Aanwijzingen voor gezondheidsrisico's in consumentenproducten met claims over gezondheid, milieu en/of duurzaamheid?

Statements such as ‘natural’, ‘organic’ or ‘vegan’ are becoming increasingly common on consumer products. These are referred to as health, environmental and/or sustainability claims. Consumers often think that products with such a claim are healthier and/or safer. The question is whether that assumption is correct, or whether these products can still be harmful to health. For the human body, it makes no difference whether a chemical substance is manmade (synthetic) or natural. Due to the wide range of consumer products on the market, RIVM has focused on personal care products with words such as ‘natural’, ‘organic’ or ‘vegan’ on the packaging. It identified which chemicals (ingredients) are present in these products. The 35 most common ingredients were investigated further. For most of these ingredients, it is not expected that normal use of the product containing them will have adverse health effects. However, RIVM does have concerns about ‘botanical ingredients’ in personal care products. These ingredients come from plants and may contain substances such as linalool and limonene. Linalool and limonene can cause an allergic reaction. Furthermore, there are concerns that botanical ingredients may contain pesticide residues and heavy metals. For many botanical ingredients, there is very limited hazard information available. More research should clarify whether these concerns are justified. RIVM has also listed which labels are often found on consumer products with health, environmental and/or sustainability claims and what they mean. For personal care products, these are mainly COSMetic Organic and Natural Standard (COSMOS), NATRUE and Vegan. In the case of claims such as ‘non-toxic’, ‘free from...’ or ‘hypoallergenic’, it is often not clear to consumers what they mean. Moreover, some claims appear not to comply with the applicable regulations and legislation. Further research could focus on whether the claims investigated in this study comply with regulations. RIVM considers it important that the meaning of labels and claims on packaging becomes clearer to consumers. It therefore recommends making more information available about this, for instance on the website waarzitwatin.nl. The European Commission recently presented a draft directive to tighten the regulation of new labels and claims.Op steeds meer producten staan woorden als ‘natuurlijk’, ‘biologisch’ of ‘vegan’. Dit zijn zogenoemde gezondheids-, milieu- en/of duurzaamheidsclaims. Consumenten denken vaak dat producten met zo’n claim gezonder en/of veiliger zijn. De vraag is of dat klopt, of dat ze toch schadelijk kunnen zijn voor de gezondheid. Voor het menselijk lichaam maakt het namelijk niet uit of een chemische stof door de mens (synthetisch) of de natuur gemaakt is. Vanwege het grote aanbod aan producten heeft het RIVM zich gericht op persoonlijke verzorgingsproducten waarop woorden als ‘natuurlijk’, ‘biologisch’ of ‘vegan’ staan. Denk aan shampoo en zeep. Het heeft in kaart gebracht welke chemische stoffen (ingrediënten) erin zitten. De 35 ingrediënten die het meeste voorkomen, zijn verder onderzocht. Voor de meeste van deze ingrediënten geldt dat normaal gebruik van de producten waar ze in zitten geen schadelijke gezondheidseffecten heeft. Wel heeft het RIVM zorgen over ‘plantaardige ingrediënten’ in persoonlijke verzorgingsproducten. Deze ingrediënten komen uit planten en kunnen stoffen zoals linalool en limoneen bevatten. Linalool en limoneen kunnen een allergische reactie veroorzaken. Ook zijn er zorgen omdat botanische ingrediënten resten van bestrijdingsmiddelen en zware metalen kunnen bevatten. En van veel botanische ingrediënten is weinig bekend over hun gevaarseigenschappen. Meer onderzoek moet duidelijk maken of deze zorgen terecht zijn. Het RIVM heeft ook op een rij gezet welke keurmerken vaak staan op consumentenproducten met gezondheids-, milieu- en/of duurzaamheidsclaims en wat ze betekenen. Voor persoonlijke verzorgingsproducten zijn dat vooral COSMetic Organica and Natural Standard (COSMOS), NATRUE en Vegan. Van claims als ‘non toxic’, ‘vrij van…’ of ‘hypoallergeen’ is vaak niet duidelijk wat ze betekenen of wat de fabrikant ermee bedoelt. Bovendien lijken de claims soms niet te voldoen aan de regels en wetten die hiervoor gelden. Meer onderzoek is nodig om te kijken of de producten voldoen. Het RIVM vindt het belangrijk dat het voor consumenten duidelijker wordt welke keurmerken en claims waarvoor staan. Het raadt daarom onder andere aan meer informatie hierover te geven op de website waarzitwatin.nl. Op Europees niveau wordt gewerkt aan een richtlijn over claims op producten en regels waar milieu-keurmerken aan moeten voldoen

