- Scientists discovered as many as 9,936 distinct chemicals within a singular plastic item.
- These encompassed hormone disruptors such as bisphenol A (BPA) and phthalates.
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A solitary plastic container holding sushi or takeaway curry might leach up to 10,000 hormone-disrupting chemicals into the meal, according to a recent study, which could lead to potential health risks.
Norwegian researchers tested different plastic food packaging from around the world, and found that almost all contained substances that interfere with the body's hormones or metabolism.
The chemicals included bisphenol A (BPA) And phthalates, which are recognized as hormone disruptors and have already been prohibited in significant quantities from specific items such as baby bottles.
Exposure to these tiny contaminants has been linked to numerous health issues, including obesity. diabetes , reduced fertility , and certain cancers.
'We found as many as 9,936 different chemicals in a single plastic product used as food packaging... we need to redesign plastic to make it safer,' said study co-author Martin Wagner, a professor of biology at the NTNU.
A recent report According toConsumer Reports, their testing of 85 food and beverage items revealed that 99% of them contained plasticizers—chemicals employed to enhance the flexibility and durability of plastics.
The researchers involved in the latest study, from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), tested 36 different plastic food packaging products from the US, UK, Germany, Norway and South Korea, using a two-step process to determine what chemicals were concealed in the plastic.
Firstly, every plastic container was sliced into smaller parts and then immersed in methanol to dissolve the plastic.
This allowed the scientists to extract the chemicals in liquid form.
The concoctions were subsequently subjected to a battery of laboratory experiments utilizing human cells to determine whether they could trigger or inhibit human receptors that play a role in managing our hormonal and metabolic processes.
Tests included receptors for key hormones estrogen and testosterone. In women, estrogen contributes to reproductive and breast health, as well as cognitive and bone health. Testosterone regulates bone mass, fat distribution, muscle mass and strength.
The scientists found that 33 out of the 36 plastic products interfered with the activity of the pregnane X receptor, which is needed for detoxifying foreign substances and also plays a part in keeping blood sugar under control and fat metabolism.
Some 23 of the products contained chemicals activating the peroxisome proliferator receptor, which is thought to be the main regulator of fat cell development.
Chemicals that blocked testosterone receptors were found in 14 products, and chemicals mimicking estrogen were seen in 18 of the products.
But the researchers were unable to fully identify what the disruptive chemicals were.
A single piece of plastic can have thousands of distinct chemicals in it, many of which are not known about or poorly studied.
However, they did find some common chemicals, including bisphenol A (BPA) and phthalates.
However, the research indicated that even BPA-free plastics contain other endocrine-disrupting compounds that haven't been detected yet.
The research team indicated that individuals ought to transfer food from plastic containers to glass or stainless-steel containers before heating it up.
They recommended that consumers opt for unpackaged fresh items to reduce their contact with potentially harmful substances.
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