Toxicological Threshold Risk Scoring for Non-Intentionally Added Substances in Recycled Polymers
Toxicological threshold scoring maps unidentified polymer migrates to Cramer exposure limits, mandating genotoxic screening below 0.00015 mg/kg food.
Hazard Quotient
Meaning
Risk ratios compare the estimated exposure level of a substance to a level at which no adverse health effects are expected. A hazard quotient greater than one indicates that the exposure might pose a risk to consumers.
Exposure Assessment
Scientists calculate the amount of a chemical that a person might ingest based on its migration from the packaging. If the hazard quotient is below the threshold of one, the risk is generally considered acceptable. This calculation takes into account the body weight of the consumer and the daily intake of the food.
Toxicological Reference
Data from animal studies or human trials provide the basis for the safe intake levels. Every substance has a different reference dose, and the hazard quotient reflects how close the actual exposure is to this limit.
Safety Evaluation
Evaluating multiple chemicals requires adding up the risks if they have similar effects on the body. A high hazard quotient for even a single substance can lead to a product recall or a change in the resin formulation. This metric is a standard tool in the safety assessment of food contact materials.
The accuracy of the quotient depends on the quality of the migration data and the toxicity values used.