NGO publishes report reviewing public health funding and key health facts in the US
New German packaging law
German parliament passes new packaging law aiming to increase recycling and prevention of packaging waste; law enters into force January 1, 2019
Updated risk assessment highlights the need for stricter regulation on MOH in food
European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) updates risk assessment on mineral oil hydrocarbons (MOH) in food; highest MOH levels found in vegetable oils; notes that data gaps exist, especially in mineral oil aromatic hydrocarbons (MOAH) impact on toddlers; “extremely likely” that dietary exposure to MOAH is a concern for toddlers; EFSA recommendations aim to guide EU policy on allowable MOH levels in food
Inventory list for printed paper and board FCMs
Scientists compile inventory list of chemicals used in printed paper and board FCMs; 1,769 single substances are non-evaluated for their toxicity; of these, 19 substances with actual use confirmed by FACET are included in ECHA’s lists for substances of concern
Benchmarking in vitro toxicity of plastics
Scientists investigate in vitro toxicity and chemical composition of plastic consumer products made of different polymers; high baseline toxicity of polylactic acid (PLA) bioplastics; food contact status does not necessarily imply lower toxicity
No migration of nanomaterials into food reported
German researcher presents on the migration of nanomaterials in plastics at PlasticsEurope event
Microplastics and human health: knowns and unknowns
Article published in Science lays out key knowledge gaps hindering human health risk assessments of microplastics, highlights lack of analytical tools to assess small microplastics and nanoplastics; estimated low exposure does not imply low risk
Webinar on CLARITY-BPA academic studies
Carnegie Mellon University holds webinar on independent academic studies on bisphenol A within CLARITY-BPA program, September 12, 2018; registration now open
Deadline for Indian PET bottle ban extended
Consumers and retailers in Indian state Maharashtra must dispose of banned plastic items such as PET bottles smaller than 0.5 L until June 23, 2018
UK recycling and waste management conference
Exhibition and conference on recycling and waste management to take place on September 12-13, 2018, in Birmingham, UK; focus on plastic waste problems