GROSS

200 Scientists Question Pizza Box Safety

Fear of chemicals.

Scientists are ringing the alarm bell over a group of chemicals used to replace an older group of poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances, or PFASs, in products ranging from pizza boxes to footwear after the latter were deemed unsafe. Some say that not enough studies have been done to show the safety of these new replacement chemicals, especially after their predecessors were found to stay in the body for years, and even increase the risk of cancer. The concerns, published in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives, coincided with a statement signed by more than 200 scientists. A spokesman for DuPont, one of the lead manufacturers, said the company believes “the regulatory agencies have done their job of determining that these things are safe for their intended uses.”