Danish Consumer Council reports melamine migration from five of eight tested childrenβs cups are above legal limits; migration tests undertaken after cups were washed 20 times and filled with a hot drink to simulate use; melamine classified as possibly carcinogenic to humans in the EU
Low dose BPA effects
Animal study at National Food Institute, Technical University of Denmark finds low doses of BPA affect body weight and behavior in female rats, as well as mammary gland growth and sperm count in male rats
Mechanistic data in hazard assessment
Academic and industry scientists debate whether use of mechanistic data in regulatory hazard assessment of chemicals should be decisive or supportive only, discuss study selection process for systematic reviews
Risk of PFOA evaluated
PFOA, its salts and related substances warrant global action under the Stockholm Convention; Persistent Organic Pollutants Review Committee considers draft risk profile of PFOA during its 12th meeting
Alternative toxicity testing in the U.S.
U.S. EPA publishes draft strategy for use of alternative toxicity tests in evaluation of chemicals under updated chemicals regulation
Microplastics impact oyster fertility
New study finds micro-polystyrene to disrupt feeding pattern and reproduction in oysters; exposed molluscs had fewer and more slowly growing offspring
Scientists explore effects of micro- and nanoplastics on mammals, including humans
Research studies show maternal polystyrene (PS) particle exposure can cause testicular and hepatic toxicity in male mouse offspring; report PS microplastics affect rat ovary function; find correlation between human fecal microplastics levels and Inflammatory Bowel Disease; reviews summarize potential human health effects; study develops a tool to screen and prioritize micro-and nanoplastics toxicity studies for human health risks evaluation
Uncertainty in EDC risk assessments
New report by the Danish Centre on Endocrine Disruptors provides recommendations for better considering uncertainties in risk assessment of EDCs; suggests using additional uncertainty factors and non-threshold approach
New novel food regulation on nanomaterials
New proposed EU regulation on novel foods; engineered nanomaterials to be assessed and authorized under the new regulation
FPF Workshop 2017: Toxicological assessments and migration testing
Experts from academia, food industry and authorities present scientific and practical challenges in toxicological assessments and migration measurements