Scientists analyze volatile compounds migrating from single-use dishes made of wheat pulp or wood; products considered safe for food contact use with respect to volatiles’ migration; migration of non-volatile substances and safety of high-temperature applications requires further study
U.S. plastic bottle recycling continues to decline in 2018
Report by Association of Plastic Recyclers (APR) shows that U.S. postconsumer plastic bottle collection fell to 28.9% in 2018; exports of postconsumer bottles drop, fraction processed domestically at an all-time high
Scientists use in silico-based models to prioritize food contact chemicals
Two studies applied computational methods to screen food contact chemicals (FCCs) for carcinogenic properties or interaction with 31 nuclear receptors; one identifies 44 potential carcinogens among 1623 assessed FCCs; other finds more than half of 8091 screened FCCs with high binding affinity for several nuclear receptors
Further reactions to EU EDC criteria adoption
Denmark and Sweden maintain that EDC criteria require too high burden of proof; France promises tougher national controls on EDCs; Endocrine Society calls on EU Parliament to ‘gather input’ from endocrine scientists
Studies present new generic and specific modeling approaches for FCCs migration
Scientists develop nonlinear model for predicting food contact chemical (FCC) migration and apply it to FCCs of high toxicological concern; emphasize usefulness of their model to speed up migration assessment of FCCs; different group of scientists proposes an innovative modeling approach to assess release of a specific additives and elements from plastic food packaging and steel processing tools
Steel packaging recycling in Europe
Recycling of steel packaging in Europe reaches an all-time high of 77.5% in 2015
Spanish biomonitoring study on plastic exposure
Published study investigates concentrations of 15 phthalates and 12 phenols in urine samples from 20 adults, finds highest concentrations of monoethylphthalate and methylparaben, all phthalates detectable in all adults
Sweden to propose BPA analogue as SVHC
Swedish Chemicals Agency will propose 4,4′-isobutylethylidenediphenol as substance of very high concern to avoid regrettable substitution of bisphenol A
U.S. authorities’, CHEM Trust’s recent efforts on PFAS
U.S. EPA submits proposals for significant new use rule for long-chain PFAS, additions to toxics release inventory; Connecticut PFAS task force publishes draft action plan, proposes to evaluate requiring disclosure of PFAS in products; CHEM Trust publishes briefing on PFAS calling for urgent action on the entire family of chemicals
Reheating may enhance migration of substances from FCMs
ANSES recommends to carefully follow manufacturers’ instructions for reheating