Whatever happened to Shannon Doherty? You’ve probably come across those lists that say “child stars—then and now” or throwbacks to various 90s’ shows like Beverly Hills 90210, complete with a rundown of what the actors are doing today. 

We thought we could apply that concept to those good ol’ poster chemicals of the past; harmful chemicals that were the talk of the town a couple of years ago before the limelight suddenly disappeared.

But, the comparison with child stars and laid-off actors from 30 years ago ends there. At least they have the good taste to remain forgotten. These chemicals are sadly still alive and kickin’!

BPA

This well-known hormone disruptor has been used to manufacture certain plastics and resins since the 1960s. Bisphenol A — or BPA as it is more commonly known — is probably the one in the gang who has kept in the spotlight the most. It’s not uncommon to see “Free from BPA” printed on various consumer products such as refill bottles and children’s toys.

But the case of BPA is unfortunately a textbook example of “regrettable substitution” (when you substitute one harmful chemical for another harmful one). When Bisphenol A started to become regulated, there was a surge in the use of its equally harmful “cousins” — Bisphenol S and Bisphenol F.

“The use of BPA is still not very restricted”

Despite being one of the most well-known chemicals on this list, the use of BPA is still not very restricted. It’s been on the Candidate List — the EU’s list of hazardous chemicals destined for phase-out — since 2017 and is now banned in receipts, toys and children’s products. But it’s not banned in food packaging, which is unfortunate since the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) recently cut the safety level threshold by 20,000 times and concluded that a large part of the EU population was at risk of being exposed to levels above the new limits.

Earlier this year, however, the EU Commission proposed to change this and restrict BPA in food contact material. This proposal has received support from the scientific community.

Chrome 6

Chromium VI or hexavalent chromium became famous after starring in the Hollywood movie Erin Brockovich with Julia Roberts.

The chemical is widely used in products like dyes, paints, plastics and surface coatings. But exposure to Chrome 6 leads to cancer. The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) has restricted its use in leather and cement applications under the European REACH regulation and placed it on the Authorisation List — the EU’s list of substances that require specific permission to be used.

That’s exactly what has caused such a ruckus. Authorisation applications connected to Chrome 6 have completely flooded the system. The authorisation process within REACH has received a lot of criticism as a consequence; the process has been slow, alternative providers have not been heard and some of the authorisations have been disallowed by the European Court of Justice.

There are currently 11 types of hexavalent chromium on the Authorisation List and many of them have been on it for ten years already. Late last year, the EU Commission asked ECHA to prepare restrictions for several of these substances to be able to finally remove them from the Authorisation List. The question is when. It’s already well overdue.

Melamine

Another carcinogen. This bad boy is mostly known for the porcelain-like plastic with the same name. Being light and hardy, it has become a popular material for tableware, especially for kids and for outdoor activities.

But melamine can cause some serious health effects, most notably cancer. It is also persistent and mobile, and therefore widespread and frequently found in the environment.

“Melamine has been nicknamed ‘the next BPA'”

Melamine has a horrible history of scandals. It can, for example, be illegally added to food products to fake a higher protein content. In 2008, a melamine-contaminated milk substitute was given to 300,000 Chinese infants out of which 50,000 were hospitalised for kidney failure and six died. Kidney toxicity is also one of the most well-known problems with melamine.

So, where are we with melamine today? Since last year, the substance has been placed on the Candidate List. ECHA has recommended that it be put on the Authorisation List as well but the EU Commission has not yet decided on that.

Melamine has been nicknamed “the next BPA” due to its huge production volumes (between 100,000 and 1 million tons per year) and countless applications. But hopefully, restriction will kick in sooner than it has for Bisphenol A.

Titanium dioxide

More than 1 million tons of this whitening agent is currently produced every year. Titanium dioxide is used in a variety of applications, including cosmetics, sunscreens, paints, and printing — but it is also suspected of causing cancer. The risks are especially prevalent with nano-sized particles that easily get into the respiratory system (and the environment where titanium dioxide poses risks to aquatic organisms).

The process of classifying titanium dioxide has been both long and paved with controversies, leading to unprecedented levels of lobbying from industry groups.

Five years ago, titanium dioxide received a Cancer 2 classification (not enough to qualify for the Candidate List), but it would only apply to inhalation. However, that was enough for many products — such as wall paint — to require a warning label.

But, the classification was appealed by industry which also won the case in the EU General Court in 2022. It is very rare for the court to interfere with the scientific work of ECHA’s committees, but here it concluded that they had misjudged a study. The Commission, in turn, appealed the court decision last year.

All we really know right now is that the final word has not been spoken. Oh, and that titanium dioxide has been banned as a food additive. That we also know.

DEHP

DEHP made a name for itself as the poster chemical for harmful phthalates. This hormone-disrupting chemical — commonly used as a plasticiser in PVC plastics — is toxic to the reproductive system and linked to negative impacts on the environment.

The chemical has been on the Candidate List since 2008 but when the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) decided to identify DEHP as an endocrine disruptor, one manufacturer took ECHA to court, challenging the decision. A couple of court decisions and appeals later, the decision still stands.

“A study found high levels of DEHP in over 80% of tested items”

But despite its hazardous properties, the chemical isn’t banned from being used in food packaging material. In 2021, a test study found high levels of DEHP in more than 80% of the tested items, such as straws, cereal boxes and popcorn bags.

So, what’s the latest on DEHP? Well, it’s on the Candidate, Restriction, and Authorisation Lists for being toxic to reproduction and its use in products such as toys and childcare articles is completely banned. To be used in food contact materials, spare parts and packaging of medical devices, it needs a REACH authorisation.

Still, DEHP is registered for being produced or imported to the EU in volumes of 10,000 to 100,000 tons per year.