CHEM Trust: New Study Finds Toxic Chemical Leaching from Children’s Drinking Bottles
A new study examined plastic drinking bottles across Europe and found that over half released DiBP, an endocrine-disrupting chemical.
The study, conducted by organisations across Europe, including the Danish Consumer Council THINK Chemicals, analysed plastic drinking bottles purchased from five European countries. Thirty-nine bottles were purchased from shops in the Netherlands, Denmark, the Czech Republic, Latvia and Spain and sent for analysis at McGill University in Canada. They found that 22 of the bottles released DiBP after being washed 20 times in the dishwasher.
Washing bottles in the dishwasher can wear down the plastic and release unwanted chemicals into the liquids later poured into the bottle.
DiBP belongs to a group of chemicals called phthalates and has been identified under REACH as an endocrine disrupting chemical.
Endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) are chemicals that can alter the normal functioning of the body’s sensitive hormone system. The endocrine (hormone) system controls key functions such as growth and brain development. Even the smallest levels of hormones can have an effect, so exposure to very low levels of EDCs can also impact these critical systems.
People are exposed to EDCs via many everyday consumer products such as some food packaging, cosmetics, and toys. Exposure to EDCs has been linked to numerous adverse health impacts such as reproductive issues, obesity and hormone related cancers such as breast and testicular.
DiBP is prohibited from being used as an additive in plastic food contact materials, but can still end up present due to being an impurity. Due to this, EU regulations allow DiBP to be released from food packaging in small quantities. Whilst none of the products exceed the allowed migration limit, Stine Müller from the Danish Consumer Council THINK Chemicals, insists that problematic phthalates should not be present in plastic used for food.
Hanne Frederiksen, senior researcher from the Department of Growth and Reproduction at Righospitalet says:
“…the discovery of DiBP from drinking bottles may be one of the many small sources contributing to the overall exposure to phthalates, which is likely still problematic, especially for children and pregnant women”.
Read more on phthalates here, more on EDCs here.
Read some tips on reducing your risk of being exposed to EDCs in food packaging and when cooking here.