EU trade body UEAPME concerned about discrepancies between predicted and actual registrations by latest REACH deadline; thousands of EU-marketed substances with volumes between 1 and 100 tons potentially unregistered still
Debating environmental risks of microplastics
Scientists debate the urgency of research and actions on microplastics in the environment, present models to estimate accumulation of plastic debris and contaminants, assess risk of microplastics in the ocean
Vermont and California legislation on single-use packaging
Bills in both states aim to curb the use of single-use packaging and products; Vermont bans polystyrene packaging, plastic bags, straws; California to reduce waste from single-use packaging and products by 75%, require recyclability or compostability
BPA warning label in California
State of California takes emergency action on BPA and proposes temporary uniform warning label for food cans and bottles as deadline for Prop65 compliance approaches
U.S. EPA: Final nanomaterials reporting rule
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency issues final rule on nanomaterials reporting to come into effect May 2017
EEB conference 2018
European Environmental Bureau holds annuals conference on November 5, 2018; toxic chemicals and circular economy to be discussed; registration now open
EU EDC criteria: Media coverage
The Guardian, EurActiv, Chemical Watch, and other news providers report on EDC criteria proposed by European Commission; summarize positions of different stakeholders
NGO calls to ban PFAS in food packaging
Environmental Working Group calls on U.S. Food and Drug Administration to ban per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in food packaging; cites report finding PFAS used in restaurant chain compostable paper bowls; PFAS manufacturer Chemours discontinues three products for PFAS food packaging coatings
Four phthalates recognized as hormone disrupting for humans
EU REACH Committee classifies DEHP, DBP, BBP, and DIBP as substances of very high concern due to their endocrine disrupting effects in humans
Obesity increased tenfold in children and teens
New WHO study finds worldwide rise in childhood and teen obesity between 1975 and 2016; NGO discusses metabolic disruptors as contributing factor to obesity epidemic