On March 9, 2020, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) Panel on Contaminants in the Food Chain (CONTAM) published its risk assessment of chlorinated paraffins in feed and food. Existing experimental toxicity data was reviewed, and the liver, kidney, and thyroid were identified as the target organs for mixtures of short chain chlorinated paraffins (SCCP) and medium chain chlorinated paraffins (MCCP). The kidney was identified as the target organism for mixtures of long chain chlorinated paraffins (LCCP). However, “due to the limitations in the toxicokinetic and toxicological database, the Panel concluded that derivation of a health-based guidance value was not appropriate.”
Limited data was found to be available on the occurrence of SCCPs and MCCPs in some fish species, and no data was available for LCCPs. A robust exposure assessment and risk characterization could therefore not be carried out, and the CONTAM Panel was only able to do a preliminary risk characterization based on consumption of fish. The results from the review of this single, limited scenario suggest no human health concerns, however “the Panel noted that dietary exposure will be higher due to the contribution of CPs from other foods.”
The publication of this assessment follows completion of a public consultation carried out in August and September 2019 on the draft version of the risk assessment (FPF reported). The comments received during the consultation have been published by EFSA in a separate document.
Read more
EFSA (March 9, 2020). “Risk assessment of chlorinated paraffins in feed and food.”
EFSA (March 9, 2020). “Outcome of a public consultation on the draft risk assessment of chlorinated paraffins in feed and food.”
