German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) publishes review article identifying lack of data on carcinogenic potential of less refined mineral oil aromatic hydrocarbons (MOAH), recommends minimizing impurities in food
BfR warns against contaminants from azo dyes in FCMs
German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment measures migration of 4 chemicals associated with azo dyes in paper food contact materials; finds migration levels to exceed estimated safe intake levels; recommends materials containing the substances be avoided until more toxicity data available
FPF Workshop 2020: Hazardous chemicals in FCMs
Stefan Merkel presents recent work of German Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR); Lisa Zimmermann discusses bioassay-based toxicity assessment of conventional plastics, bioplastics, and plant-based materials; Andrew Turner emphasizes presence of toxic brominated flame retardants in recycled plastics, uses of hazardous heavy metals in colored decorations applied to glass articles
When the dose does not make the poison
Scientists comment on first proposal to integrate non-monotonic dose response in chemical risk assessment framework
EFSA working group updates in May, June, and July 2020
Minutes from recent meetings of the EFSA CEP panel and working groups on BPA, FCMs, and recycling plastics published; scientific opinions on benzophenone‐3,3′,4,4′‐tetracarboxylic dianhydride (BDTA), multiple recycling processes published
Several studies determine chemical migration from food packaging
Researchers from several European and Chinese institutions develop methods to explore chemicals in food contact materials (FCMs); report styrene migration from different polystyrene FCMs into several food matrices; detect photoinitiators in paper FCMs and chlorinated paraffins in green tea and its packaging; find irradiation treatment of metalized polypropylene to reduce migration of tested chemicals
CLARITY-BPA webinars: Key messages
Carnegie Mellon University and FDA hold webinars on CLARITY-BPA academic research and guideline studies; FDA upholds importance of high-dose effects; academic researchers highlight significant low-dose effects
Flame retardants in plastic waste
Study commissioned by Norwegian Environment Agency analyzes brominated flame retardants in post-consumer plastics intended for recycling, finds low levels of commercial decaBDE, HBCD, BDE-209, TBBPA, DBDPE
BPA human study: Effects on insulin response
First experimental study in humans finds low-dose exposure to bisphenol A alters insulin response to oral and IV glucose, possibly increases diabetes 2 risk
BPA linked to prostate cancer
New study investigates effects of BPA exposure on human prostate cells, links BPA to prostate cancer