EU Commission officially adopts revised EDC criteria for plant protection products; practical application guidance to be finalized in summer 2018; consumer organization wants EDC criteria to go ‘beyond’ biocides and pesticides
New York Times investigates PFAS and pregnancy
Publishes second article in three-part series on hazardous chemical exposure at home; provides overview of research on toxicity of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) to developing fetuses, young children; profiles US families with high PFAS concentrations in drinking water, efforts to restrict uses
Phthalates and their replacements measured in US fast food
Researchers measure phthalates or phthalate-replacing plasticizers in 100% of fast food samples from McDonald’s, Burger King, Pizza Hut, Domino’s, Taco Bell, and Chipotle restaurants in the US; seen as first published data of plasticizer DEHT detected in fast food
Plastic covering the planet
Plastic pollution affecting every corner of planet Earth with damaging, long lasting impact, new study shows
Supermarkets with ‘plastic-free’ aisles
Dutch supermarket chain Ekoplaza opens food and drink aisle without plastic packaging in one of its stores; compostable biomaterials, glass, metal, cardboard used as alternatives to conventional plastics
Analyzing NIAS in paperboard FCMs
Scientists use effect directed analysis to detect and identify aryl hydrocarbon receptor-active substances potentially migrating from pizza box made of recycled paperboard
Fluorochemicals in popcorn bags worldwide
Scientists quantify per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) and their precursors in microwave popcorn bags sampled in Europe, Americas, Asia; short-chain PFASs prevalent in Europe and Americas, long-chain PFASs in Asia
Online circular economy program
Ellen MacArthur Foundation launches free training program split into weekly webinars and online discussion space; open to everyone, begins April 15, 2020
Chemical migration from silicone baking materials
European Consumer Organization (BEUC) finds that chemicals of concern migrate from silicone baking molds sold in Europe, including three siloxanes classified as SVHCs; 23% of 44 products tested release chemical constituents in high (>30 mg/kg) or increasing amounts over time; BEUC calls for stricter EU rules for silicone food contact materials
Online retailers tackle dangerous products
Amazon, Alibaba, eBay, Rakuten France sign EU Commission’s ‘product safety pledge’ to remove dangerous products from sale more quickly; NGOs call for more specific action on hazardous chemicals