Weight-of-evidence evaluation and systematic review methods are promoted in most chemical risk assessment frameworks in the EU, but clear guidance is lacking; scientists suggest joint guidance development by EU agencies dealing with chemicals
Chemical metabolism in young and elderly
Scientists review studies demonstrating differences in drug pharmacokinetics between young and elderly people, recommend use of varying uncertainty factors for acceptable daily exposure calculations due to sensitivity differences
RIVM studies argue applied maximum doses too low
Researchers from Dutch National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) publish two peer-reviewed articles critically reviewing determination and application of maximum doses in toxicity studies; find that recent toxicity studies increasingly using unjustified low maximum doses, call for more clarity in testing guidelines
Webinar on CLARITY-BPA core study
U.S. Food and Drug Administration hosts webinar on guideline studies conducted within CLARITY-BPA program, September 13, 2018; registration now open
Health effects of perchlorate exposure
Review of perchlorate’s human health effects finds ‘mixed results’ regarding neurodevelopment; Austrian assessment of dietary perchlorate exposure finds exceedance of tolerable daily intake levels for high consumption; recent studies address effects in newborns, other effects
BPA and analogues: Multiple targets and effects
Scientists highlight BPA’s interactions with multiple molecular targets besides estrogen receptor; growing body of evidence demonstrates similar pleiotropic actions of BPA substitutes such as BPS, BPF, BPAF and others
Opinion: Scientists call European Commission’s proposed EDC regulation over-precautionary
Group of scientists calls for maintaining chemical regulation’s status quo; toxicologist and pharmacologist express concern that the forthcoming EDC regulation will not be based on science and erase established risk assessment approaches
Computational method outperforms animal tests
Predictions of acute health hazards by ‘data fusion’ read-across structure activity relationship (RASAR) modeling reported to be more reproducible than animal testing data
Migration vs. solubility
New scientific study finds that in certain cases migration studies can be substituted by solubility measurements; modified OECD method shows solubility of select antioxidants, UV stabilizers in some food simulants is below SMLs
Studies assess PFAS, OPEs, and plasticizers in paper & board
Review summarizes per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) migration from paper food packaging into food and food simulants and identifies dietary exposure of PFAS as potential human health risk; study highlights need to further evaluate organophosphate esters (OPEs) and prohibited PFAS in paper and aluminum foil food packaging; scientists analyze and recommend extraction method to assess plasticizers in recycled paperboard