TOKYO -- All nine major manufacturers of vinyl chloride wrapping film will stop using a chemical compound in the product because it poses a risk to reproductive organs, sources said on Jan. 24. The decisions were made in response to a December report by a citizens' watchdog group that discovered food enclosed in vinyl chloride wrap can become contaminated with nonylphenol when heated in the microwave.
Nonylphenol is a suspected endocrine disrupting chemical, or an environmental hormone, that can damage reproductive organs. Nonylphenol can be generated from a chemical compound used as a stabilizer to prevent oxidation when the compound is heated and decomposed, according to experts. Four makers-Riken Vinyl Industry Co., Mitsui Kagaku Platech Co., Shin-Etsu Polymer Co. and Hitachi Chemical Filtec Inc.-have already substituted the stabilizer compound in the wrap. The five other companies will start to shift to substitute compounds this month at the earliest. Those five companies are: Okamoto Industries Inc., Mitsubishi Plastics Inc., Nippon Carbide Industries Co., Gunze Ltd. and Denki Kagaku Kogyo K.K.
An umbrella organization for about 90 citizens' group, including the Consumers Union of Japan, asked the Japan Food Research Laboratories in October to study vinyl chloride wrap from two unidentified firms. The researchers, using a 600- watt microwave, heated riceballs and croquettes wrapped in the vinyl chloride wrap. They found that nonylphenols contaminated the food. In separate experiments at the facility, a citizens' group confirmed contamination from 11 types of vinyl chloride wrapping products that are available on the market.
Shin-Etsu Polymer officials said they decided to replace the material in response to customers' safety concerns. Many other companies also cited safety and environmental protection. Officials of the nine makers did not identify the compounds they had used, but said the substitute materials will not generate nonylphenols.
Taisen Iguchi, professor of the science faculty at Yokohama City University, hailed the makers' decision, saying it is significant that manufacturers-not the government-took the initiative. The professor, who is well-versed in environmental hormone issues, said he wants the makers to confirm that harmful chemicals other than nonylphenol will not be generated from the substitute materials.
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