09 December 2015 (08:35 UTC-07 Tango 01)/18 Azar 1394/26 Safar 1437/28 Wu Zi 4713
“Plastic is a way of life; it’s hard to get around that. Every day we could be ingesting tiny amounts of these compounds which, over time, can build up in the body and cause problems.”-Asif Zia, doctor who developed new system for detecting DEHP in food
Researchers from New Zealand’s Massey University have created a detection system for a plastic chemical that could actually alter DNA. The chemical di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate, or DEHP, is classified by the UN’s World Health Organization as an endocrine-disrupter that interferes with the body’s natural hormonal system.
Skin lesions appear on a lab rat’s ear after being injected with DEHP
The biggest concern is that DEHP is found in plastic food containers and is even been used in food and drinks. Companies in the U.S. ally Taiwan have been caught using DEHP to color mass produced beverages. DEHP is also known as a plasticizer and some countries (like the United States) allow food makers to use plastic as a ‘filler’ in mass produced foods (it reduces their costs).
The current DEHP detection systems can take weeks to produce results, and is very expensive so it’s rarely done. The researchers at Massey University claim their new DEHP detection system takes only a few days and is much cheaper.
In 2011, Chinese food regulators forced instant noodle companies in China, Korea and Japan to test their ramen because one brand of noodles tested positive for DEHP. The testing was done by the companies themselves (supposedly through third party testers), and of course they claimed their results were negative. That included Japanese company Nissan and the Korean company NongShim, both make and sell ramen in the United States.
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