ECHA report on alternatives to animal testing

Fourth report from the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) finds little change since 2017, number of alternative testing adaptations continuing to increase; read-across most commonly applied followed by data-waiving and weight of evidence approaches

Webinar on key characteristics of hazardous chemicals

Food Packaging Forum holds webinar with presentation from Martyn Smith on the identification of key characteristics to support chemical evaluation; introduces concept and recent key publications; recording now available to watch

Webinar on computational predictive toxicology projects

American Society for Cellular and Computational Toxicology (ASCCT) to hold webinar on May 26, 2020, discussing three recently completed projects developing collaborative in silico toxicology models

Online colloquium on IATA for toxicology assessment

Society of Toxicology (SOT) and US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to co-host colloquium on Integrated Approaches to Testing and Assessment (IATA) for regulatory toxicology assessment on May 28, 2020; event will be livestreamed, registration open

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

Study signifies potential toxicity of non-fluorinated surfactants

High-throughput screening of non-fluorinated aqueous firefighting foam finds they bind to key human protein as done by per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS); suggests non-fluorinated alternatives may have similar toxicity pathway as PFAS

Immunomodulatory effects of EDCs

Scientists review studies reporting that some endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) can affect development and functions of human immune cells; consequences include altered responses to infections and development of immune related diseases; food contact material (FCM)-relevant immunomodulatory EDCs include bisphenols, phthalates, triclosan

Immunotoxicity testing for FCM assessment

FDA scientists review currently available tools, discuss how they might be used for developmental immunotoxicity assessment of food contact materials

FDA studies show short-chain PFAS toxicity, metabolite bioaccumulation

Scientists from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) publish two studies on 6:2 fluorotelomer (6:2 FTOH); find risk posed by toxicity of 6:2 FTOH previously underestimated, acidic fluorotelomer metabolite bioaccumulates

FCM-relevant AOP research

Scientists explore adverse outcome pathways (AOPs) associated with bisphenols, phthalates, perchlorate, food additives, microplastics; discuss ways of using AOPs to predict chemical hazards, assess mixture toxicity