In the first quarter of 2022 Circle Economy, the OECD, and Zero Waste Europe publish reports investigating various aspects of material value chains and share insights to ‘close the circularity gap’ and ‘bend the plastics curve’; evaluate material usage globally, plastics in OECD nations and globally, and PET in Europe
Reports identify there is still much to do to reach a circular economy
Study identifies chemicals driving semen quality deterioration
Scientists perform mixture risk assessment on 29 chemicals capable of affecting semen quality; show exposure to chemicals that lead to declined semen quality highly exceed tolerable daily intake in Europe; identify bisphenols, polychlorinated dioxins, paracetamol, and phthalates as risk drivers
European court annuls previous decision to identify TiO2 as carcinogenic
Court of Justice of the European Union reverses earlier court ruling identifying titanium dioxide (TiO2) as a carcinogen via inhalation; finds Risk Assessment Committee did not consider all necessary factors and criteria for having intrinsic hazard not met; legal institutions now responsible for addressing changes needed to adapt to court’s decision
Scientists reach consensus on EDCs
Scientists agree that potency should not be included in the EU’s criteria for EDCs; NGOs call on European Commission to adopt scientific consensus and release EDC criteria promptly
Alternative plasticizers adipogenic in vitro
Several alternative plasticizers used in FCMs shown to promote lipid accumulation in vitro; direct activation of PPARγ suggested as possible mechanism
Conference on plastics recycling and recovery
IdentiPlast conference on recycling and recovery of plastics to take place on February 22-23, 2017 in Vienna
Reverse causation bias in PFOA studies
Scientists suggest increased perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) blood levels are consequence of early menopause and kidney disease, not cause
The Intercept reports on plastic waste trade, industry outlook
Investigative journalist examines the economy and community impacts of plastic waste in Africa; provides overview of recent global regulatory discussions to manage plastic pollution, potential systematic decline of the plastics industry sector
OECD publishes guidance on identifying chemical alternatives
Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) publication aims to increase agreement on approach and criteria for alternatives selection, set minimum requirements to determine safer substitutes; provides guidance on setting scope, using comparative hazard and exposure assessments, comparing trade-offs; applies framework in example case study