Interactive and openly available, the Plastic Health Map summarizes human health outcomes of certain plastic-associated chemicals and particles as published by peer-review articles between 1960 and 2021; includes more than 3500 studies for 1557 chemicals; identifies gaps, including only 30% of chemicals have been investigated for health impacts, few studies in low-income countries
Risk assessing chemical mixtures
European Commission’s Joint Research Centre reviews risk assessments of chemical mixtures for e.g. pesticides, phthalates, and FCMs; identifies need to address mixtures across chemical classes and legislative sectors
Opinion: Protecting children through labeling
Morning Sentinel comments on phthalates in products, calls upon Maine government to enforce product labeling to protect vulnerable populations
Recycled paperboard food packaging is a manageable source of chemical contaminants
FPF reports on new European study showing that inner bags can reduce overall migration, depending on material used
UN: Is plastic pollution poisoning us?
Head of UN Environment discusses chemical migration from plastic food packaging, microplastic pollution, calls on people to ‘break up with single-use plastic’
Immunomodulatory effects of EDCs
Scientists review studies reporting that some endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) can affect development and functions of human immune cells; consequences include altered responses to infections and development of immune related diseases; food contact material (FCM)-relevant immunomodulatory EDCs include bisphenols, phthalates, triclosan
Phthalate exposure in pregnancy may alter maternal hormone levels
Urinary phthalate metabolites may be associated with altered maternal serum thyroid and sex hormone levels in Puerto Rican mothers
Henkel organizes 4th Food Safe Packaging Forum
Stakeholders from the food packaging industry discuss food safety issues, report strategies how to increase food safety
German TV channels sound a note of caution regarding plastic food packaging materials
2 German TV channels broadcasted programs in February investigating the use of chemicals in plastic food contact materials
16th amendment to EU Regulation 10/2011 on plastic FCMs now in force
EU amends plastic FCM regulation; adjusts specific migration limits for five phthalates; removes authorized use of two FCMs; adds five new authorized substances; came into force on August 1, 2023