Enzymes in consumer products. An inventory of non-food products, regulatory frameworks, hazards and considerations for risk assessment

Enzymes are increasingly being added to consumer products such as cleaning products and personal care products. This is done to dissolve dirt or stains, for example. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA) wants to know whether the use of enzymes is safe, especially in new types of products. RIVM has therefore made an overview of the products containing them and which regulatory frameworks apply to them. It was also examined whether it is possible to assess whether the use is safe. The overview makes it clear that there is insufficient information available about the amount of enzymes in certain products and about the amount that is safe for specific enzymes. It is also not clear to what extent consumers are exposed to enzymes. As a result, there is not enough information to assess whether the use of products containing enzymes is safe. This research helps to make recommendations for future evaluation of enzymes in consumer products. The inventory identified 184 cleaning products, 46 personal care products, 12 veterinary hygiene products and 2 pet care products containing enzymes. The products are subject to various regulatory frameworks, such as for personal care products or for cleaning products. The type of enzymes used and the amount were usually not stated on the packaging. In addition, a survey among manufacturers showed that most would not share their product enzyme concentrations. They do expect to use more enzymes in the future. The main health effect that enzymes can cause is respiratory sensitisation. This effect can arise, for example, if consumers are exposed to enzymes through air when using sprays. RIVM conducted this study on behalf of the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA). It is a follow-up to the earlier study into microbial cleaning products

Enzymen in consumentenproducten. Een inventarisatie van non-food producten, wetgeving, gevaarseigenschappen en overwegingen voor risicobeoordeling

Enzymes are increasingly being added to consumer products such as cleaning products and personal care products. This is done to dissolve dirt or stains, for example. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA) wants to know whether the use of enzymes is safe, especially in new types of products. RIVM has therefore made an overview of the products containing them and which regulatory frameworks apply to them. It was also examined whether it is possible to assess whether the use is safe. The overview makes it clear that there is insufficient information available about the amount of enzymes in certain products and about the amount that is safe for specific enzymes. It is also not clear to what extent consumers are exposed to enzymes. As a result, there is not enough information to assess whether the use of products containing enzymes is safe. This research helps to make recommendations for future evaluation of enzymes in consumer products. The inventory identified 184 cleaning products, 46 personal care products, 12 veterinary hygiene products and 2 pet care products containing enzymes. The products are subject to various regulatory frameworks, such as for personal care products or for cleaning products. The type of enzymes used and the amount were usually not stated on the packaging. In addition, a survey among manufacturers showed that most would not share their product enzyme concentrations. They do expect to use more enzymes in the future. The main health effect that enzymes can cause is respiratory sensitisation. This effect can arise, for example, if consumers are exposed to enzymes through air when using sprays. RIVM conducted this study on behalf of the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA). It is a follow-up to the earlier study into microbial cleaning products.Enzymen worden steeds vaker toegevoegd aan producten voor consumenten, zoals schoonmaakmiddelen en persoonlijke verzorgingsproducten. Dit wordt gedaan om bijvoorbeeld vuil of vlekken op te lossen. De Nederlandse Voedsel- en Warenautoriteit (NVWA(Nederlandse Voedsel- en Warenautoriteit)) wil weten of het gebruik van enzymen veilig is, vooral in nieuwe soorten producten. Het RIVM heeft daarom een overzicht gemaakt van de producten waar ze in zitten en welke wetten daarvoor gelden. Ook is gekeken of het mogelijk is om te bepalen of het gebruik veilig is. Het overzicht maakt duidelijk dat er onvoldoende informatie beschikbaar is over de hoeveelheid enzymen in bepaalde producten en welke hoeveelheid voor specifieke enzymen veilig is. Ook is niet duidelijk in welke mate consumenten aan enzymen blootstaan. Daardoor is er ook niet genoeg informatie om te kunnen beoordelen of het gebruik van producten met enzymen veilig is. Dit onderzoek helpt om aanbevelingen te doen voor een toekomstige evaluatie van enzymen in producten voor consumenten. In ons marktonderzoek zijn er 184 schoonmaakproducten met enzymen gevonden, 46 producten voor persoonlijke verzorging, 12 veterinaire hygieneproducten en 2 huisdierverzorgingsproducten. De producten vallen onder verschillende wetten, zoals voor persoonlijke verzorgingsproducten of voor schoonmaakmiddelen. Het gebruikte type enzymen en de hoeveelheid stonden meestal niet op de verpakking vermeld. Ook bleek uit een enquete onder producenten dat de meeste hun enzymenconcentraties niet konden delen. Wel verwachten ze in de toekomst meer enzymen te gaan gebruiken. Het belangrijkste effect op de gezondheid dat enzymen kunnen veroorzaken is sensibilisatie van de luchtwegen. Dit effect kan bijvoorbeeld ontstaan als consumenten bij het gebruik van sprays via de lucht aan enzymen worden blootgesteld. Het RIVM heeft dit onderzoek gedaan in opdracht van de NVWA. Het is een vervolg op de eerdere studie naar microbiele reinigingsmiddelen

