Kevin Elliott discusses how values can influence scientific judgements or be themselves affected by them; transparency plays an important role in responding to challenges caused by value-laden judgements; contents and venues chosen for transparent communication need to be adjusted according to each stakeholder’s needs
How to regulate polymers?
Chemical Watch commentary addresses the nature of polymerization reactions, provides technical background information explaining the challenges in the registration of polymers under REACH
12th BioDetectors Conference 2019
Study links phthalates and lower cognitive ability in infants
New research study investigates phthalate levels in urine from pregnant women and cognitive abilities of 159 infants, find associations between high levels of phthalate exposure and slower information processing, especially in boys; determines that associations can be found much earlier than previously thought
BPA substitutes and chromosomal abnormalities
Mice exposed to low doses of BPA, BPS, diphenyl sulfone, BPF, BPAF exhibit chromosomal abnormalities that persist for several generations, according to new study in Current Biology
Obesity and diabetes risks programmed in the womb
New study finds fetal brain response to sugar associated with mother’s insulin sensitivity
Microplastics detected in human breastmilk and mice fetal thalamus
Two studies assess fetal and infant exposure to plastic particles and impacts on mouse fetuses; detect microplastics in 26 out of 34 human breastmilk samples; report polystyrene particles negatively impact mouse fetuses
Oligomers – presence in FCMs and food, toxicity, challenges
Review summarizes analysis and presence of oligomers in food contact materials (FCMs) made of polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polybutylene terephthalate (PBT), and polystyrene (PS) including challenges; study suggests ionic strength may influence migration of polyamide (PA) oligomers from PA FCMs
European Plastics Pact launched
Public-private partnership sets targets for signatories by 2025; includes designing all packaging to be re-useable or at least recyclable, reducing virgin plastics by 20%, increasing recycling by 25%, having 30% recycled content
Improving the chemical safety of food contact articles: Linking policy-making with scientific research
The 2020 Food Packaging Forum (FPF) Workshop took place virtually on October 21-23, 2020 under the theme “Improving the chemical safety of food contact articles: Linking policy-making with scientific research.” The event featured a range of high profile speakers from different areas of expertise who provided insights into the latest science and policy-making within the field, as well as discussed how these two sides could better interface with one another. The interactive event brought together over 200 registered participants, offering […]