Market research from German consumer organization Verbraucherzentrale Bundesverband (VZBV) finds consumers are concerned about food packaging safety but have little understanding of chemicals in packaging; consumers assume all food contact materials and their components have been tested for safety
The Minderoo – Monaco Commission on Plastics and Human Health
Scientists, policy analysts, and healthcare workers from around the world announce formation of the Minderoo – Monaco Commission on Plastics and Human Health; Commission plans to analyze plastic’s health impacts and develop science-based solutions to protect human health until March 2023
Scientists explore effects of micro- and nanoplastics on mammals, including humans
Research studies show maternal polystyrene (PS) particle exposure can cause testicular and hepatic toxicity in male mouse offspring; report PS microplastics affect rat ovary function; find correlation between human fecal microplastics levels and Inflammatory Bowel Disease; reviews summarize potential human health effects; study develops a tool to screen and prioritize micro-and nanoplastics toxicity studies for human health risks evaluation
Microplastics: recent insights into human exposure, cellular uptake, cancer metastasis
Researchers report plastic fragments may exacerbate breast cancer metastasis; review summarizes nanoplastic uptake into human cells; studies find occupational microplastics exposure can be reduced by wearing face masks; millions of micro- and nanoplastics are released during 30-second food blending; scientists more worried about microplastic impacts on the environment than humans
United Nations commissioner recalls the human ‘right to science’
Explains that this right has never been that threatened before although key to the survival of humankind; provides six steps ensuring human rights to benefit from science such as a protection of scientists from attacks and against conflicts-of-interests
Opinion: recycled content mandates needed
Non-profit organization Reloop comments on EU Commission’s proposal for reduction of environmental impacts of single-use plastics, calls for setting recycled content mandates, high targets for recycling of beverage bottles, EU-wide deposit-refund schemes
EU human biomonitoring conference
Austrian Presidency and EU Commission host conference on European Human Biomonitoring Initiative, September 28, 2018 in Vienna; registration open until June 30, 2018
Stakeholders discuss waste management challenges of plastics
Publications from government, academia, civil society organizations, and consultancies paint problematic picture of a circular plastics economy; plastic packaging waste per person found to increase over last decade; low percentage of plastic produced is effectively recycled; pyrolysis (a type of chemical recycling) of plastics produces 9x more emissions than mechanical recycling; “biodegradable” and “compostable” plastics found to not break down in home compost systems
Diglycidyl ethers of BPA and BPF detected in humans
Diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A (BADGE) and bisphenol F (BFDGE) measured in human blood plasma and adipose fat
Adhesive label for direct contact with food, also safe for babies
Finnish manufacturer improves recipe of adhesive label