Phthalate alternative DINCH may not be as safe as thought

MONTREAL, June 17 (UPI) -- An additive in plastics used for medical devices, toys and food packaging may affect how fat is made in the body and potentially interfere with the endocrine system, according to a new study.

The plasticizer, called DINCH, has been widely embraced as a safe alternative to phthalates, which have been banned in countries around the world during the course of the last decade.

"This is the first study to show a biological disruptive effect of the plasticizer DINCH and its metabolites on the metabolism in mammals," said Dr. Vassilios Papadopoulos, a researcher in the Experimental Therapeutics and Metabolism Program at McGill University Health Center and professor of medicine at McGill, in a press release. "These findings show that DINCH might not be as safe as it has been promoted and there is a real need for more research on the safety and the use of this widely used product.''

Researchers evaluated the effects of DINCH and two of its major metabolites, CHDA and MINCH, on adipose tissue in rats. They found that MINCH acted similarly to phthalates, finding the receptor that allowed it to affect the tissue is involved with both the metabolic and the endocrine systems.

"We were surprised by these findings since DINCH was supposed to be a trusted plasticizer devoid of phthalate effects," Dr. Papadopoulos said. "The fact that MINCH can affect metabolism, which is a major regulator system of our body, is concerning."

The study is published in Environmental Research.