title: Investigation of the genotoxicity of substances migrating from polycarbonate replacement baby bottles to identify chemicals of high concern.
abstract: Due to the worldwide concern that bisphenol A might act as an endocrine disruptor, alternative materials for polycarbonate (PC) have been introduced on the European market. However, PC-replacement products might also release substances of which the toxicological profile--including their genotoxic effects--has not yet been characterized. Because a thorough characterization of the genotoxic profile of all these substances is impossible in the short term, a strategy was developed in order to prioritize those substances for which additional data are urgently needed. The strategy consisted of a decision tree using hazard information related to genotoxicity. The relevant information was obtained from the database of the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA), in silico prediction tools (ToxTree and Derek Nexus(TM)) and the in vitro Vitotox(®) test for detecting DNA damage. By applying the decision tree, substances could be classified into different groups, each characterized by a different probability to induce genotoxic effects. Although none of the investigated substances could be unequivocally identified as genotoxic, the presence of genotoxic effects could neither be excluded for any of them. Consequently, all substances require more data to investigate the genotoxic potential. However, the type and the urge for these data differs among the substances.
authors.affiliation: Department of Food, Medicines and Consumer Safety, Scientific Institute of Public Health (Site Elsene), J. Wytsmanstraat 14, Brussels, Belgium. Electronic address: birgit.mertens@wiv-isp.be.
authors.forename: Birgit
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Mertens
authors.affiliation: Department of Food Science, University of Liège, FARAH-Veterinary Public Health, Quartier Vallée 2, Avenue de Cureghem 10, Sart Tilman B43bis, Liège, Belgium.
authors.forename: Coraline
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Simon
authors.affiliation: Department of Food, Medicines and Consumer Safety, Scientific Institute of Public Health (Site Elsene), J. Wytsmanstraat 14, Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: Melissa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Van Bossuyt
authors.affiliation: Toxicological Center, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Antwerp, Universiteitplein 1, Wilrijk, Belgium.
authors.forename: Matthias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Onghena
authors.affiliation: Department of Analytical, Environmental and Geo-Chemistry, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Pleinlaan 2, Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: Tara
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Vandermarken
authors.affiliation: Department of Analytical, Environmental and Geo-Chemistry, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Pleinlaan 2, Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: Kersten
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Van Langenhove
authors.affiliation: CODA-CERVA, Department of Chemical Safety of the Food Chain, Leuvensesteenweg 17, Tervuren, Belgium.
authors.forename: Heidi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Demaegdt
authors.affiliation: Department of Food, Medicines and Consumer Safety, Scientific Institute of Public Health (Site Elsene), J. Wytsmanstraat 14, Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: Els
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Van Hoeck
authors.affiliation: Department of Food, Medicines and Consumer Safety, Scientific Institute of Public Health (Site Elsene), J. Wytsmanstraat 14, Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: Joris
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Van Loco
authors.affiliation: CODA-CERVA, Department of Chemical Safety of the Food Chain, Leuvensesteenweg 17, Tervuren, Belgium.
authors.forename: Karin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Vandermeiren
authors.affiliation: Toxicological Center, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Antwerp, Universiteitplein 1, Wilrijk, Belgium.
authors.forename: Adrian
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Covaci
authors.affiliation: Department of Food Science, University of Liège, FARAH-Veterinary Public Health, Quartier Vallée 2, Avenue de Cureghem 10, Sart Tilman B43bis, Liège, Belgium.
authors.forename: Marie-Louise
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Scippo
authors.affiliation: Department of Analytical, Environmental and Geo-Chemistry, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Pleinlaan 2, Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: Marc
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Elskens
authors.affiliation: Department of Food, Medicines and Consumer Safety, Scientific Institute of Public Health (Site Elsene), J. Wytsmanstraat 14, Brussels, Belgium; Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, Wilrijk, Belgium.
authors.forename: Luc
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Verschaeve
mesh_terms: D001559:Benzhydryl Compounds / Q000633:toxicity*; D005506:Food Contamination; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D009153:Mutagens / Q000633:toxicity*; D010636:Phenols / Q000633:toxicity*; D011076:Polycarboxylate Cement / Q000737:chemistry*; D000098826:Bisphenol A Compounds
chemical_list: D001559:Benzhydryl Compounds; D009153:Mutagens; D010636:Phenols; D011076:Polycarboxylate Cement; C005506:polycarbonate; C006780:bisphenol A; D000098826:Bisphenol A Compounds
keywords: DNA damage; ECHA database; Food contact materials; In silico; Polycarbonate replacement products; Vitotox(®)