Latest news with #ANSES
The Guardian
21-07-2025
- Health
- The Guardian
Metal bottle caps ‘surprising' source of microplastic contamination, study finds
Metal bottle caps can be a significant source of microplastic contamination in beverages, a new peer-reviewed study by France's food safety agency finds. Researchers compared microplastic levels in beer, water, wine and soft drinks, and found the substance in all samples, but liquid in glass jars showed the highest levels. The surprising source of the contamination – a polyester-based paint on the glass bottles' metal caps. The findings were 'very surprising', said Alexandre Dehaut, a study co-author with the French agency for food, environmental and occupational health and safety. 'Caps were suspected to be the main source of contamination, as the majority of particles isolated in beverages were identical to the color of caps and shared the composition of the outer paint,' the authors wrote in the study. Microplastics are tiny bits of plastic either intentionally added to consumer goods, or that are products of larger plastics breaking down. The particles contain any number of 16,000 plastic chemicals, of which thousands, such as BPA, phthalates and Pfas, present serious health risks. The substance has been found throughout the human body, and is a neurotoxicant that can cross the placental and brain barriers. It is linked to an increased risk of heart attack and cancer. Diet is thought to be a main exposure route – testing in recent years has consistently identified microplastics in a range of foods and beverages, and packaging is one source of contamination. Researchers in the new study checked beverages in water, glass, metal, and brick bottles, and found microplastics in all. The levels in the glass bottles were highest – about 50 times higher than the plastic. The glass bottles used metal caps, while the plastic bottles came with plastic caps. The plastic caps did not use the same kind of paint as the metal caps, researchers noted. Dehaut said they were led to the paint because the microplastic fragments they found in the beverages seemed to match the paint. Closer scrutiny revealed the microplastics matched material, color and polymeric composition of the paint lining the outside of the caps. It appears the bottle caps are stored post production with thousands of other caps in bags or boxes, and those scrape each other as they are jostled, Dehaut noted. Once the caps are sealed to the bottles, the bits of plastic from the scratches end up in the beverage. The authors were able to see the tiny scrapes and scratches when they placed the caps under a microscope. Sign up to Detox Your Kitchen A seven-week expert course to help you avoid chemicals in your food and groceries. after newsletter promotion Researchers also found that the problem may be easy to solve – the microplastic can be removed from the caps by rinsing and blowing them dry at the end of the manufacturing process. However, Dehaut said the strategy worked in the lab, but it may be more difficult to do on an industrial scale. They also found microplastics that did not come from the paint, meaning the contamination occurred somewhere in the production process, or was in the product's water. Though the dangers of microplastics are coming into sharper focus, the health impacts of those that researchers found in the bottles are unclear because there's so much variation in the type of plastic, and they did not run risk assessments, Dehaut said. Consumers could avoid metal bottle caps. Dehaut said there is little people can do at home about the contamination because the microplastics are already in the beverages. He said the findings point to the need to investigate and avoid contamination further upstream during the production process. 'We should investigate such things, but don't be paranoid,' Dehaut said.
South China Morning Post
07-07-2025
- Health
- South China Morning Post
French study reveals surprising microplastic levels in glass bottles
QUESTION: What did the ANSES study find regarding microplastics in drinks? A study by France's food safety agency, ANSES, found that drinks such as water, soda, beer, and wine in glass bottles contain more microplastics than those in plastic bottles. The researchers found an average of around 100 microplastic particles per litre in glass bottles of soft drinks, lemonade, iced tea and beer. That was five to 50 times higher than the rate detected in plastic bottles or metal cans. 'We expected the opposite result,' said PhD student Iseline Chaib, who conducted the research. They observed that the particles emerging from the samples had the same shape, colour and polymer composition, indicating they were the same type of plastic as the paint on the caps of the glass bottles. The paint on the caps also had 'tiny scratches, invisible to the naked eye, probably due to friction between the caps when they were stored,' the agency said. This could then 'release particles onto the surface of the caps', it added.
