How does the endocrine issue relate to packaging?
To the best of our knowledge, there is no evidence drawing a direct connection between any packaging material and actual adverse endocrine effects. Certain industrial chemicals used to make food packaging materials, including some plastics and can coatings, have been the subject of claims that they are potential endocrine disruptors. The chemicals against which such claims have been directed include various phthalate plasticizers, certain styrene oligomers, and bisphenol A. These substances also have uses other than packaging materials, and concerns have been expressed by some about exposure from medical devices and toys. One chemical that has been the subject of much scrutiny over its alleged endocrine effects is di-(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (DEHP), a compound used as a plasticizer for polyvinyl chloride (PVC) medical devices. FOOTNOTES 1The use of the term “adverse” in the definition of an endocrine disruptor has been somewhat controversial. Proponents of including “adverse” reason tha
