Chemicals That Greaseproof Popcorn Bags Enter Food, Contaminate The Blood

Potentially dangerous chemicals used to coat junk food wrappers and microwave popcorn bags are transferring into food consumed by people and contributing to chemical contamination of  blood, according to a Canadian study. The chemicals – perfluorinated carboxylic acids or PFCAs – result from the breakdown of chemicals used to make non-stick and water- and stain-repellant products like kitchen pans, clothing and food packaging. PFCAs such as perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) are found in humans all around the world. Researchers exposed rats to the common popcorn package greaseproofing agent polyfluoroalkyl phosphate ester (PAP). They found the concentrations of PFOA from PAP metabolism to be significant and concluded that the metabolism of PAPs could be a major source of human exposure to PFOA, as well as other PFCAs.