The source of the plasticizing material is still unknown (Getty)
The Federal Environment Agency in Germany announced that it found indicators of the presence of a dangerous plasticizer in the urine samples of many people in the country, which for years had been subject to strict regulatory rules that prohibited it in most cases. This substance harms reproduction and mainly affects the reproductive organs of male fetuses in the womb.
The agency's toxicologist, Marika Colosa, said that the sixth edition of the German Environment Health Study revealed that the metabolite "MNHexB" had been found so far in 28% of the samples.
This substance is the product of the decomposition process of the plasticizer "di-n-hexyl-phthalate". This metabolic product, harmful to reproduction, was first discovered in 2023 samples.
“Such a substance should not be found in the body, but we find it,” Colosa said.
The results of testing samples in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia were recently announced. “It is a widespread problem,” Colosa added, noting that the source of the plasticizer remains unknown until now.
She added: "This is a real police investigation. We are now searching on a large scale in Germany," and stated that the agency is also working closely with European authorities to determine the source of the material.
Colosa explained that this substance, according to the results of experiments on animals, is a substance that harms reproduction, noting that it mainly affects the reproductive organs of male fetuses in the womb.
She stated that it can also be harmful to adults and increases the risk of diabetes, high blood pressure and obesity, which is evidenced by additional experiments conducted on animals.
She added that concentrations were discovered in some people "so high that a health risk cannot be ruled out."
Source: German