讀後心得

Hidden in Taiwan's food packaging are harmful substances known as PFAS. Recently, testing on 8 products revealed that 7 of them contained PFAS. PFAS have waterproof and oil-resistant properties, persist in the environment for long periods, and are difficult to break down, potentially impacting health, particularly leading to liver metabolism abnormalities in children. Research from National Taiwan University shows that PFAS is commonly found in children's blood and may lead to health issues such as metabolic syndrome. Experts point out that PFAS may increase the risk of liver and kidney cancers, emphasizing the need for enhanced management and a ban on their use. The Environmental Protection Administration is accelerating regulatory measures to restrict the use of PFAS in food packaging, but more actions are needed to reduce the risk of human exposure.

Surprise! Hidden toxic substances "PFAS" lurk in food packaging! Of the 8 products sent for inspection in Taiwan, 7 were found to contain PFAS; National Taiwan University also conducted research and found PFAS in the blood of children, which may lead to abnormal liver metabolism. So, what exactly is PFAS? What impact does exposure to PFAS have on health?

The "invisible toxin" in food packaging! How serious is the threat of PFAS? The secretary-general of the Taiwan Environmental Protection Association conducted a simple experiment. He dipped a pencil in oil and dripped it on ordinary paper and a food paper bag, discovering that the oil spread rapidly on ordinary paper, while on the food paper bag, it did not spread at all and formed obvious oil beads. This indicates that this small paper bag possesses oil and water-resistant properties, which may contain PFAS.

The Taiwan Environmental Protection Association collaborated with the International Pollutants Elimination Network to publish the results of a PFAS survey from 17 countries at the end of 2023. Of the 8 products sent for inspection in Taiwan, 7 were found to contain PFAS, including plant fiber meal boxes, cutlery, microwave popcorn bags, and food packaging made from recycled paper.

So, what is PFAS? PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) have waterproof and oil-resistant properties and consist of thousands of types, which are not easily broken down naturally. They are highly persistent and bioaccumulative. These substances may have already seriously infiltrated our daily lives, being commonly found in environments such as oceans, soil, and dust. International studies have detected the presence of PFAS, and National Taiwan University has researched environmental exposure and children's health.

The National Taiwan University team analyzed 290 blood samples from children aged 8 to 10 between 2013 and 2014, testing for 13 common types of PFAS. The results showed that PFAS were widely present in the blood of these children and may have adverse health effects. The study indicated that exposure to substances such as PFOS (perfluorooctane sulfonic acid, a type of PFAS) could lead to abnormal liver lipid metabolism in children, potentially evolving into metabolic syndrome and other health issues, which could have a negative impact on their healthy development.

The director of the nephrology department at Shin Kong Hospital pointed out that PFAS may cause endocrine reproductive toxicity. When concentrations are too high, they may affect male fertility and endocrine gland functions. Additionally, according to animal experiments, PFAS have potential carcinogenic properties and may increase the risk of liver and kidney cancers.

The Environmental Protection Administration is also speeding up the regulation of PFAS, having announced 151 types of PFAS and plans to announce another 357 types early next year. Announced substances will face usage restrictions, especially in the field of food packaging materials, where their use will not be permitted.

In response to this situation, a call has been made for the government to completely ban the production or importation of all types of PFAS domestically. For instance, Denmark has recognized the serious nature of the PFAS issue, proposing a complete ban on the use of PFAS and establishing relevant testing standards.

The Food and Drug Administration, responsible for regulating food container packaging, stated that it will follow the types of PFAS banned by the Environmental Protection Administration for regulation, and if these substances are found added to food packaging, it will be considered illegal.

However, currently, the Environmental Protection Administration only bans about 500 types of PFAS according to the "Stockholm Convention," while in reality, there are over ten thousand types of PFAS. This raises questions about whether such regulatory measures are adequate to effectively prevent PFAS from posing a threat to the environment.

Fang Yu-wei pointed out that the concentration of PFAS detected in soil and oceans has gradually increased in recent years, indicating that our risk of exposure to PFAS from the environment is also rising. To reduce individual exposure to PFAS, it is recommended that everyone carry reusable cutlery, which is not only safer but also more environmentally friendly.

At the same time, environmental groups urge authorities to prohibit the use of PFAS from the source to reduce pollution risks. If effective measures are not taken, PFAS may continue to accumulate in the human body through the food chain, posing a threat to health.