Mito
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“FROM THE CALORIES to the additives, there are many reasons fast food is unhealthy, but a new study of a toxic chemical called PFAS reveals the packaging that contains it may also be doing harm to our bodies.
PFAS, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, refers to a class of chemicals used abundantly in common household items to make objects water or fire resistant. A new study published in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives looked at levels of PFAS in people who ate fast food versus those who ate homecooked meals.
Using data from the CDC’s National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey(NHNES), a comprehensive and regularly maintained dataset, researchers looked at PFAS in blood samples collected from more than 10,000 people from 2003 to 2014.
Five commonly used types of PFAS were found in the blood of around 70 percent of those surveyed.
The survey also questioned people on how often they had eaten fast food over the past 24 hours, week, and month.
After a 24-hour period, those who had eaten fast food consistently showed an increase in the amount of PFAS in their blood. Unlike other common contaminants, which pass through the human body quickly, PFAS can linger for years, meaning that regular fast food consumption adds more PFAS to the system, scientists say.
It’s unclear at what threshold PFAS begins to take a toll on human health. A number of studies have linked the chemical to cancer, thyroid disorders, hormonal changes, and weight gain. Washington state and the city of San Francisco have both passed legislation to limit the use of PFAS in food containers.
A 2017 study conducted on 400 fast food wrappers and containers found that more than half of bread and dessert wrappers contained the fluorine compound. It was also present in nearly 40 percent of sandwich and burger wrappers, and 20 percent of paperboard, the stiff containers used to hold french fries. The chemical is commonly added as a barrier to packaging because it resists water and grease, making food more portable.”
Fast food increases exposure to a 'forever chemical' called PFAS
PFAS, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, refers to a class of chemicals used abundantly in common household items to make objects water or fire resistant. A new study published in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives looked at levels of PFAS in people who ate fast food versus those who ate homecooked meals.
Using data from the CDC’s National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey(NHNES), a comprehensive and regularly maintained dataset, researchers looked at PFAS in blood samples collected from more than 10,000 people from 2003 to 2014.
Five commonly used types of PFAS were found in the blood of around 70 percent of those surveyed.
The survey also questioned people on how often they had eaten fast food over the past 24 hours, week, and month.
After a 24-hour period, those who had eaten fast food consistently showed an increase in the amount of PFAS in their blood. Unlike other common contaminants, which pass through the human body quickly, PFAS can linger for years, meaning that regular fast food consumption adds more PFAS to the system, scientists say.
It’s unclear at what threshold PFAS begins to take a toll on human health. A number of studies have linked the chemical to cancer, thyroid disorders, hormonal changes, and weight gain. Washington state and the city of San Francisco have both passed legislation to limit the use of PFAS in food containers.
A 2017 study conducted on 400 fast food wrappers and containers found that more than half of bread and dessert wrappers contained the fluorine compound. It was also present in nearly 40 percent of sandwich and burger wrappers, and 20 percent of paperboard, the stiff containers used to hold french fries. The chemical is commonly added as a barrier to packaging because it resists water and grease, making food more portable.”
Fast food increases exposure to a 'forever chemical' called PFAS
