German MEP hosts event to discuss chemical recycling; regulatory and industry experts highlight its potential for plastics, caution stakeholders regarding open uncertainties and its appropriate use to meet recycling targets
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
OECD framework for nanomaterials
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development publishes three reports focused on the safety of manufactured nanomaterials, provides framework with guidance on test methods for physico-chemical properties
Opinion: TTIP essential for success of chemical industry
European chemical industry sees great economic opportunities in TTIP while maintaining the high safety standards provided by REACH
EFSA FCM working group: 5th meeting
Minutes of the 5th meeting of EFSA’s CEP Panel working group on food contact materials now available online; continues risk-assessing several new FCMs, presents extensive summary of views on the current framework regulation
Gain weight because of endocrine disruption?
A study by scientists from the New York University’s School of Medicine published in September 2012 found elevated levels of a common food contact substance, bisphenol A (BPA), to be associated with a higher risk for being overweight in children and adolescents. The study used nationally representative data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) study collected in 6 to 19 year old US inhabitants. The study’s design does not permit conclusions regarding causation, however biological plausible explanations of how BPA may cause overweight or obesity do exist, making the study relevant and highlighting the need for further research.
UK research hub to investigate plastics
University of Exeter receives £1 million award to create new center to study plastic use and waste
FCM chemicals within EU assessment programs
Wide range of hazardous chemicals being evaluated across EU programs for industrial chemicals are also potentially used in food contact materials (FCM); analysis by the Food Packaging Forum reviews recently added chemicals, urges prioritizing known hazardous chemicals in FCMs
FCCmigex database updated
The Food Packaging Forum updates Database on Migrating and Extractable Food Contact Chemicals (FCCmigex); encompasses 149 additional studies with more than 4600 new entries
Experimental verification of migration modelling
Study uses novel method for determining partition coefficients for migration from polyolefins into foodstuffs and food simulants