New study shows the ability of ToxCast assays to predict obesogens is unreliable; senior researcher comments on features in need of improvement
ECHA to develop positive list for drinking water contact
European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) tasked with creating list of substances approved for use in materials that contact drinking water; first draft expected to contain 1,500 substances, be adopted by 2024; substance approval will be time limited and subject to reassessment
PEF: New food contact polymer on the horizon
Polyethylene furanoate (PEF) set to take PET market share, approval for food contact use pending
Assessment of migration of estrogen active chemicals from FCMs
Identification of estrogen active chemicals in plastic food contact materials
Opinion: European expert groups over-represent corporate interests
Non-governmental organizations call upon European Commission President to revise expert group composition
Opinion: Plastics are not the culprit of reduced fecundity
Forbes publishes an op-ed article on BPA, phthalates and reduced fecundity; journalist opposes sensationalist media hype and points to weaknesses of new epidemiological study
Plastic food contact materials under fire in Massachusetts communities
Various towns in Massachusetts, US discuss banning single use plastic bags, repeal of PET bottle ban fails
Plastics and ocean protection
Marine pollution with plastics debris receives increased attention in the media, U.S. government issues new plans to protect oceans
New FPF report: Overview on sustainability of food packaging
Holistic approaches to enable sustainable production and consumption
PFAS research snapshot Q4 2023: presence, migration, health concerns, and regrettable substitution
Scientists detect two per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in plastic food storage bags; study assesses PFAS in 119 single-use food packaging and tableware samples from around the world and detectes PFAS in 54%; two reviews raise awareness of PFAS impact on human liver health and safety issues connected with the PFAS substitutes – polyfluoroalkyl phosphate esters (PAPs); scientist calls for more research to assess combined environmental effect of microplastics and PFAS