Publishes second article in three-part series on hazardous chemical exposure at home; provides overview of research on toxicity of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) to developing fetuses, young children; profiles US families with high PFAS concentrations in drinking water, efforts to restrict uses
Risk assessment of EDCs: Exposure route questioned
Researchers publish review discussing oral dosing via gavage for risk assessment of endocrine disrupting chemicals; criticize human risk assessment requirements for relevant exposure route
World Health Assembly adopts resolution on chemicals, waste, and pollution
Resolution calls on World Health Organization Member States to increase work on potential human health impacts of plastics, links between chemical exposures, and health; recognizes people are exposed to many chemicals but majority have not been well studied
Plastic-eating worms – a solution to pollution?
Scientific report on wax moth caterpillars munching polyethylene bags sparks hope for new solution to plastic pollution; closer look highlights long way ahead of transition from discovery to practice
Nature: Hormone disruptors reform in the dark
Science journal Nature reports on endocrine disruptor persistence in the environment, EDCs broken down by sunlight re-form at night
BPA linked to adverse effects in monkeys
New study confirms adverse effects of BPA in primates; finds oral bolus exposure inappropriate human exposure model
Plastic recycling: Future scenarios and behavioral influences
Five articles discuss future recycling and/or consumer waste sorting; outline future recycling technologies and recycled plastic applications; identify gaps between recycling technologies and targets of multi-material multilayer plastic packaging; find consumers wrongly dispose bioplastics and that packaging design affects sorting behavior; show single-use bag bans able to increase recycling contamination
Uncertainty factors in chemical risk assessment
A new scientific review article assesses validity of commonly used uncertainty factors
Review analyzes link between ortho-phthalates and ADHD
Targeting Environmental Neuro-Development Risks (TENDR) project publishes review in American Journal of Public Health analyzing link between ortho-phthalate exposure and impaired neurodevelopment, behavioral disorders such as ADHD; authors call for strong governmental and cooperative action, recommend reducing phthalate exposure from e.g. diet, medical equipment, personal care products
Doctors do not address environmental exposures
Boston Globe reports on new survey, finds doctors do not routinely question pregnant patients about environmental exposures