German Environment Agency (UBA) provides updated guidelines for identifying substances that are persistent, mobile, and toxic (PMT) or very persistent and very mobile (vPvM); finds 260 REACH registered substances meet set criteria, prioritizes 122 for further investigation
Toxicity assessment of sol-gel coatings
Scientists assess sol-gel coatings on polycarbonate plastics; migration found below the overall migration limit; no genotoxicity or estrogenicity in vitro
BPA linked to increased blood pressure
Study links consumption of canned beverages with BPA lining and acute blood pressure increase
Opportunities for chemical industry in circular economy
New report describes how the EU chemical industry can move towards a circular economy; estimates growth potential of 26%, reduction of energy consumption by 37%
US Plastics Pact launched
Ellen MacArthur Foundation’s Plastics Pact network expands to include US Plastics Pact collaborative with over 60 signatories
BfR warns against contaminants from azo dyes in FCMs
German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment measures migration of 4 chemicals associated with azo dyes in paper food contact materials; finds migration levels to exceed estimated safe intake levels; recommends materials containing the substances be avoided until more toxicity data available
EC launches circular plastics alliance
EU Commission launches Circular Plastics Alliance to support EU plastics strategy; industry stakeholders to cover entire plastics value chain
FDA decision on perchlorate postponed
NGOs and FDA request to pause court case concerning perchlorate petition; FDA aims to reach final decision on use of perchlorate in food packaging by March 2017
Label for ‘plastic-free’ food packaging
Campaign group introduces product label for ‘plastic-free’ food and drink packaging; retailers Iceland and Ekoplaza, tea brand teapigs to adopt label
Phthalate exposure and health impacts
Four scientific articles report on phthalate exposure sources and impacts; diet partly explains urinary phthalate levels in adolescents and children surveyed in the US and New Zealand; review of reviews summarizes human health impacts; finds studies on women “generally underrepresented”; study indicates three phthalates affect human oral health