Plasticisers toxic effects

However, a more serious general consequence of plasticiser extraction by body fluids can be the transference of plasticiser to a patient with attendant concern about the possible toxic effects and the additional biological burden suffered by the patient whose metabolism or ability to deal with the foreign substance may already be impaired. 

It may also be argued that the chemical structure of the trimel-litate is very similar to that of DEHP. As it seems quite possible that any toxic effects are caused by metabolites or breakdown products of the plasticiser it can be speculated that the same chemicals may be produced from both DEHP and trimellitate. 

UV) stabiliser, an antistatic agent, mineral oil, and plasticisers. Although it may not be necessary to determine all of these, it is necessary to be aware of any interference that these substances might have on the determination of any particular component. Also, there is the question of additive breakdown either during polymer manufacture or upon contact with the food. Here there are two considerations possible interference effects of breakdown products on the determination of the additive and the necessity to identify the breakdown products, which themselves must be considered for their toxic effects. 

For substances with proven toxic effects. Specific Migration Limits (SMLs) have been declared in food simulants or the maximum amounts in a given material for unstable compounds are stated. An example can be the SML for melamine (2,4,6-triamino-1,3,5-triazine), which is set at 30 mg/kg. On the other hand, acrylamide cannot be detected at all in the migration tests (its detection limit is 0.01 mg/kg), although it is known as a common process contaminant. The SML value for dibutyl phthalate is 0.3 mg/kg and for bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate 1.5 mg/kg, but plasticised plastics should not be used for fatty foods. In sealing lids for jars intended for infant and baby food, the migration of epoxidised soybean oil is often controlled (SML = 30 mg/kg). 

The complete isosorbide family and its esters are also recommended as alternative green plasticisers their toxicity data show no acute toxicity, no sensitisation, and no mutagenic (Ames test), or oestrogenic effects [42]. 

As briefly discussed previously, PCB, a family of highly toxic and oily, non-flammable industrial chemicals, can exist at high levels in and around some old buildings due to the sealants based on polysulfide polymers containing PCB. PCB in many polysulfide sealants have been replaced now by chlorinated paraffins, and smaller volumes of chloroparaffins are used as plasticising agents for various sealants. However, the effects of chloroparaffins on health, is also a controversial issue, and its use in sealants is in decline. In sealants, especially in polysulfide and PU sealants, the BBP is also used. 

Intracutaneous toxicity of the same four extracts was assessed by injection into rabbits, again following the USP test method (13). A sample of extraction resistant PVC compound tested in this way has passed satisfactorily without showing frequently observed effects found with DEHP plasticised PVC extracted in PEG 400. 

Phosphite chelators such as tris-nonyl phenyl phosphite are used as co-stabilisers with Ba/Cd and Ca/Zn to improve heat and light stability at an addition level of about 0.5 phr. Similar co-stabilising effects are shown by the epoxidised vegetable oils such as epoxidised soya bean oil, used at 3-5 phr. Epoxies may also be used at higher levels of 10-15 phr as secondary plasticisers to improve low temperature performance, when their presence also improves compound heat stability. Epoxidised soya bean oils are regarded as non-toxic and are therefore widely used as co-stabilisers in rigid and flexible food packaging applications. 

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