EU Competent Authorities for REACH and CLP (CARACAL) subgroup members debate on the identification of polymers requiring registration and their grouping; consider different opinions of stakeholders on group size, acceptable hazard variation within a group and options to deal with the variety of molecular weights one polymer can have; discussions to continue until end of 2021
Why do “chemicals” need simplifying?
Scientists’ Viewpoint proposes ‘chemical simplification’ to deal with increasing chemical pollution; names reduction of number of chemicals used in products and grouping approaches as cornerstones for simplification and innovation in science and engineering as prerequisite
BPA linked to prostate cancer
New study investigates effects of BPA exposure on human prostate cells, links BPA to prostate cancer
Recycling industry launches ‘RecyClass’ platform
Plastics Recyclers Europe introduces online tool ‘RecyClass’ to assess recyclability of plastic packaging, aims to combine knowledge of recyclers and packaging producers to improve packaging design for recycling
Lobbying in food safety discussions at FDA
FDA to prioritize private interest groups over public interest groups discussing safety issues
Multiple cell types testing to reduce inter-laboratory variability
New study reviews in vitro toxicity of engineered nanomaterials, carbon nanotubes and titanium dioxide cause lung injury
Open access e-learning platform on food packaging sciences
Erasmus+ project FitNESS launches interdisciplinary e-learning platform; independent learning resource about food packaging and related topics from food science and technology, packaging technology, material science, toxicology, mass transfer, thermodynamics
BfR answers consumer questions on EDCs
German risk assessment institute opens fourth online-dialogue forum for consumers, questions on EDCs to be answered by president
Reviews on effects of micro- and nanoplastics in vitro and in vivo
Literature reviews summarize in vitro and in vivo studies on micro- and nanoplastics; report on various exposure and adsorption pathways and toxic effects of plastic particles; human health impacts to be evaluated under realistic exposure scenarios
ACC: Myths and facts about food packaging
American Chemistry Council comments on American Academy of Pediatrics’ health concerns about food additives, claims ‘food packaging in the U.S. is best in class’