Researchers found a dangerous plasticizer in urine samples – children are particularly affected. Dr. explains where this could come from and what is being done about it. Marike Kolossa from the Federal Environment Agency in conversation with SWR2.
Audio herunterladen (4 MB | MP3)
Any substance found could endanger reproduction
Ralf Caspary, SWR2: In the currently ongoing one sixth German environmental health study The metabolite MNHEXP has so far been discovered in 37 percent of the samples. What kind of material is this?
Toxicologist Dr. Marike Kolossa, Federal Environment Agency: We suspect that it is actually a phthalate, a plasticizer. This is a group of substances that has a reproductively harmful effect and which we monitor closely for that very reason.
In a German environmental study, a substance has been found in 37 percent of the urine samples so far, which is probably a dangerous and banned plasticizer.
IMAGO / fStop Images
Search for source: substance is probably a dangerous plasticizer
Ralf Caspary: But they don’t know 100% yet, do they?
Dr. A.S. Marike Colossae: That is very difficult to say because we are looking at a substance that is not even approved in Europe. That’s why we don’t know whether and where it is used.
We are now looking for the source. The most obvious thing is that this phthalate is actually the origin of the metabolite. Of course, you can also make other theoretical chemical considerations, which we are also pursuing.
Ralf Caspary: What considerations do you have?
Dr. A.S. Marike Colossae: This could, for example, be a larger multi-chain phthalate, from which a side chain then breaks off. Because large molecules are not necessarily stable. But these are very theoretical considerations. We think it is most likely that it is actually a breakdown product of this unapproved phthalate.
Dangerous plasticizer is banned in Europe
Ralf Caspary: Do you have any idea or hypothesis as to where the plasticizer could have been or is in it?
Dr. A.S. Marike Colossae: That is exactly the difficult question. Because the substance has not been approved since 2013 Substance of particular concern is listed, there is of course no information about who uses it.
We’ve seen in research that it has theoretically previously been used in niche applications – for small seals or special types of rubber gloves. But actually it couldn’t be on the market because there is no registration and no approval for the substance in Europe.
Plasticizers are contained in products such as cables, foils, floor coverings and sporting goods. However, some plasticizers are dangerous and therefore banned in Europe.
IMAGO / perspective
Plasticizer could come from imported products
Dr. A.S. Marike Colossae: It is of course a problem that the registration requirement does not apply to imported products. In this respect, it could well be that it is imported products that are now bringing this substance to people in Europe.
Plasticizer exposure is particularly high in children
Ralf Caspary: Was the substance only found in adults or were there also samples from children and young people?
Dr. A.S. Marike Colossae: In North Rhine-Westphalia, the State Office for Nature Conservation conducted a study of kindergarten children. You also saw that they hardly found any contamination in 2015, but then it was already 26 percent in the samples from 2017 and 2018 and in the samples from 2021 60 percent of children are affected – a growing trend.
We cannot yet make a trend statement for adults. We are currently investigating this with a time trend analysis in samples from the environmental sample bank.
Does the dangerous plasticizer come from certain children’s products?
Ralf Caspary: We now know the period in which there were changes in the children. Can you then research whether something has changed in the objects that the children handle?
Dr. A.S. Marike Colossae: You could look at that. If we knew the time period in which the substance occurs or begins to occur, we could better locate the sources. Of course, we have a bit of a hypothesis that if it is confirmed that the substance is occurring more frequently between 2017 and 2018, then it could actually be a substitute for other reproductively toxic phthalates that were banned at that time.
CANCER-PRODUCING MELAMINE Plastic, stainless steel, melamine resin: Which tableware is best for children?
Why it’s better to stay away from melamine resin and what alternatives are: dishes made of plastic, stainless steel, ceramic, wood, bamboo, porcelain, ceramic and silicone in the check.
Dangerous plasticizer affects child development
Ralf Caspary: You have just indicated that this substance is classified as a health hazard. Do you know exactly what it does in the body?
Dr. A.S. Marike Colossae: Yes, the substance inhibits or disrupts the hormonal system and has a negative effect on fertility. Above all, men’s fertility. And the substance also influences the growth of the child in the womb.
Authorities are on the trail of the dangerous plasticizer
Ralf Caspary: Should you be worried now?
Dr. A.S. Marike Colossae: I think we have such a good precautionary system in Germany for investigating something like that that I would say German authorities have this relatively well under control.
Of course, we are now working with the European authorities responsible for chemical approvals and are currently setting up a European network for this purpose. I would say that the risks are limited, especially because we have greatly limited the other substances that have an additive effect on this substance in recent years. We are also seeing a sharp decrease in exposure to these substances. I think you can trust us to quickly solve the problem for the population.