Re-assessment of the risks to public health related to the genotoxicity of styrene present in plastic food contact materials

Abstract

The EFSA Panel on Food Contact Materials (FCM) was requested by the European Commission to re-evaluate the potential genotoxicity of styrene after oral exposure and its safety for use in plastic FCM with a specific migration limit (SML) of 40 μg/kg food. A rigorous assessment of the in vivo genotoxicity studies (i) provided by third parties, (ii) identified by a targeted literature search and (iii) reported in the 2019 IARC Monograph was performed. All studies were assessed for reliability and relevance and the results integrated in the weight of evidence. The results provided by reliable in vivo oral genotoxicity studies, covering different genetic endpoints and target tissues, including liver, the primary site of metabolism, demonstrated that the oral administration of styrene in mice and rats up to the maximum tolerated dose (300 and 500 mg/kg body weight (bw), respectively) did not induce genotoxic effects. The Panel concluded that there was no evidence that styrene is genotoxic following oral exposure. For substances demonstrated to be non-genotoxic, according to the EFSA Note for Guidance for FCM, an SML up to 50 μg/kg food would not be of safety concern. Consequently, the use of styrene in the manufacture of FCM respecting the SML of 40 μg/kg food proposed by the European Commission is not of safety concern.