Scientists review the association between bisphenol A (BPA) exposure and declines in semen quality based on animal and epidemiological studies; assess weight of evidence of associations and estimate BPA reference dose of 0.003 µg/kg/d for male reproductive health for use in mixture risk assessments
Mineral oils: Toxicity, exposure possibly underestimated
Scientific study compares accumulation of mineral oil saturated hydrocarbons (MOSH) in rats to humans; findings imply that current acceptable daily intake for MOSH may be set too high and current human exposure is underestimated
Microplastics in humans: current knowledge and potential implications
Review summarizes microplastics abundance and characteristics in human biological samples including current research approaches employed, challenges, and prospects; study indicates microplastics impact human meconium and placenta microbiota; review outlines current evidence on microplastic effects upon exposure during early developmental stage
TBBPA and triclosan cause higher BPA exposure
Mice study shows that co-exposure with tetrabromobisphenol A and triclosan alters toxicokinetics of BPA, results in elevated tissue levels
Viewpoint: Subthreshold effects need consideration in chemical risk assessment
Scientists point out chemical risk assessments worldwide neglect current scientific knowledge; advocate to consider potential subthreshold effects in regulatory risk assessment
Currently used tiered approach not adequate for substances with non-monotonic dose-response
EFSA publishes report on Low Dose Colloquium in June
Global treaty on plastics?
Ensia article highlights the need for a global environmental agreement on plastics and outlines how it could be shaped
Global plastics treaty should include chemical simplification, scientists demand
Highlight reduction of chemicals used in plastics production as one necessary step towards safer recycling, in addition to stricter regulation to increase transparency on plastic producer side and phase out of harmful chemicals; call for inclusion of these obligations in global plastics treaty
Experts on plastics’ effects urge binding treaty
Scientists with expertise on the effects of chemicals and pollution from plastics urge the United States to support a binding plastics treaty; promote Rwanda and Peru’s resolution as one considering the entire life cycle of plastics
FPF Workshop 2019: Non-monotonicity explained
Ana Soto presents biological mechanisms underlying non-monotonic dose-responses, explains why non-monotonicity is ‘useful to organisms, challenging for regulators,’ discusses CLARITY-BPA’s successes and limitations