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| © Joshua Lott / Reuters |
Fast food contains an
"alarming" amount of potentially toxic industrial chemicals like
phthalates, according to a new study that links high fast-food consumption with
increased levels of the harmful, non-natural substances.
RT
News report continues:
People
who said they consumed more fast food were exposed to higher levels of
phthalates – chemicals found in processed foods and consumer-product packaging
that have been linked to infertility, especially in males – according to
researchers at George Washington University's Milken Institute School of Public
Health.
"People
who ate the most fast food had phthalate levels that were as much as 40 percent
higher," said study lead author Ami Zota, an assistant professor of
environmental and occupational health at Milken Institute SPH. "Our
findings raise concerns because phthalates have been linked to a number of
serious health problems in children and adults."
The
researchers gathered data from federal nutrition surveys taken by about 9,000
people between the years 2003 and 2010. The surveys detailed diet choices in
the previous 24 hours, as well as results of concurrently gathered urine
samples. The researchers found that one-third of the subjects reported
consuming fast food in the 24 hours prior to the urine samples. Those
participants tended to show much higher levels of two phthalates, DEHP and
DiNP.
Zota
and the research team found that the more fast food consumed, the higher the
exposure to phthalates. Those consuming the most fast food showed 23.8 percent
more DEHP in their urine, and nearly 40 percent more DiNP metabolites compared
to those who did not consume fast food in the previous 24 hours.
Grain
and meat items were the top contributors to phthalate exposure, the researchers
found.
"We're
not trying to create paranoia or anxiety, but I do think our findings are
alarming," said Zota, according
to the Washington Post. "It's not every day that you conduct a study
where the results are this strong."
DEHP
and DiNP are used in a variety of products and packaging, including cosmetic
items and toys. Used in industrial food production, they can leach into
consumable substances. DEHP exposure has been linked to diabetes, allergies in children,
and negative child
behaviour, among other conditions. In 2008, some
phthalates, including DEHP, were banned in the US for the production of
children's toys.
"Phthalates
are chemical plasticizers that are often used in the production of many types
of plastics," the US Consumer Product Safety Commission says.
"Phthalates most often, but not always, are used to make plastics softer
and/or more pliable."
Zota
said the study took into account the participants' background and other factors
that could have exacerbated the findings.
"We
looked at it in so many different ways, and the effect still remains,"
said Zota.
The
study did not find that high fast-food intake was associated with increased
levels of BPA (bisphenol-A), a chemical used in plastic food packaging. Yet the
study did find that participants who ate fast-food meat products had higher
levels of BPA than those who did not eat fast food.
"I
really hope this study helps raise public awareness about the exposure problems
caused by our industrialized food system," said Zota.
The findings were published
in the journal Environmental
Health Perspectives.
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