Researchers have estimated a global economic cost of $1.5 trillion per year associated with three toxic chemicals commonly found in plastics and food contact materials—BPA, DEHP, and PBDEs—due to premature deaths, chronic diseases, and lower IQs.
Food contaminated with polybrominated diphenyl ethers pose a health risk to all age groups, according to the draft conclusion of a recent scientific opinion by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA). A public consultation on the opinion is available.