On June 3, 2015 the National Food Institute at the Technical University of Denmark (DTU Food) reported on the results of a DTU Food research project on a screening method to assess the chemical safety of food packaging materials made from paper and board. In the project, Linda Bengtström extracted chemical substances from the packaging materials, separated them into smaller fractions and measured the toxicity of the fractions in several in-vitro cell assays. The identity of individual substances in toxic fractions, potentially containing endocrine disruptors or carcinogens, was determined with mass spectrometry. Further, Bengtström built a database of more than 2,100 chemical substances that have previously been found in board and paper. This shall improve the identification of individual substances in packaging. Using her screening approach, Bengtström found compounds with endocrine disrupting effects in contaminated recycled fibers and glue used in new fibers of board and paper packaging.
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DTU Food (June 3, 2015). “Method provides more knowledge about harmful substances in food packaging.”
