Part.4 - Should we worry about our health
05.
We, as a society, need the same risk-based approach for plastic products.
Their constituents are trapped in the plastic matrix and only tiny traces of some chemical constituents can migrate from the end products. Because this migration is strictly regulated for sensitive applications, the associated potential health risks, if any, are marginal and well under control.
A hazard-based approach would be too simplistic:
- Not making use of all the available scientific data, e.g. actual population exposure,
- Eventually leading to ban highly beneficial products and applications,
- Ignoring which performance is lost when replacing chemicals.
Especially when less scientific knowledge is available on alternative chemicals, that often cannot fully match the set of performances of the original ones.
Authorities should keep their risk-based approach:
- Building scientific knowledge about the health hazards of these substances
- Defining the population’s exposure to these substances, especially for vulnerable populations
- Determining if this exposure is acceptable from a public health perspective.
- Adopting specific measures to ensure the safe use of substances in intended conditions, e.g. setting specific migration limits in sensitive applications, such as food packaging, medical devices and toys..
01. The need for a risk-based approach
05.
We, as a society, need the same risk-based approach for plastic products.
Their constituents are trapped in the plastic matrix and only tiny traces of some chemical constituents can migrate from the end products. Because this migration is strictly regulated for sensitive applications, the associated potential health risks, if any, are marginal and well under control.
A hazard-based approach would be too simplistic:
- Not making use of all the available scientific data, e.g. actual population exposure,
- Eventually leading to ban highly beneficial products and applications,
- Ignoring which performance is lost when replacing chemicals.
Especially when less scientific knowledge is available on alternative chemicals, that often cannot fully match the set of performances of the original ones.
Authorities should keep their risk-based approach:
- Building scientific knowledge about the health hazards of these substances
- Defining the population’s exposure to these substances, especially for vulnerable populations
- Determining if this exposure is acceptable from a public health perspective.
- Adopting specific measures to ensure the safe use of substances in intended conditions, e.g. setting specific migration limits in sensitive applications, such as food packaging, medical devices and toys..