Medscape
04-07-2025
- Health
- Medscape
Think Glass Bottles Are Safer? Think Again
• A study by the French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health & Safety (ANSES) measured microplastics (MPs) in various beverages sold in France. • Contamination was found in all drinks, including those in glass bottles. • Without toxicological data, the health risks associated with the consumption of MPs remain unclear. Since the 1950s, plastic production has soared, and single-use plastics have driven pollution in both terrestrial and aquatic environments. As they degrade, they form micro- and nano-plastics that permeate every ecosystem — from 10,000 m beneath the ocean surface to Himalayan glaciers and even clouds. A French national study by the MICROSOF project — led by National Research Institute for Agriculture, Food and Environment and Institute for Research in Materials — found MPs in 75% of soil samples across 33 sites. The findings highlight the widespread presence of MP pollution in French soils and its potential risks to ecosystems and agriculture. Health Risks Although quantifying MPs in the environment and human samples is challenging, micro- and nano-plastics can penetrate organs of exposure, such as the lungs, colon, and skin, and reach distant organs, such as the testes, placenta, kidneys, and brain. A report by the Parliamentary Office for Scientific and Technological Assessment stated that 0.5% of the brain mass is made up of plastic. Moreover, the number of MPs in the lungs increases with age, suggesting long-term persistence in the body. Data indicate that MP exposure may increase the risk for conditions such as stomach cancer, myocardial infarction, and stroke. Their toxicity is also linked to the chemical substances they contain or can absorb from the environment; over 4000 are classified as hazardous to human health. Contamination Levels Humans primarily ingest MPs through contaminated food and drinks. Numerous studies have noted the presence of MPs in bottled and tap water and in certain foods, such as vegetables, fruits, meat, eggs, tea, and rice. ANSES researchers recently measured MP counts in bottled water, soft drinks, iced teas, lemonades, beers, and wines. They detected MPs measuring 30 μm to 500 μm in every beverage, with levels varying by beverage type. Bottled water showed relatively low concentrations (2.9 MPs/L compared to the results already published in the literature. Sodas and lemonades registered 31.4 MPs/L and 101.5MPs/L, respectively; iced teas, 14.6 MPs/L; and beer, 84 MPs/L, with no notable difference between the varied brands evaluated. Wine in glass bottles averaged 12.0 MPs/L, although other studies have reported higher levels. The authors caution that comparing studies is challenging given the variations in standards, the variability in the size of the particles considered, the samples, and the volumes taken. Glass Bottles Beverages in glass bottles contained higher levels of MPs than those in plastic bottles or cans. The MPs matched the colour and polymer composition of the cap materials, suggesting that cap abrasion during large-scale storage drives contamination. Washing caps before sealing can significantly reduce MP levels. Within the glass bottle category, only wine stands out because of the use of cork stoppers.
Yahoo
29-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Scientists make surprising discovery about drinks stored in glass bottles: 'We were expecting the opposite result'
Researchers studying microplastic contamination in common beverages made a startling discovery: Drinks stored in glass bottles contained between five and 50 times the level of microplastics as drinks in plastic bottles. "We were expecting the opposite result when we compared the level of microplastics in different drinks," said Iseline Chaïb of the Aquatic Food Safety Unit, which conducted the study at the ANSES Laboratory for Food Safety. Researchers sought to investigate the levels of microplastics contained in a variety of popular drinks sold in France, as no microplastic study to date had investigated the French beverage market. "The aim of the ANSES study was to determine the level of microplastic contamination in drinks such as water, soda, iced tea, wine, and beer," according to ANSES. "It also sought to establish the impact of their containers on this level." The results shocked even the researchers themselves. "It was observed that the most contaminated containers were glass bottles," the study found. "Caps were suspected to be the main source of contamination, as the majority of the particles in isolated beverages were identical to the color of the caps and shared the composition of the outer paint." Consistent with this hypothesis, wine held in bottles topped with corks showed little sign of microplastic contamination, per ANSES. "On average, in glass bottles of cola, lemonade, iced tea, and beer, there were around 100 microplastic particles per liter," ANSES said. "This number was five to 50 times lower in plastic bottles and cans." The study showed that we cannot simply rely on our intuition or common sense when it comes to protecting ourselves and our families from microplastic contamination. It also demonstrated the troubling extent to which microplastics