On July 19, 2022, the civil society organization Defend Our Health announced the publication of its new report that finds unsafe levels of antimony in common beverages packaged in polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles. Antimony trioxide (CAS 1309-64-4) is a commonly used plastics additive, and in PET manufacturing it is often used as a catalyst to increase the rate of the chemical reaction for producing PET resin. Scientific studies have shown that antimony present in plastics can migrate out of the material and into foods (FPF reported), with migration increasing with temperature (FPF reported) and drink acidity (FPF reported).
The organization purchased beverages of 20 different major brands bottled in PET in February 2022 in Los Angeles and Las Vegas and determined levels of antimony present in the drink. In 40% of the tested beverages, concentrations were above 1 part per billion (ppb), which is the California Public Health Goal for antimony in drinking water. Daily exposure above this level is reported as being linked to liver disease, and excess exposure might increase the risk of cancers, heart disease, and other organ toxicity. 90% of the tested samples exceeded Defend Our Health’s own protective health limit of 0.25 ppb, which it recommends as a maximum concentration to better account for other antimony exposure pathways. The authors also tested the PET bottle material and detected antimony in many of them. Other bottles contained elevated levels of aluminum and titanium, suggesting that these bottles were produced instead with an alternative catalyst based on these two substances.
Of the tested beverages, the highest antimony concentrations were measured in V8 Juice manufactured by the Campbell Soup Company (3.45 ppb), Coca Cola regular soda (2.20 ppb), and Gatorade Blue Raspberry manufactured by PepsiCo (1.78 ppb). The report identified that antimony could be present in the beverages due to multiple sources, but it concludes that based on previously published peer-reviewed literature in the field “antimony levels detected in bottled beverages are likely due to some combination of antimony-based catalysts, antimony additives, and other food contact sources, rather than from antimony occurring in the source waters.” It also argues that “these uncertainties are not an excuse for industry to engage in foot-dragging or inaction.”
The report further provides readers with a background on the process used to produce PET, an inventory of PET manufacturers in North America, and the brand owners that rely on PET packaging for their beverage products. It also discusses the supply chain of antimony including its global uses in various applications. Defend Our Health is especially concerned that “young children are more exposed to antimony from all sources than adults,” and it points out that a range of safer chemical catalysts are widely available for use in PET manufacturing.
Defend Our Health has also launched a campaign open for public signature calling on Coca-Cola to work with its suppliers to phase out the presence of hazardous chemicals such as antimony from their packaging.
Read More
Defend Our Health (July 19, 2022). “Plastic bottles threaten children’s health; not just a waste problem.”
Defend Our Health (July 19, 2022). “Tell Coca-Cola: Get rid of any toxic plastic bottles!”
Reference
Defend Our Health (July 19, 2022). “Problem Plastic: How Polyester and PET Plastic Can be Unsafe, Unjust, and Unsustainable Materials.” (pdf)
