Lucknow: Have you ever thought that a food box carrying your pizza or the plastic bottle from which you drink water, could contain a cancer-causing chemical that also suppresses immunity and poses other serious health risks?Not just in food boxes, but in widely used products ranging from non-stick cookware and food packaging materials to cosmetics, textiles, paints and firefighting foams, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) have emerged as a growing environmental and public health concern worldwide.PFAS are used as protective coatings to repel grease, oil and water, and to prevent food from sticking.“PFAS are a large family of man-made chemicals used to make everyday products resistant to water, grease and stains. Due to their resistance to degradation, PFAS remain in the environment for extended periods, raising concerns over long-term exposure and potential health impacts,” researchers at Lucknow-based CSIR–Indian Institute of Toxicology Research (CSIR-IITR) said.Experts at the institute said that while countries such as the United States and members of the European Union have already introduced varying levels of PFAS regulations, India is still at an early stage of developing a regulatory framework. They noted that the absence of comprehensive occurrence data remains one of the biggest hurdles in formulating national standards.To address this gap, CSIR-IITR has established a state-of-the-art PFAS testing facility. The institute has partnered with Waters Corporation, a global leader in analytical technologies, to develop advanced methods for detecting PFAS in food, water and other complex samples.“Using advanced triple quadrupole LC-MS/MS systems, scientists at the institute have developed a rapid analytical method capable of simultaneously detecting and quantifying 45 PFAS compounds in less than 10 minutes. The technology can identify contaminants at ultra-trace levels measured in parts per trillion (ppt), making it among the most sensitive PFAS detection capabilities available in the country,” said an IITR scientist.The institute is now planning international validation of the methodology and intends to publish the protocol in collaboration with Waters Corporation, enabling laboratories worldwide to adopt the technique.Researchers have developed a nanocomposite-based material capable of removing multiple PFAS compounds from drinking water. The technology, trademarked as ‘POP FAS-guard’, is currently being prepared for technology transfer to a Bengaluru-based company.“CSIR-IITR is currently leading several national and international projects aimed at identifying PFAS contamination. One major initiative, undertaken in collaboration with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), seeks to quantify PFAS in consumer products and estimate India’s production, import, export and consumption of PFAS-containing materials,” said Dr. Bhaskar Narayan, director, IITR.How PFAS enters human bodyPFAS transfers from food boxes to the human body primarily occur through migration, heat, and ingestion. Since these ‘forever chemicals’ are not chemically bound to the paper, they could easily find their way into your food and eventually your bloodstream. PFAS migrate (seep) from the plastic walls and caps into the water over time. This process accelerates when bottles are exposed to heat (e.g., leaving a bottle in a hot car) or contain acidic beverages.
