On 2.6.20 the Danish Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) made a database public online on chemicals recognized as endocrine disruptors. That is to say, capable of interfering with the functioning of the endocrine system (sex hormones and the thyroid in particular).
Harmful chemicals - often present in everyday objects, therein including MOCAs (Materials and Articles in Contact with Food) - that the European Commission he insists on neglecting.
Endocrine disruptors, the database
The database of endocrine disruptors (Endocrine disruptors, ED) was carried out by the national environmental authorities of 5 EU Member States. Belgium, Denmark, France, the Netherlands and Sweden. (1)
The chemicals responsible for alterations of the endocrine system, EDC (Endocrine disruptor chemicals), are collected in three separate lists:
- substances already recognized as EDC and subject to restrictions on use at EU level,
- EDC under evaluation, in accordance with EU legislation,
- substances identified as EDC from at least one of the Member States participating in the project and yet not considered by the European Commission.
Un of extraordinary breadth, accessible to all, where it is possible to consult the scientific literature available on each of the hundreds of substances listed.
Endocrine disruptors, a wake up call to the European Commission
The Danish Environmental Protection Agency presents Endocrine Disruptors List as a stimulus to the necessary protection of the public health of European citizens with respect to toxic and harmful chemicals.
'The purpose of this database is mainly to inform interested parties about the current status of substances identified as endocrine disruptors (EDs) or under evaluation for endocrine disrupting properties within the EU.
The lists of (potential) EDs are compiled on the basis of the available scientific literature, in order to speed up the process of identifying and regulating EDs in the EU. Avoiding duplication of work and inconsistencies in substance evaluation between legislation.
The list of endocrine disruptors compiled by the EU, moreover, are not yet available ' (APE, press release 2.6.20).
Chemical risks, the omissions of Brussels
The 'transparency' operation realized through the two lists, on endocrine disruptors already evaluated or under examination at European level, has an undeniable usefulness. For supply chain operators, authorities and the scientific community, citizens.
The third list it is even more useful, as it reveals the chemical risks of impacting public health than however, the European Commission failed to consider.
9 dangerous but ignored substances
In line with the spirit of the promoters of the database - increase transparency, coherence and coordination between legislative areas - here are the 9 chemicals included in the third list of the Endocrine Disruptor List and evaluated by the Danish Center for Endocrine Disruptors (CeHoS) as early as 2018:
- bisphenol AF, similar to the best known bisphenol A, used in the production of many polymers.
- butylparaben e isobutyl paraben, two parabens used as preservatives in food, drugs and cosmetics. Of the two substances, only the first is under evaluation at EU level. To recognize them in the labels of cosmetics it is useful to know their alternative names:
- butylparaben, butyl 4-hydroxybenzoate (CAS 94-26-8),
- isobutyl paraben, isobutyl 4-hydroxybenzoate, isobutyl-p-hydroxybenzoate (CAS 4247-02-3)
- di-n-pentyl phthalate (DPP), a phthalate used as a plasticizer. Very dangerous also for aquatic life,
- octamethylcyclotetrasiloxane - D4 (also referred to as Cyclic dimethylsiloxane tetramer, OMCTS) is a silicone widely used in cosmetics and personal hygiene products. Also very dangerous for aquatic life. In the ingredient list of cosmetics it can also be identified with CAS number 556-67-2,
- prochloraz is a broad spectrum fungicide widely used in gardening and agriculture (wheat, barley, mushrooms, cherries). The EU authorization expires on 31.12.2. In the EU it is approved in 25 countries (except Malta and Denmark). Alternative name N-propyl-N- [2- (2,4,6-trichlorophenoxy) ethyl] imidazole-1-carboxamide), CAS number 67747-09-5,
- salicylic acid (salicylic acid) has bacteriostatic, fungicidal and keratolytic effects. The substance is used in many skin care products to treat acne, psoriasis, corns, keratoses, and warts. In addition to the formulation of the best known anti-inflammatory with the Aspirin brand.
Marta Strinati
Footnotes
(1) The database Endocrine Disruptor Lists is accessible on https://edlists.org/ The authorities of the 5 Member States that participated in its compilation are:
- Belgian Federal Public Service, Health, Food chain safety and environment, https://www.health.belgium.be/en
- Danish Environmental Protection Agency, https://eng.mst.dk/
- Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management (Netherlands), https://www.government.nl/ministries/ministry-of-infrastructure-and-water-management
- French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health & Safety (ANSES), https://www.anses.fr/en
- Swedish Chemicals Agency (KEMI), https://www.kemi.se/en
Professional journalist since January 1995, he has worked for newspapers (Il Messaggero, Paese Sera, La Stampa) and periodicals (NumeroUno, Il Salvagente). She is the author of journalistic surveys on food, she has published the book "Reading labels to know what we eat".
