Scientific article evaluates mortality in relation to US adult phthalates exposure and quantifies costs; associates phthalate exposure with mortality stemming from all causes, cardiovascular mortality, and a societal cost of $39 to 47 billion per year
Recycling food-grade plastics in the EU
Recycling Today reports on the challenges of supplying food-grade recycled plastics even as commitments increase; European Commission registers Citizens’ Initiative to create plastic bottle deposit and extended producer responsibility system in EU; World Wildlife Fund Germany investigates packaging system to find ways to increase circularity, encourages reuse over recycling
EFSA determines titanium dioxide not safe as food additive
European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) releases new assessment of titanium dioxide as a food additive, could not rule out genotoxicity; change in opinion from last assessment in 2016; announcement does not affect food contact materials
Addressing ambiguity to improve the management of polymers
Researchers identify systematic ambiguity within CAS labeling framework as hampering public oversight on chemical safety; outline set of recommendations to close data gaps and increase transparent communication
UN report addresses single-use plastics and LCA
Life Cycle Initiative led by UN Environment publishes synthesis report investigating impacts of single-use plastic products through life cycle assessment (LCA) approach; finds concept of ‘single-use’ more problematic than ‘plastic’; encourages countries to promote and incentivize replacing single-use products with reusable products; keep products at highest value in economy for as long as possible
UNEP reports assess impacts of global plastic pollution, potential solutions
Two publications from the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) provide overview and assessment of global challenges related to marine litter and plastic waste; include set of infographics summarizing key thematic areas; book chapter proposes organizing diverse problem formulations and potential solutions to plastic pollution into a conceptual framework, considers necessary value judgments and world views
Nature Food study finds gaps in food system plastics research
Systematic scoping review assesses the research literature covering plastic’s effects on human health, the environment, and food security/economics through the entire food system from 2000 through 2018; includes over 3,300 studies; found majority of previous research focused on food security/economics; identified gaps related to studies on the effect of plastics on human health, meta-analyses, and research within low-income nations
Canada Plastics Pact launched
Canada most recent country to launch a plastics pact within the Ellen Macarthur Foundation’s global initiative; aims to by 2025 achieve 100% reusable, recyclable, or compostable plastic packaging, 50% effective recycle or compost rate, minimum 30% recycled content
Bisphenols in thermal paper extracts and drinking bottle migrates
Scientific studies analyze bisphenol content in thermal papers and migrates from reusable drinking bottles; of 14 analyzed bisphenols 4 detected in thermal receipts and 3 in bottles migrates at low concentrations; dishwashing but not handwashing prior to use reduces bisphenol A (BPA) leaching from Tritan
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)