have permeated our environment, our food supply, our drinking water, and even our bodies. When you think about a product's packaging, which of these factors is more important to you? The way it looks The information it provides The waste it produces I don't think about packaging at all Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. While the full health risks of microplastic contamination are as yet unknown, we do know that microplastics enter the human body via ingestion, skin contact, and even inhalation. "From food consumption alone, the intake of plastic particles in the human body ranges between 39,000 and 52,000 particles per person per year," according to the American Journal of Managed Care. Once inside the body, microplastics enter the bloodstream and spread via the circulatory system. Microplastics have been detected, among other places, in the "liver, colon, lung, feces, placenta, and breast milk," per AJMC, with the highest concentrations found in the colon and liver. Scientists studying the connection between microplastic contamination and certain medical conditions have found that people living in areas with higher levels of microplastic pollution also have a greater risk of diabetes, high blood pressure, and stroke, according to AJMC. While advocates strive toward large-scale initiatives to limit plastic production and waste, there are steps we all can take in our own lives to limit the amount of plastic we use. By finding fun, creative ways to repurpose and reuse plastic containers, we can prevent them from ending up in our landfills and waterways. Better yet, by avoiding single-use plastic containers in the first place, we can send a message to companies that we value more environmentally friendly packaging. Join our free newsletter for weekly updates on the latest innovations improving our lives and shaping our future, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Euronews
27-06-2025
- Health
- Euronews
How can you stay safe from E. coli amid a deadly outbreak in France?
A 12-year-old girl died in a food poisoning outbreak that has sickened about two dozen people in northern France. The outbreak, which appears to be linked to meat contaminated with the bacteria E. coli, has affected 24 children and one older person in the Saint-Quentin area since June 12. According to the regional health authority, nine patients – including the girl who died – developed hemolytic-uremic syndrome, a serious condition that can cause anaemia and kidney damage. As of Thursday, 10 people were still hospitalised. Here's what we know about the outbreak and how to keep yourself safe from E. coli. How were people infected with E. coli? French government agencies are investigating the origins of the outbreak. They believe it is linked to six butcher shops that may have sold contaminated meat, the regional government said on Thursday. Scientists are analysing samples from the butcher shops and patients to confirm where the bacteria came from. They expect to have answers in the coming days. Although most of the cases involve children, officials do not believe that school meals are to blame. How is France responding to the outbreak? The butcher shops under investigation have been temporarily closed, and prosecutors in Saint-Quentin and Paris have launched a legal probe into the outbreak. French authorities also issued public alerts about events where the shops sold meat in recent days, including a football tournament, a basketball festival, and a school fair. They advised people who have shopped there since June 1 to throw out any food, clean their refrigerators, and seek medical help if they develop symptoms such as bloody, mucousy diarrhoea. What are the symptoms of E. coli poisoning? Most strains of E. coli (Escherichia coli) are harmless, but some produce Shiga toxins that can make people sick, according to France's food safety agency (ANSES). Most people experience mild diarrhoea and stomach pain and tend to recover within a week. However, E. coli infection can also cause severe complications such as hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), which occurs when small blood vessels are damaged and form clots that can hurt the organs. In 2023, 143 children in France developed HUS, with most cases among toddlers under the age of three, ANSES said. Symptoms can appear within 10 days of eating contaminated food, and include bloody diarrhoea, fever, vomiting, and stomach pain, cramping, or bloating. Signs of HUS-induced anaemia or kidney damage include easy bruising, loss of colour, fatigue, unusual bleeding, high blood pressure, and swelling of the legs, feet, or ankles. Kidney failure can be life-threatening, but most people who receive treatment for E. coli poisoning or HUS will recover. How can people protect against E. coli infection? Wash your hands with soap and water after using the toilet and before and after preparing food. Thoroughly cook your meat, wash your vegetables, and store and prepare raw foods separately from cooked foods, according to the regional government's alert. People should also refrigerate leftovers quickly and reheat them to kill off any bacteria. Meanwhile, children under the age of 5 should not drink raw milk or untreated water, for example, from a stream or well.
