAS could be ingested through supermarket in the containers to be a considerable risk of exposure.
The containers are the most recent items in a long list of those tested by Peaslee and his laboratory at Notre Dame, including cosmetics, firefighting equipment, school uniforms, and junk food wrappers.
Reference: “Directly Fluorinated Containers as a Source of Perfluoroalkyl Carboxylic Acids” by Heather D. Whitehead and Graham F. Peaslee, 6 March 2023, Environmental Science & & Technology Letters.DOI: 10.1021/ acs.estlett.3 c00083.
A new study published in Environmental Science and Technology Letters has revealed that fluorinated high-density polyethylene (HDPE) plastic containers, which are typically used for family cleaners, pesticides, personal care products, and possibly food product packaging, include PFAS. Its crucial to note that these types of containers are not intended for food storage, but there is absolutely nothing preventing them from being utilized for food storage at the moment. And certainly, Peaslee included, if compounds like pesticides are saved in these containers, and then are utilized on farming crops, these very same PFAS will get into human food sources that method.
For the study, Peaslee and graduate trainee Heather Whitehead checked HDPE containers that were treated with fluorine to produce a thin layer of a fluoropolymer, as a way to impart chemical resistance and improve container efficiency over long storage durations. Experiments were created to measure the ability of these chemicals to move from the container to samples of various foods and solvents.