Additives in polypropylene and polylactic acid food packaging: Chemical analysis and bioassays provide complementary tools for risk assessment

• Published in: Science of The Total Environment
• Main Authors: Akoueson, Fleurine, Paul-Pont, Ika, Tallec, Kévin, Huvet, Arnaud, Doyen, Périne, Dehaut, Alexandre, Duflos, Guillaume
• Other Authors: Laboratoire de sécurité des aliments de Maisons-Alfort (LSAl), Agence nationale de sécurité sanitaire de l'alimentation, de l'environnement et du travail (ANSES), Université du Littoral Côte d'Opale (ULCO), Laboratoire des Sciences de l'Environnement Marin (LEMAR) (LEMAR), Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD)-Institut Français de Recherche pour l'Exploitation de la Mer (IFREMER)-Université de Brest (UBO)-Institut Universitaire Européen de la Mer (IUEM), Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD)-Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Université de Brest (UBO)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD)-Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Université de Brest (UBO)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Institut Français de Recherche pour l'Exploitation de la Mer (IFREMER), Centre de documentation de recherche et d'expérimentations sur les pollutions accidentelles des eaux (Cedre), Cedre, Biochimie des Produits Aquatiques (BPA), Université du Littoral Côte d'Opale (ULCO)-BioEcoAgro - UMR transfrontalière INRAE 1158, Université d'Artois (UA)-Université de Liège-Université de Picardie Jules Verne (UPJV)-Université du Littoral Côte d'Opale (ULCO)-Université de Lille-Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement (INRAE)-JUNIA (JUNIA), Université catholique de Lille (UCL)-Université catholique de Lille (UCL)-Université d'Artois (UA)-Université de Liège-Université de Picardie Jules Verne (UPJV)-Université du Littoral Côte d'Opale (ULCO)-Université de Lille-Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement (INRAE)-JUNIA (JUNIA), Université catholique de Lille (UCL)-Université catholique de Lille (UCL), CPER MARCO 2015 - 2020, GDR Polymères & Océans 2050, Région Hauts-de-France, Anses
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: HAL CCSD 2023
• Subjects: Food containers; Plastic Additives; Leachates; Bioassays; [CHIM.POLY]Chemical Sciences/Polymers; [CHIM.ANAL]Chemical Sciences/Analytical chemistry; [SDE.IE]Environmental Sciences/Environmental Engineering; [SDV.IDA]Life Sciences [q-bio]/Food engineering; [SDV.TOX]Life Sciences [q-bio]/Toxicology; Pacific; Crassostrea gigas; Pacific oyster
• Online Access: https://anses.hal.science/anses-03811053; https://anses.hal.science/anses-03811053/document; https://anses.hal.science/anses-03811053/file/Akoueson_STOTEN_2022.pdf; https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.159318

International audience Plastic food packaging represents 40 % of the plastic production worldwide and belongs to the 10 most commonly found items in aquatic environments. They are characterized by high additives contents with >4000 formulations available on the market. Thus they can release their constitutive chemicals (i.e. additives) into the surrounding environment, contributing to chemical pollution in aquatic systems and to contamination of marine organism up to the point of questioning the health of the consumer. In this context, the chemical and toxicological profiles of two types of polypropylene (PP) and polylactic acid (PLA) food packaging were investigated, using in vitro bioassays and target gas chromatography mass spectrometry analyses. Plastic additives quantification was performed both on the raw materials, and on the material leachates after 5 days of lixiviation in filtered natural seawater. The results showed that all samples (raw materials and leachates) contained additive compounds (e.g. phthalates plasticizers, phosphorous flame retardants, antioxidants and UV-stabilizers). Differences in the number and concentration of additives between polymers and suppliers were also pointed out, indicating that the chemical signature cannot be generalized to a polymer and is rather product dependent. Nevertheless, no significant toxic effects was observed upon exposure to the leachates in two short-term bioassays targeting baseline toxicity (Microtox® test) and Pacific oyster Crassostrea gigas fertilization success and embryo-larval development. Overall, this study demonstrates that both petrochemical and bio-based food containers contain harmful additives and that it is not possible to predict material toxicity solely based on chemical analysis. Additionally, it highlights the complexity to assess and comprehend the additive content of plastic packaging due to the variability of their composition, suggesting that more transparency in polymer formulations is required to properly address the risk ...