盡管人們對快餐包裝的生產進行了大力整頓，但是一項新的研究發現，仍有相當一部分包裝含有大量氟化物，可能導致癌癥或其他疾病。

非營利組織和政府機構的研究人員合作測試了美國國內27家快餐連鎖店和當地餐廳的包裝。他們的結論發表在《環境科學與技術快報》（Environmental Science and Technology Letters）上，其中顯示40%的樣本在氟檢測中呈陽性，也就是說，存在全氟化合物。

某些食品的包裝含有氟化物的概率更高。例如，56%的甜品和面包包裝樣品，以及38%的三明治和漢堡包裝樣品中都含有氟化物。而這次所有紙杯樣品的氟化物檢測都呈陰性。

由于人們日益關注全氟化合物對人類健康的潛在威脅，生產商主動淘汰了許多該類物質，不過科學家如今認為，他們選用的類似替代品可能也會產生同樣的影響。

這次研究的成員之一，環境工作組（Environmental Working Group, EWG）的比爾·沃克在郵件新聞稿中表示：“總之，這方面需要更多的關注。我們沒有責怪快餐連鎖店，或是說某家快餐店比另一家更安全。他們可能只是沒有得到供應商坦誠的交待。”

環境工作組呼吁食品公司更進一步地評估他們的供應鏈，也希望美國食品與藥物管理局（Food and Drug Administration, FDA）改變處理這一問題的方式。

除了快餐包裝外，汽車座椅、收據、罐頭食品等也都是人類經常接觸，且含有有毒化學物質的產品。（財富中文網）

譯者：嚴匡正

Despite an effort to clean up production of fast food wrappers, new research suggests a significant share likely still contain highly fluorinated chemicals linked to cancer and other ailments.

Researchers from nonprofit organizations and government agencies collaborated to test wrappers from 27 different fast food chains and local restaurants across the country. Their findings, published in the journal Environmental Science and Technology Letters, reveal that 40% of overall samples tested positive for fluorine, which suggests the presence of perfluorinated chemicals (PFCs).

Some types of food packaging were more likely to contain fluorine than others. For example, dessert and bread wrappers contained fluorine 56% of the time, while sandwich and burger wrappers contained the chemical 38% of the time. None of the paper cup samples tested positive for fluorine.

Producers have voluntarily eliminated many fluorinated chemicals in response to growing awareness around the potential threat to human health, but the chemicals have been replaced with similar ones that scientists now believe may have the same health effects.

“Up and down the line there needs to be a greater level of concern,” said Bill Walker of the Environmental Working Group (EWG), one of the groups behind the study, in an emailed press release. “We’re not pointing the finger at the fast food chains or saying it’s safer to eat at one chain compared to another. It’s possible they’re not getting the straight story from their suppliers."

The EWG called for food companies to evaluate their supply chain more closely and for the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to change its approach on the issue.

Fast food wrappers are among a slew of products—including car seats, receipts, and canned food—containing toxic chemicals that humans are exposed to on a regular basis.