Microplastics and other chemicals have been widely detected in fish and seafood, as well as other products like bottled water, beer, honey, and tap water.  The government has not yet issued any formal advisories on toxic chemical consumption in food.  Until they do, it is advised to seek out unadulterated, so-called “organic foods”, and filter or consume tested spring water. Although Organic foods have also been found to be contaminated with toxic chemicals, concentrations are usually less.  Also, it is advised to avoid single-use plastics, favor reusable tote bags for grocery shopping rather than plastic bags, and opt for loose leaf tea or paper tea bags rather than mesh-based alternatives. 

The toxicology of plastics is complex, and medical, occupational, and environmental toxicologists are challenged because of the sheer numbers of potential plastic contaminants in the food and water we consume.  The following is a list of the most commonly consumed plastic and chemical adulterants, where they are found, and the adverse health and toxic effects associated with each category.  The FDA has yet to ban many of the following substances from food products or packaging.

Phthalates

Phthalates are chemicals used to make plastics soft and durable, as well as to bind fragrances. They are commonly found in household items such as vinyl (eg, flooring, shower curtains) and fragrances, air fresheners, and perfumes.

Phthalates are known hormone-disrupting chemicals, exposure to which has been associated with abnormal sexual and brain development and children, as well as lower levels of testosterone in men. Exposures are thought to occur via inhalation, ingestion, and skin contact; however, fasting studies demonstrate that a majority of exposure is probably food related.

To avoid phthalate exposures, recommendations include avoiding polyvinyl chloride plastics (particularly food containers, plastic wrap, and children’s toys), which is identifiable by the recycle code number 3, as well as air fresheners and fragranced products.

There is a data base maintained by the Environmental Working Group, Skin Deep database that provides a resource on phthalate-free personal care products.

Bisphenol A (BPA)

BPA is a chemical additive used to make clear and hard polycarbonate plastics, as well as epoxy and thermal papers. BPA is one of the highest-volume chemicals, with about 6 billion pounds produced each year.  BPA is traditionally found in many clear plastic bottles and sippy cups, as well as in the lining of canned foods.

Structurally, BPA acts as an estrogen mimetic and has been associated with cardiovascular disease, obesity, and male sexual dysfunction. Since 2012, BPA has been banned in sippy cups and baby bottles, but there is some debate as to whether its replacements (bisphenol S and bisphenol F) are any safer; they appear to have similar hormonal effects as BPA.

As with phthalates, the majority of ingestion is thought to be food related. Numerous studies have shown that BPA was found in more than 90% of the representative study populations in the United States.

Guidance advises avoiding polycarbonate plastics (identifiable with the recycling code number 7), as well as avoiding handling thermal papers such as tickets and receipts, if possible. Food and beverages should be stored in glass or stainless steel. If plastic must be used, opt for polycarbonate- and polyvinyl chloride–free plastics, and food and beverage should never be reheated in plastic containers or wrapping. Canned foods should ideally be avoided, particularly canned tunas and condensed soups. If canned products are bought, they should ideally be BPA free.

Dioxins and Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs)

Dioxins are mainly the byproducts of industrial practices; they are released after incineration, trash burning, and fires. PCBs, which are somewhat structurally related to dioxins, were previously found in products such as flame retardants and coolants. Dioxins and PCBs are often grouped in the same category under the umbrella term “persistent organic pollutants” because they break down slowly and remain in the environment even after emissions have been curbed.

Tetrachlorodibenzodioxin, a common dioxin, is a known carcinogen. Dioxins also have been associated with a host of adverse health effects in development, immunity, and reproductive and endocrine systems. Higher levels of PCB exposure have also been associated with an increased risk for mortality from cardiovascular diseases.

Notably, dioxin emissions have been reduced by 90% since the 1980s, and the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has banned the use of PCBs in industrial manufacturing since 1979. However, environmental dioxins and PCBs still enter the food chain and accumulate in fat.

The best ways to avoid exposures are through limiting meat, fish, and dairy consumption and trimming the skin and fat from meats. The level of dioxins and PCBs found in meat, eggs, fish, and dairy are approximately approximately 5-10 times higher than they are in plant-based foods. Research has shown that farmed salmon is likely to be the most PCB-conatminated protein source in the U.S. diet.  However, newer forms of land-based and sustainable aquaculture probably avoid this exposure.

Pesticides

The growth of modern monoculture agriculture in the United States over the past century has coincided with a substantial surge in the use of industrial pesticides. Again, over 90% of the U.S. population has been found to have pesticides in their urine and blood, regardless of where they live.

About 1 billion pounds of pesticides are used annually in the United States, including nearly 300 million pounds of glyphosphate, which has been identified as a probable carcinogen by European regulatory agencies. The EPA has not yet reached this conclusion, although the matter is currently being litigated.

A recent large European prospective cohort trial (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30422212/) demonstrated a lower risk for cancer in those with a greater frequency of self-reported organic food consumption. In addition to cancer risk, relatively elevated blood levels of a pesticide known as beta-hexachlorocyclohexane (B-HCH) are associated with higher all-cause mortality (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29017533/). Also, exposure to DDE — a metabolite of DDT, a chlorinated pesticide heavily used in the 1940s-1960s that still persists in the environment today — has been shown to increase the risk for Alzheimer’s-type dementia as well as overall cognitive decline (https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamaneurology/fullarticle/1816015#google_vignette).

Because these chlorinated pesticides are often fat soluble, they seem to accumulate in animal products. Therefore, people consuming a vegetarian diet have been found to have lower levels of B-HCH. This has led to the recommendation that consumers of produce should favor organic over conventional, if possible. Here too, the Environmental Working Group (EWG) provides an important resource to consumers in the form of shopper guides regarding pesticides in produce.

Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS)

PFAS are a group of fluorinated compounds discovered in the 1930s. Their chemical composition includes a durable carbon-fluoride bond, giving them a persistence within the environment. They have been called “forever chemicals.”

Studies have shown that PFAS have been detected in the blood of 98% of Americans.  Low levels of exposure have been associated with an increased risk for cancer, liver disease, low birthweight, and hormonal disruption (https://www.epa.gov/pfas/our-current-understanding-human-health-and-environmental-risks-pfas).

The properties of PFAS also make them both durable at very high heat and water repellent. Of note, the chemical was used by 3M to make Scotchgard for carpets and fabrics and by Dupont to make Teflon for nonstick coating of pots and pans. Although perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) was removed from nonstick cookware in 2013, PFAS, that comprise thousands of synthetic compounds, remain common in fast-food packaging, water- and stain-repellent clothing, firefighting foam, and personal care products. PFAS are released into the environment during the breakdown of these consumer and industrial products, as well as from dumping from waste facilities.

The EWG notes that up to 200 million Americans may be exposed to PFAS in their drinking water. In March 2021, the EPA announced that they will be regulating PFAS in drinking water; however, the regulations have not been finalized. Currently, it is up to individual states to test for its presence in the water. The EWG has compiled a map of all known PFAS contamination sites.

To avoid or prevent exposures from PFAS, recommendations include filtering tap water with either reverse osmosis or activated carbon filters, as well as avoiding fast food and carry-out food, if possible, and consumer products labeled as “water resistant,” “stain-resistant,” and “nonstick.”

In a testament to how harmful these chemicals are, the EPA recently revised their lifetime health advisories for PFAS, such as PFOA, to 0.004 parts per trillion, which is more than 10,000 times smaller than the previous limit of 70 parts per trillion. The EPA also has proposed formally designating certain PFAS chemicals as “hazardous substances.”

Source: Medscape/Web MD, Original article 2023, Updated 2025.