scholarly journals Food contact of paper and plastic products containing SiO2, Cu-Phthalocyanine, Fe2O3, CaCO3: Ranking factors that control the similarity of form and rate of release

NanoImpact ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 100372
Author(s):  
Emmanuel Ruggiero ◽  
Katherine Y. Santizo ◽  
Michael Persson ◽  
Camilla Delpivo ◽  
Wendel Wohlleben
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Lisa Zimmermann

Plastics contain a complex mixture of chemicals including polymers, additives, starting substances and side-products of processing. These plastic chemicals are prone to leach into the packaged goods, in the case of food contact materials (FCMs), or into the natural environment, in the case of plastic debris. Thus, plastics represent an exposure source of chemicals for humans and wildlife alike. While it is widely known that individual plastic chemicals, such as bisphenol A and phthalates, are hazardous, little is known on the overall chemical composition and toxicity of plastics. When fragmented into smaller particles, referred to as microplastics (< 5 mm), the plastic itself can be ingested by many species. It is well established that microplastic ingestion can have negative consequences for a wide range of organisms including invertebrates, but the contribution of plastic chemicals to the toxicity of microplastics is unclear. Given the above, the present thesis aimed at a comprehensive toxicological, ecotoxicological and chemical characterization of everyday plastics. For a comparative evaluation, 77 plastic products were selected covering 16 material types (e.g., polyethylene) made from petroleum or renewable feedstocks. These products included biodegradable products, FCMs and non-FCMs, as well as raw materials and final products, respectively. In the first two studies, the chemical mixtures contained in the 77 products were extracted with methanol and extracts were analyzed in a set of four in vitro bioassays and by non-target high-resolution gas or liquid chromatography mass spectrometry. Since an exposure only occurs if chemicals actually leach under realistic conditions, in a third study migration experiments with water were conducted for 24 out of the 77 products. The aqueous migrates were assessed in the same way as the methanolic extracts. In addition, the freshwater invertebrate Daphnia magna was exposed chronically to microplastics made of polyvinylchloride (PVC), polyurethane (PUR) and polylactic acid (PLA) to investigate the contribution of chemicals in microplastic toxicity, in a fourth study. The experimental findings demonstrate that a wide variety of chemicals is present in plastics. A single plastic product can contain up to several thousand chemical features, most of which unique to that product and at the same time unknown. The results also indicate that the majority of these chemical mixtures are toxic in vitro. Accordingly, 65% of the plastic extracts induced baseline toxicity and 42% an oxidative stress response, while 25% had an antiandrogenic and 6% an estrogenic activity. This implies that chemicals causing unspecific toxicity are more prevalent in plastics than such with endocrine effects. These chemicals can also leach from plastics under realistic conditions. Between 17 and 8936 chemical features were detected in a single migrate sample and all 24 tested migrates induced in vitro toxicity. This means that humans and wildlife can actually be exposed to toxic plastic chemicals under realistic conditions. Generally, each product has its individual toxicological and chemical fingerprint. Thus, neither material type, feedstock, biodegradability nor the food contact suitability of a product can serve as a predictor for the toxicity, the chemical composition or complexity of a product. Likewise, this means that bio-based and biodegradable materials are not superior to their petroleum-based counterparts from a toxicological perspective despite being promoted as sustainable alternatives to conventional plastics. Moreover, the present thesis demonstrates that plastic chemicals can be the main driver for microplastic toxicity. Irregular microplastics made of PVC, PUR and PLA adversely affected life-history traits of D. magna in a polymer type- and endpoint-dependent manner at concentrations between 100 and 500 mg L-1 and with a higher efficiency than natural kaolin particles. While the toxicity of PVC was triggered by the chemicals used in the material, the effects of PUR and PLA were induced by the physical properties of the particle. In addition, in the fifth study, results and observations made during this thesis were integrated inter- and transdisciplinarily with the perspectives of a social scientist and a product manufacturer. This elucidated that knowledge on plastic ingredients is often concealed, is lacking or not applicable in practice. These intransparencies hinder the safety evaluation of plastic products as well as the choice and sale of the least toxic packaging material. Overall, the present thesis highlights that the chemical safety of plastics and their bio-based and biodegradable alternatives is currently not ensured. Thus, chemicals require more consideration in the toxicity and risk assessment of plastics and microplastics. Product-specific and complex chemical compositions, including unknown compounds, pose a challenge here. Two essential steps towards non-toxic products are to increase transparency along the product life cycle and to reduce the chemical complexity of plastics by communication and regulation. The results of the present thesis indicate that products exist which do not contain toxic chemicals. These can serve to direct the design of safer plastics. Since toxicity and chemical complexity seem to increase with processing, the integration of toxicity testing during the production steps would further support the safe and sustainable production and use of plastic products.


