The Hill commentary suggests shifting burden of proof to manufacturers; stresses the need for protection of vulnerable subpopulations under reformed TSCA
Study reveals knowledge gaps on PET oligomers migrating from FCMs
Scientists investigate available research on hazard and exposure of 34 oligomers in PET for food contact; 74% of them found to migrate; only 38% have been tested for their safety using computer models, while only one was tested for safety in organisms; authors call for further research and better risk assessment
Nature: Debate flares around EDC policy
Science journal Nature reports on the current debate amongst scientists regarding the European Commission’s EDC policy
Plastics in a circular economy: research status, environmental leakage, food safety hazards
Recent studies perform semi-systematic review of published circular economy literature focusing on plastics over past 21 years, develop framework for plastics in circular economy; find Dutch food packaging plastic waste polluting oceans, question effectiveness of recycling; summarize chemical and microbial hazards related to circular food production systems
BPA and prostate cancer risk
CLARITY-BPA academic study confirms increased susceptibility to hormonally induced prostate cancer in rats developmentally exposed to bisphenol A
New database provides 3D structures of EDCs
Freely available “EDCs DataBank” contains three-dimensional structures of 615 molecules, suitable for virtual screening
FDA still to address ortho-phthalates
NGO calls on U.S Food and Drug Administration to rule on three outstanding petitions regarding the use of ortho-phthalates in contact with food
Microplastics measured in human blood and mouse brains
First human biomonitoring study encounters plastic particles of four different polymer types in human blood; in vivo study reports polystyrene nanoparticles pass blood-brain barrier and induce neurotoxicity in mice; review summarizes plastic particle and titanium dioxide impacts on human gut epithelial integrity, gut homeostasis, and intestinal inflammation
Opinion: No more secrets over trade talks
MEP Scott-Cato responds to MEP Girling’s article in the Wall Street Journal, argues for the use of the precautionary principle in EDC policy and the opening of the TTIP trade talks to the public
Updated SIN Producers List
International Chemical Secretariat updates SIN Producers List, illustrates 2016-2017 trends in production of hazardous industrial chemicals