Scientists find 3,600 chemicals from food packaging in human bodies

More than 3,600 chemicals used in food packaging or preparation have been detected in human bodies, said a study published on Sept 17.

Around 100 of these chemicals are considered to be of "high concern" to human health, said lead study author Birgit Geueke from the Food Packaging Forum Foundation, a Zurich-based non-governmental organisation.

Some are relatively well studied and have already been found in human bodies, such as PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) and bisphenol A.

But little is known about the health effects of others, Dr Geueke told AFP, calling for more research into how chemicals used in packaging end up being swallowed along with food.

PFAS, also known as forever chemicals, have been detected in many parts of the human body in recent years and linked to a range of health problems.

Bisphenol A, a hormone-disrupting chemical used to make plastics, has already been banned from baby bottles in many countries.