Three studies investigate micro- and nanoplastics – source, organ deposition, and reproductive effects; detect up to 240,000 plastic particles/L in bottled water with 90% being nanoplastics; find microplastics in human lung, intestine, and kidney tissues; polyethylene particles found to affect placental function in mice
Strategy for assessing EDCs
Dutch institute for public health (RIVM) publishes reports showing need for strategy to evaluate endocrine disrupting properties of chemicals
11th amendment to EU plastic FCM regulation
EU Commission publishes 11th amendment to plastic FCM regulation, authorizes 2 new food contact substances, changes specific migration limits for 2 existing Union List substances
New test methods for EDCs needed
JRC expert survey identifies gaps in test methods for evaluating endocrine disruptors; new methods for thyroid, metabolic, immune disorders, as well as hormone-related cancers seen as priority
Using ToxCast data to assess food chemicals
Scientists explore the utility of-throughput screening data for hazard assessment and toxicological read-across of food-relevant chemicals; observe some biological targets to lack validated toxicity associations; demonstrate application in identifying out-of-domain compounds
Studies report on oligomer migration from food packaging
Scientists perform migration experiments for oligomer analysis; one study detects eight chemicals including six non-intentionally added oligomers to migrate from multilayer biodegradable teacups; second study reports on oligomer migration from polycarbonate tableware as ‘hidden source’ of bisphenol A (BPA)
Review of NIAS analytics in paper FCMs
Scientists review sources of non-intentionally added substances in paper and board food contact materials, discuss migration studies, analytical approaches, research needs
Webinar on key characteristics of hazardous chemicals
Food Packaging Forum holds webinar with presentation from Martyn Smith on the identification of key characteristics to support chemical evaluation; introduces concept and recent key publications; recording now available to watch
EFSA considers 2 new substances safe for use in FCM
EFSA publishes scientific opinions on perfluorinated processing aid and monomer for can coating
US EPA publishes final toxicity assessment for GenX chemicals
Sets maximum daily intake limit of 3 ng/kg body weight/day for hexafluoropropylene oxide (HFPO) dimer acid and its ammonium salt; final value is much lower than first suggested in earlier 2018 draft assessment, also lower than set reference dose for the hazardous chemical PFOA it was developed to safely replace