Achi news desk-
expansion
Evidence was found for the presence of 68 such chemicals in food packaging used worldwide, which are permanent. Their presence in food packaging is a major threat to health. This study by environmental scientists associated with the Food Packaging Forum Foundation in Zurich was published in Environmental Science and Technology.
According to researchers, per-and-poly fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a group of man-made chemical compounds. They break down very slowly in the environment. Because of this, these chemicals stay around for a long time. For this reason they are also known as ‘forever chemicals’. To date, more than 12,000 different types of PFAS have been confirmed to exist. These are chemicals that can seriously affect the environment and health. Even contact with them for too long can cause cancer.
61 prohibited chemicals
Researchers found 61 chemicals whose use is banned in food packaging. But scientists have not been able to find out why and how these chemicals got there. Of the PFAS identified in food packaging, information is available on the potential hazards of only 57 percent of the chemicals. Many of these chemicals are such that they seriously affect health.
