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chemicals of concern

October 24, 2024

Commentary links plastics and ultra-processed food crises

Article connects the dots between two global challenges: plastics and ultra-processed foods (UPFs); authors highlight how plastics have enabled the mass production of low-cost UPFs, leading to widespread health and environmental harms; emphasize that thousands of chemicals from plastic packaging migrate into food, many of which are hazardous and inadequately tested; urge joint efforts to tackle both issues, suggesting that addressing plastics and UPFs together could lead to more effective solutions
Reading time: 2 minutes

March 22, 2024

Majority of plastic food contact articles likely endocrine and metabolism disrupting

Two studies investigating chemicals from retail plastic food contact articles find considerable variability in complexity, with subsequent effects on cell-based tests of hormone disruption; many more chemicals measured from PVC and polyurethane than other polymers though the chemical mixtures from majority of the plastic samples are hormone disrupting; further evidence of PVC and PUR can interfere with GPCR-based cell communication
Reading time: 3 minutes

March 15, 2024

PlastChem report synthesizes current science on plastic chemicals

Report maps scientific data on more than 16,000 plastic chemicals; finds gaps in current governance and knowledge that prevent effective management; recommends policy actions based on current state-of-the-science
Reading time: 2 minutes

September 5, 2023

UN publishes Plastics Treaty zero draft

The "zero draft" is a starting point for discussion and amendments ahead of November's Plastics Treaty negotiation in Kenya; each proposed treaty element includes options of varying ambition; Part II focuses on elements of plastics' life cycle, including chemicals and polymers of concern; Option 1 imposes strict limitations, Option 2 mandates minimal usage, Option 3 leaves it to national action plans; Annex A provides potential criteria for determining chemicals and polymers of concern, along with options for development and usage within the Treaty
Reading time: 3 minutes

March 23, 2023

Reports on substitution of chemicals of concern – an overview

OECD releases three reports; reviews approaches to support alternatives assessment and substitution of chemicals of concern
Reading time: 1 minute
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