Politico reports the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) lacks clear leadership managing food safety in the country, leading to delays and impacting the health of those living in the US; Environmental Working Group study finds nearly 99% of food chemicals added to the US market since 2000 were introduced through the generally recognized as safe (GRAS) rule
New study shows impact of oral dosing on free BPA levels
Sublingual absorption leads to free BPA in serum of test animals, delivers plausible explanation for previous human biomonitoring findings
BPA-free thermoplastic resins can release estrogenic chemicals
BPA-free thermoplastic resins evaluated for estrogenic activity, four out of 14 resins released estrogenic chemicals
PAAs in colored paper napkins
Scientists analyze primary aromatic amines in colored paper napkins from Europe; find sum PAA concentrations exceeding 10 µg/L limit, carcinogenic PAAs exceeding 2 µg/L limit; red, orange, yellow, and multi-colored napkins with highest load
Brominated flame retardants in European food contact materials
Black thermocups and kitchen utensils contaminated with brominated flame retardants from illicit recycling practices
Mapping microplastics in the male reproductive system
Study provides an in-depth look at microplastics in the male reproductive system, analyzes human and mouse samples to chart concentrations and polymer types; finds microplastics in all human testes samples and majority of semen samples; larger plastic particles may get trapped in testis, leading to higher concentrations; identifies correlation between urbanization, home-cooked meals, and body scrub used to microplastics concentration
PCB-11 detected in clothing and paper samples
Polychlorinated bisphenyl 11 found in clothing and printed paper; presence linked to yellow pigments
Researchers detect microplastics in human semen and heart
Four recent studies assess microplastics: in human semen, heart, from baby food containers, and suitability of in vitro models to investigate human health effects; find microplastics in six out of ten semen samples, find impacts on semen quality; samples from cardiac surgery patients contain microplastics in heart and surrounding tissue; billions of nano- and microplastics released from plastic baby food containers; outline challenges and recommendation of studying plastic particles in vitro
Microplastics in mineral water
Scientists detect microplastics in mineral waters packed in plastic bottles, glass bottles, beverage cartons; highest content found in carbonated water from refillable plastic bottles; packaging is one possible contamination source
Microplastics in placentas: occurrence, sources, and effects
Three studies on microplastics and the human placenta; demonstrate particle presence in several intracellular compartments of placentas for the first time; assume breastfeeding and plastic toy usage as microplastic exposure sources to lactating infants; associate placental plastics with reduced fetal growth