The Effects of the Food Additive Titanium Dioxide (E171) on Tumor Formation and Gene Expression in the Colon of a Transgenic Mouse Model for Colorectal Cancer

Titanium dioxide (TiO2) is present in many different food products as the food additive E171, which is currently scrutinized due to its potential adverse effects, including the stimulation of tumor formation in the gastrointestinal tract. We developed a transgenic mouse model to examine the effects of E171 on colorectal cancer (CRC), using the Cre-LoxP system to create an Apc-gene-knockout model which spontaneously develops colorectal tumors. A pilot study showed that E171 exposed mice developed colorectal adenocarcinomas, which were accompanied by enhanced hyperplasia in epithelial cells, lymphatic nodules at the base of the polyps, and increased tumor size. In the main study, tumor formation was studied following the exposure to 5 mg/kg(bw)/day of E171 for 9 weeks (Phase I). E171 exposure showed a statistically nonsignificant increase in the number of colorectal tumors in these transgenic mice, as well as a statistically nonsignificant increase in the average number of mice with tumors. Gene expression changes in the colon were analyzed after exposure to 1, 2, and 5 mg/kg(bw)/day of E171 for 2, 7, 14, and 21 days (Phase II). Whole-genome mRNA analysis revealed the modulation of genes in pathways involved in the regulation of gene expression, cell cycle, post-translational modification, nuclear receptor signaling, and circadian rhythm. The processes associated with these genes might be involved in the enhanced tumor formation and suggest that E171 may contribute to tumor formation and progression by modulation of events related to inflammation, activation of immune responses, cell cycle, and cancer signaling

The Effects of the Food Additive Titanium Dioxide (E171) on Tumor Formation and Gene Expression in the Colon of a Transgenic Mouse Model for Colorectal Cancer

Titanium dioxide (TiO2) is present in many different food products as the food additive E171, which is currently scrutinized due to its potential adverse effects, including the stimulation of tumor formation in the gastrointestinal tract. We developed a transgenic mouse model to examine the effects of E171 on colorectal cancer (CRC), using the Cre-LoxP system to create an Apc-gene-knockout model which spontaneously develops colorectal tumors. A pilot study showed that E171 exposed mice developed colorectal adenocarcinomas, which were accompanied by enhanced hyperplasia in epithelial cells, lymphatic nodules at the base of the polyps, and increased tumor size. In the main study, tumor formation was studied following the exposure to 5 mg/kg(bw)/day of E171 for 9 weeks (Phase I). E171 exposure showed a statistically nonsignificant increase in the number of colorectal tumors in these transgenic mice, as well as a statistically nonsignificant increase in the average number of mice with tumors. Gene expression changes in the colon were analyzed after exposure to 1, 2, and 5 mg/kg(bw)/day of E171 for 2, 7, 14, and 21 days (Phase II). Whole-genome mRNA analysis revealed the modulation of genes in pathways involved in the regulation of gene expression, cell cycle, post-translational modification, nuclear receptor signaling, and circadian rhythm. The processes associated with these genes might be involved in the enhanced tumor formation and suggest that E171 may contribute to tumor formation and progression by modulation of events related to inflammation, activation of immune responses, cell cycle, and cancer signaling