2013 ◽  
Vol 31 (1) ◽  
pp. 46 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ying LI ◽  
Chengfa LI ◽  
Daoqing XIAO ◽  
Feng LIANG ◽  
Zhinan CHEN ◽  
...  

2018 ◽  
Vol 22 (12) ◽  
pp. 1249-1254 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mercedes Peltzer ◽  
Juan F. Delgado ◽  
Andres G. Salvay ◽  
Jorge R. Wagner

2016 ◽  
Vol 5 (09) ◽  
pp. 4874
Author(s):  
Manisha Satpathi* ◽  
Ravinder Singh

Dioctyl phthalate (DOP) commonly used as plasticizer enters into aquatic environment from the industries manufacturing plastic products, PVC resins, cosmetics and many other commercial products. Therefore, this study was designed to evaluate the acute toxicity effects of Dioctyl phthalate on fresh water fish Clarias batrachus. The 96 hour LC50 of Dioctyl phthalate in Clarias batrachus was estimated as 14.5ml/L. Histopathological changes in liver of Clarias batrachus were determined by exposing them to a fraction of LC50(1/5th) dose with every change of water for 30 days.The liver of Clarias batrachus was excised at every interval of 30 days and histological changes of liver were studied under light microscopy. Liver tissues showed abnormalities. Centrilobular vacuolation, necrosis, eccentric nuclei and enlarged nuclei, Centrilobular degeneration of hepatocytes were observed in liver tissue of fish.


2021 ◽  
Vol 38 (3) ◽  
pp. 513-531
Author(s):  
Yoon S. Song ◽  
John L. Koontz ◽  
Rima O. Juskelis ◽  
Eduardo Patazca ◽  
William Limm ◽  
...  

Pathogens ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (6) ◽  
pp. 717
Author(s):  
Niels Demaître ◽  
Geertrui Rasschaert ◽  
Lieven De Zutter ◽  
Annemie Geeraerd ◽  
Koen De Reu

The purpose of this study was to investigate the L. monocytogenes occurrence and genetic diversity in three Belgian pork cutting plants. We specifically aim to identify harborage sites and niche locations where this pathogen might occur. A total of 868 samples were taken from a large diversity of food and non-food contact surfaces after cleaning and disinfection (C&D) and during processing. A total of 13% (110/868) of environmental samples tested positive for L. monocytogenes. When looking in more detail, zone 3 non-food contact surfaces were contaminated more often (26%; 72/278) at typical harborage sites, such as floors, drains, and cleaning materials. Food contact surfaces (zone 1) were less frequently contaminated (6%; 25/436), also after C&D. PFGE analysis exhibited low genetic heterogeneity, revealing 11 assigned clonal complexes (CC), four of which (CC8, CC9, CC31, and CC121) were predominant and widespread. Our data suggest (i) the occasional introduction and repeated contamination and/or (ii) the establishment of some persistent meat-adapted clones in all cutting plants. Further, we highlight the importance of well-designed extensive sampling programs combined with genetic characterization to help these facilities take corrective actions to prevent transfer of this pathogen from the environment to the meat.


2021 ◽  
pp. 101021
Author(s):  
Mert Sudagidan ◽  
Veli Cengiz Ozalp ◽  
Orhan Öztürk ◽  
Mediha Nur Zafer Yurt ◽  
Orhan Yavuz ◽  
...  

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