Sense about Science holds Q&A on plastics packaging on Twitter, answers by Alan Boobis from the Imperial College London and an industry representative
News Article
April 14, 2014
News Article
January 30, 2017
Retailer removes unwanted chemicals from consumer products
U.S. retailer Target adopts new chemical strategy and policy, aims for full ingredient transparency; goal is to remove phthalates, parabens, formaldehyde, and nonylphenol ethoxylates from various products
News Article
January 11, 2024
EDCs in plastics cost the US $250 billion in healthcare annually
Scientists calculate US health care costs caused by a well-studied subset of endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) in plastics; estimate exposure cost $250 billion in 2018, equivalent to 1.22% of Gross Domestic Product; recommend addressing chemicals of concern in global plastics treaty to reduce disease burden and costs
News Article
February 28, 2013
New study highlights limits of personal choices aimed at reducing EDC exposure, contradicts previous research
Neither expert recommendations nor dietary intervention led to significant reduction in food-packaging derived EDC body burden, reports new US study. Regulatory action is called for to ensure food safety.
News Article
August 29, 2016
Summary on estrogenic chemicals and reproductive health
PLOS Biology article highlights reproductive health impacts of estrogenic chemicals such as bisphenol A, its analogues, and phthalates
News Article
February 28, 2024
Unexpected SVHC phthalate metabolite found in humans, including children
German biomonitoring study finds mono-n-hexyl phthalate in majority of samples, indicating widespread exposure to substance of very high concern (SVHC) di-n-hexyl phthalate or related compounds; sources of exposure currently under investigation; contribution of food contact materials to human exposure possible, but only limited data available
News Article
November 3, 2021
EFSA CEP Panel updates from July to October 2021
Minutes available from recent meetings of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) Panel on Food Contact Materials, Enzymes and Processing Aids (CEP Panel) working groups on food contact materials (FCMs), bisphenol A (BPA), recycling plastics, phthalates, and extraction solvents
News Article
July 26, 2021
EFSA working group updates from March to July 2021
Minutes from recent meetings of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) panel and working groups on food contact materials (FCMs), bisphenol A (BPA), recycling plastics, and phthalates
News Article
March 21, 2023
Report outlines how plastic production harms human health, environment, economy
Minderoo-Monaco Commission on Plastics and Human Health publishes extensive report summarizing plastics’ effects across life cycle on human health, environment, and the economy; health effects cost society hundreds of billions every year; report includes actions for “governments and industries to minimize the negative consequences of global plastic contamination”
News Article
September 17, 2019
Biomonitoring of environmental chemicals, plastics
New French biomonitoring study measures levels of bisphenols, phthalates, PFAS in adults and children; German biomonitoring study finds plastic byproducts in 97% of children’s urine samples
