ECHA opens public consultation on proposals to identify 8 substances of very high concern; deadline for comments April 23, 2018; 5 substances relevant for food contact
Technical solutions for studying microplastics
Overview papers discuss characterization and identification of microplastics by techniques based on (micro-)Raman spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy
Canada identifies four parabens for toxic substances list
Government publishes draft screening assessment of 7 parabens, identifies 4 to present danger to human health or environment at current levels of exposure; proposed risk management published; findings open for public comment until May 13, 2020
Restriction proposal for 6 PFASs
Swedish and German agencies propose restricting 6 per- and polyfluorinated substances, as well as mixtures and articles containing them; ECHA opens public consultation until June 20, 2018
New method to identify set-off migration of printing inks
New method allows identifying migration of photoinitiators, certain photoinitiators and darker colors are more susceptible to set-off migration
High PFAS blood levels in German children
Biomonitoring study by German Environment Agency (UBA) measures 12 per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in blood plasma of children and adolescents; finds highest average levels of perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS), perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), and perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (PFHxS)
REACH not able to identify EDCs, recommendations for improvement
Danish Minister for the Environment submits input for the REACH review on EDCs to Danish parliament, report suggests inclusion of further endpoints and adding of dose levels
Washington state identifies priority products
State’s Department of Ecology (DoE) publishes priority consumer products report for legislature, prioritizes bisphenols used in food and drink linings
Taiwan to identify chemicals of concern
Taiwanese Environmental Protection Agency developing screening and assessment standards for identification of substances with food safety concerns, high hazard levels, high production volumes; draft list to be released by end of 2019
Index identifies largest single-use plastic producers
Minderoo Foundation publishes “Plastic Waste Makers Index”; identifies 20 firms that produce polymers responsible for 55% of world’s plastic waste; calculates and illustrates global plastic flows from production through to end of life; provides recommendations for polymer producers, investors and banks, policymakers, and other companies along supply chain to enable shift towards circular economy