Environment Committee of EU Parliament rejects EU Commission’s proposal to allow up to 2% lead by weight in recycled polyvinylchloride (PVC); see increased levels as unsafe and unnecessary given available PVC alternatives, argue recycling should not justify continued use of hazardous substances
Phthalates: how safe are they?
The Guardian reports on human exposure to phthalates
Bioassay-based analysis of chemicals in paper & cardboard
Scientific study evaluates presence of hazardous chemicals in methanolic extracts from paper and cardboard food contact materials (FCMs) using several bioassays; finds oxidative stress (52%), genotoxicity (100%), impacts on xenobiotic metabolism (74%), antiandrogenic (52%) and antioestrogenic effects (39%); recommends an effect-based approach for hazard identification of food contact chemicals
Freely available dataset for 3D in silico modeling
Freely available 3D database of food additives, first step towards a more efficient in silico screening of chemicals
BPA and fetal malformations in humans
Italian researchers showed that mother’s reduced ability to metabolize BPA may be associated with fetal malformations
ECHA classifies BPA as environmental endocrine disruptor
ECHA adds 7 new SVHCs to Candidate List; entry for BPA updated to include endocrine disrupting properties with effects on environment
Studies report on oligomer migration from food packaging
Scientists perform migration experiments for oligomer analysis; one study detects eight chemicals including six non-intentionally added oligomers to migrate from multilayer biodegradable teacups; second study reports on oligomer migration from polycarbonate tableware as ‘hidden source’ of bisphenol A (BPA)
BPA and prostate cancer risk
CLARITY-BPA academic study confirms increased susceptibility to hormonally induced prostate cancer in rats developmentally exposed to bisphenol A
Reports identify there is still much to do to reach a circular economy
In the first quarter of 2022 Circle Economy, the OECD, and Zero Waste Europe publish reports investigating various aspects of material value chains and share insights to ‘close the circularity gap’ and ‘bend the plastics curve’; evaluate material usage globally, plastics in OECD nations and globally, and PET in Europe
New US certification focuses on chemicals
Center for Environmental Health and Clean Production Action launch a certified standard for single-use food service ware; three-tiered certification based on the use of safer chemicals; certified products must be recyclable or compostable and cannot contain any chemical from the certification’s restricted list including PFAS, ortho-phthalates, and bisphenols above 1ppm