EU Committee of Regions releases opinion urging that hazardous substances be ‘completely removed’ from plastic products by 2025, in order to boost circular economy
FDA publishes second set of PFAS testing results
U.S. Food and Drug Administration releases analytical testing results of 16 per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances across 88 food samples, finds one sample of fish with detectable levels of PFOS
Steep decline in sperm counts of Western men
New study finds 50-60% decline in sperm counts between 1973 and 2011 among men from Europe, North America, Australia and New Zealand; authors see declining sperm counts as signal of risk to men’s overall health
ECHA proposes 74 chemicals for evaluation
European Chemicals Agency announces draft plan for EU Member States to evaluate 74 chemicals under the Community rolling action plan (CORAP) in years 2020-2022
REACH: Thousands of substances likely ‘missing’
EU trade body UEAPME concerned about discrepancies between predicted and actual registrations by latest REACH deadline; thousands of EU-marketed substances with volumes between 1 and 100 tons potentially unregistered still
Microplastics in food-grade salts
New study finds microplastics in 90% of tested salt brands worldwide; microplastic contamination of sea salts correlates with plastic pollution in surrounding seawater
Microplastics as freshwater contaminants
New study reviews microplastic as emerging contaminant of freshwaters
Scientists report negative impacts of nanoplastics on human placental cells
Study compares toxicity of nanoplastic particles with different sizes and surface charges on human placental cells; demonstrates smaller particles induce higher toxicity; recommend performing nanoplastic risk assessment on reproduction and fetal development
Fluorinated chemicals discussed in New York Times
New York Times columnist Nicholas Kristof explains why polyfluorinated chemicals are of concern, criticizes US chemical regulation
Exposure to phthalates from fast food
People eating fast food have higher urinary phthalate levels, U.S. study finds; association most pronounced among non-hispanic black consumers, suggesting environmental injustice