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ASEAN member actions on plastic and chemical pollution

Nations in Southeast Asia collectively working on reducing plastic pollution and related chemical hazards; Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) signs off on project to “combat” marine plastic; Thailand plans ban on plastic scrap imports; new research available on sources of plastic pollution in Indonesia and Vietnam; Vietnam and Singapore implementing stricter chemical regulations; extended producer responsibility for plastic waste becomes law in Philippines

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Scientists find phthalates impact development of boys more than girls

Biomonitoring study reports association between maternal phthalate exposure and 24-month-old boy emotional/behavioral problems; short review discusses teratogenic effect and calls for health policies; research article detects phthalates in wide range of US foods, indicates phthalate migration from food processing equipment; review evaluates gas chromatography-based approaches to measure phthalates in aqueous and solid foods

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Developing the science-policy panel on chemicals and pollution

National delegations meet in Thailand to discuss the objectives and responsibilities of the new science-policy panel on chemicals, waste, and pollution prevention; in run up to the meeting group of chemical pollution scientists publish article highlighting ten aspects for delegates to consider; non-profit academic organization International Panel on Chemical Pollution hosts webinar on conflicts of interest in chemicals and waste governance

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Majority of plastic food contact articles likely endocrine and metabolism disrupting

Two studies investigating chemicals from retail plastic food contact articles find considerable variability in complexity, with subsequent effects on cell-based tests of hormone disruption; many more chemicals measured from PVC and polyurethane than other polymers though the chemical mixtures from majority of the plastic samples are hormone disrupting; further evidence of PVC and PUR can interfere with GPCR-based cell communication