Coatings in food contact materials: Potential source of genotoxic contaminants?

• Published in: Food and chemical toxicology 2017-08, Vol.106 (Pt A), p.496-505
• Main Authors: Mertens, Birgit, Van Bossuyt, M., Fraselle, S., Blaude, M.N., Vanhaecke, T., Rogiers, V., Verschaeve, L., Van Hoeck, E.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Consumer Product Safety; DNA damage; ECHA database; Food contact materials; Food Contamination - analysis; Food Packaging - instrumentation; Humans; In silico; Mutagenicity Tests; Mutagens - analysis; Prioritization strategy; Structure-activity relationship
• ISSN: 0278-6915; 1873-6351
• DOI: 10.1016/j.fct.2017.05.071

Up till now, no harmonized EU regulation exists on chemicals used in coatings for food contact materials (FCM). Therefore, these substances need to comply with the general provisions of EU Regulation 1935/2004 and, if present, with national legislation. Different ‘inventory lists’ of compounds that might be present in coatings are available, but for hundreds of these substances, the potential human health impact of their use in FCM coatings has not (recently) been evaluated. Since detailed evaluation of all compounds is not feasible, a pragmatic approach was developed to identify substances with a potential concern for human health. First, an inventory was assembled containing all substances potentially used in coatings. Afterwards, the genotoxic potential of the non-evaluated substances was predicted in silico using two structure-activity relationship (SAR) software programs. For substances yielding structural alerts in both models, genotoxicity data were collected from previous European evaluations in a non-FCM context and from the European CHemicals Agency (ECHA) website. In total, 53 substances were identified as genotoxic in both in silico models, of which ten were considered to be of high concern. For most of the substances, additional toxicological information is needed. •1976 substances with no (recent) toxicological evaluation may be used in coatings.•53 substances are predicted genotoxic in both ToxTree and Derek Nexus™.•10 high concern substances based on in vivo genotoxicity and/or CMR classification.•Urgent need to investigate actual use of ten high concern substances in coatings.