Scientists use real-life exposure data to identify EDC mixtures associated with health outcomes, demonstrate that combined exposure to multiple EDCs results in effects not observed with single chemicals at similar levels
FCM analysis at BioDetectors conference 2018
11th BioDetectors conference addresses use of cell-based bioassays in food contact material safety analysis
Report on difficult-to-recycle materials
ASTRX (Applying Systems Thinking to Recycling) project publishes report reviewing efficiency of packaging materials through recycling processes; highlights flexible films and shrink sleeves as problematic, calls for increased purchasing of recycled content to boost market demand
EU Commission solicits comments on draft REACH update requirements
European Commission draft implementing regulations specifies when registrants should update REACH dossiers following changes; public feedback period open until January 15, 2020
Computational method outperforms animal tests
Predictions of acute health hazards by ‘data fusion’ read-across structure activity relationship (RASAR) modeling reported to be more reproducible than animal testing data
Opinion: Plastic packaging should be simplified
Cradle to Cradle scientist Michael Braungart calls for fewer and simplified polymers to create material cycles rather than waste
Beyond BPA – Many bisphenols migrate from food packaging
Four studies investigate bisphenol (BP) migration from food packaging and human health effects; demonstrate wide presence of 11 bisphenols in polystyrene take-out food containers from China, Canada, and Poland; report material quality influences BPA migration from polycarbonate cups; indicate higher BPA migration from lined cans than plastic packaging into meat based on probabilistic models; find bisphenols A, F, and S induce genotoxic effects and changes in human endogenous retroviruses (HERVs) expression using human blood cells
Compliance of FCMs in Northern Europe
Norden project on compliance of food contact materials publishes results; improved declarations of compliance needed
Ongoing research project on xeno-hormones in food contact materials
Austrian research project assesses migrants from food packaging with hormone active properties
EFSA: Outcome of public consultation on MixTox project
EFSA publishes report summarizing stakeholder input received for its project on the development of a harmonized methodology for risk assessment of chemical mixtures (MixTox)