Collaboration on Health and the Environment (CHE) and University of California launch seven-part webinar series on cumulative impacts of toxic chemicals; aims to educate researchers, health professionals, policy makers, advocates and patients; addresses topics such as infertility, prenatal exposure
Report questions viability and environmental benefits of plastic chemical recycling
Report commissioned by the Swiss Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN) reviews chemical recycling of plastic waste; finds the technical feasibility, environmental benefits, and economic viability of the technology are not sufficiently demonstrated; excessive subsidies or investments may lock-in environmentally unfavorable processes and infrastructure
Kenya updates aluminum foil standard
Kenya Bureau of Standards submits updated standard to World Trade Organization; covers aluminum foil for household use and catering; changes mostly affect mechanical property specifications; includes rules for metal content and heavy metal limits
Revealing Chemicals in Food Contact Materials, Health Threats, and Global Policy Opportunities
IPEN webinar features presentation from Food Packaging Forum scientists about chemicals detected in various types of food contact materials in the FCCmigex database; Endocrine Society presents on health risks posed by chemical exposures; IPEN presents on policy opportunities to address them
New members for EC scientific committees
European Commission seeks new members for scientific committees (2016-2021); application deadline is November 2, 2015
Switzerland: 25% of PVC lid gaskets exceed plasticizer migration limits
Swiss national campaign analyses 109 oily food samples packaged in glass jars on the compliance of migration of plasticizers from their lid gaskets; comparison with European campaigns conducted a decade ago shows similar proportion of non-compliant samples with non-polyvinyl chloride (PVC)-gasket; urges food businesses to pay more attention to the suitability of their products lids
Science publishes special issue on “Our Plastics Dilemma”
American Association for the Advancement of Science publishes special journal issue on plastics; includes reviews, perspectives, and news on various components of the plastics value chain; particular focus on waste management technologies that may contribute to a circular plastics economy, effects of plastic pollution on animals and the environment, support for a UN agreement on plastics
IOM workshop on environmental exposures and obesity
Meeting and webcast of the Institute of Medicine (IOM) Roundtable on March 2-3, 2015
ECHA approves five uses for biocides
Biocidal Products Committee of ECHA adopts 10 opinions on applications for approval of 3 biocides; PHMB may be approved for food and feed
Commission publishes EDC criteria
European Commission proposes strongly science-based criteria to identify endocrine disruptors, endorses WHO definition, and publishes impact assessment on EDC criteria