Wed 09/April/2025 – 06:51 PM
Scientists from the University of Southeast China have warned that biological decomposition bags, which are often promoted as an environmentally friendly alternative to traditional plastic, may pose a hidden health risk, after a recent study showed possible toxic effects of these substances on vital organs in the body.
Delicious bags may be toxic
According to the British Daily Mail newspaper, the researchers conducted experiments on laboratory mice fed with accurate plastic molecules derived from starch, which is the basic material in many decomposing plastic products, and after three months the team monitored clear damage to the liver and ovary, in addition to metabolic disorders and changes in the intestinal bacteria that may affect the biological clock of the body.
One of the study participants published in the magazine of the study published in the magazine Agriculture and Food Chemissary, said: “The plastic materials that are vital starch -based decomposition may not be safe as we think, but may have negative health effects in the long run.”
The team explained that the doses given to the mice simulate the quantities that a person is likely to be exposed daily through food, air or water, and the researchers concluded that continuous exposure, even in low doses, may lead to disturbances in sugar and fat metabolism, as well as affecting the daily rhythms of the body.
Toxic materials
In a related context, a previous study conducted by researchers from the Spanish National Research Council, and published in Journal of Hazardous Materials, showed that the decomposing bags that were subjected to decomposition under sunlight launched toxic materials that affected fish cells, unlike traditional plastic bags that did not show the same effects.
The main researcher Centa Port said: We were surprised that the classified bags as biological decomposition were more toxic, and we believe that the reason is the added chemicals to accelerate the process of decomposition.
This warning comes at a time when these bags have become common in many global markets as an environmental option. In the United Kingdom, for example, the imposition of fees on plastic bags since 2015 has decreased their use by more than 98%, as consumers went towards the substantial alternatives.
However, these results indicate the necessity of making more comprehensive and safe evaluations before expanding the use of this type of plastic to fill food and other consumer products.
