Recent studies explore uptake pathways of microplastics; uptake has increased in recent years; rapidly industrializing Southeast Asian countries more impacted; food packaging responsible for approx. 2.98βΓβ103 microplastics/person/year; higher exposure for regular consumers of bottled water, tea brewed from plastic tea bags, or ultrafiltered milk
EFSA prioritizes substances for setting SMLs
European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) panel publishes scientific opinion prioritizing 451 substances for creation of specific migration limits (SMLs) for plastic food contact materials; the 3 identified high priority substances are salicylic acid, styrene, and vinyl laurate
NIAS in laminated bioplastics
Study investigates composition of biodegradable adhesive and chemical migration from bioplastics laminates, identifies several NIAS, shows importance for migration testing of finished material
EFSA calls for information on FCM No. 19 and 20
European Food Safety Authority requests technical and toxicological information on two amines approved as additives in plastic food contact materials (FCMs) to review and potentially update initial assessments; declaration of intent to submit information required by January 20, 2020
RIVM studies argue applied maximum doses too low
Researchers from Dutch National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) publish two peer-reviewed articles critically reviewing determination and application of maximum doses in toxicity studies; find that recent toxicity studies increasingly using unjustified low maximum doses, call for more clarity in testing guidelines
Widespread presence of organophosphate esters in plastic and paper FCMs
Scientists perform suspect and non-target analysis of organophosphate esters (OPEs) in 100 food contact materials (FCMs) in Southern China; identify 28 OPEs of which 18 were identified for the first time; find organophosphite antioxidants as one OPE source
Carcinogenic potential of nanomaterials
German government agency publishes review of carcinogenicity and mutagenicity of nanoparticles for future regulation, suggests grouping according to inflammatory potential
Microplastics: recent insights into human exposure, cellular uptake, cancer metastasis
Researchers report plastic fragments may exacerbate breast cancer metastasis; review summarizes nanoplastic uptake into human cells; studies find occupational microplastics exposure can be reduced by wearing face masks; millions of micro- and nanoplastics are released during 30-second food blending; scientists more worried about microplastic impacts on the environment than humans
Japan releases revised positive list for FCMs
Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare publishes revised version of positive list for food contact materials (FCMs); includes additional base polymer resins, monomers, additives; to be enforced from June 1, 2020 with five-year transition period for existing products
Industry criticizes new German printing ink regulation
German printing ink regulation on brink of completion, industry comments