US Composting Council, Biodegradable Products Institute, industry, and civil society organizations collaborate on publishing principles to guide policymakers; suggest requirement for third-party certification of compostability claims; present clear rules for labeling and product design
Standardizing Benchmark Dose (BMD) calculations
New study assesses reliability of standardized Benchmark Dose calculations, more dose groups and lower number of animals make for better BMD model
FPF Workshop 2020: Lessons learned from Clarity-BPA
Laura Vandenberg gives overview of CLARITY-BPA project; compares results of guideline and academic studies; concludes that lowest BPA dose had effects across organs
Immunotoxicity testing for FCM assessment
FDA scientists review currently available tools, discuss how they might be used for developmental immunotoxicity assessment of food contact materials
Adverse health effects of low-dose mixtures
Scientists evaluate health effects of a mixture of 27 environmental chemicals in rats exposed to low concentrations comparable to current human exposure levels; find effects on weight, histology, gene expression in the liver, and metabolome of blood plasma
US states continue to develop local PFAS regulations
Maryland bans intentionally added PFAS in paper and board packaging, disposable plastic gloves by January 2024; Washington State accelerates PFAS Chemical Action Plan, Department of Ecology reported to be hiring more staff to undertake the accelerated timeline; Washingtonians say food related products should be main concern of state’s Safer Products for Washington Program; Vermont considers banning bisphenols in food packaging
Uncertainty factors in chemical risk assessment
A new scientific review article assesses validity of commonly used uncertainty factors
Antimony trioxide an anticipated carcinogen
U.S. National Toxicology Program’s draft Report on Carcinogens monograph supports listing antimony trioxide as ‘reasonably anticipated to be a human carcinogen based on sufficient evidence from studies in experimental animals’
New study shows novel effects of low dose BPA exposures
Early life exposures to low doses of BPA studied in mice and linked to significant dose-dependent changes in animals’ biochemical response
EDC criteria: Recent meetings
DG SANTE publishes summaries of recent meetings concerning the proposed EDC identification criteria; asks EFSA and ECHA to develop a harmonized guidance document for the implementation of EDC criteria