European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) publishes opinion on the impact of non-monotonic dose responses (NMDRs) on human health risk assessment; if NMDR may be present, suggests further testing at the low end of the dose-response curve; recommends developing internationally agreed guidance and harmonized frameworks for ‘identifying and addressing’ NMDRs during risk assessments
Food packaging leachates impact gut microbiome and metabolites
Scientists explore the impact of long-term oral exposure of mammals to food packaging leachates on gut microbiome diversity, composition, and metabolites; report changes in gut microbiota and metabolites mainly associated with oxidative stress, immunity, and inflammatory responses
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
Plastic container fluorine treatments create PFAS
Scientists from Environmental Defense Fund and Green Science Policy Institute find fluorine gas treatment used on “millions of polyethylene and polypropylene containers each year” including those for food contact; treatment can produce PFAS that migrate from the material
CLARITY-BPA webinars: Key messages
Carnegie Mellon University and FDA hold webinars on CLARITY-BPA academic research and guideline studies; FDA upholds importance of high-dose effects; academic researchers highlight significant low-dose effects
BPA human study: Effects on insulin response
First experimental study in humans finds low-dose exposure to bisphenol A alters insulin response to oral and IV glucose, possibly increases diabetes 2 risk
Several studies determine chemical migration from food packaging
Researchers from several European and Chinese institutions develop methods to explore chemicals in food contact materials (FCMs); report styrene migration from different polystyrene FCMs into several food matrices; detect photoinitiators in paper FCMs and chlorinated paraffins in green tea and its packaging; find irradiation treatment of metalized polypropylene to reduce migration of tested chemicals
Food packaging and chemical safety: What does the future hold?
The Food Packaging Forum’s third annual workshop took a look at scientific trends and expected developments in the area of food contact materials and chemical safety. Participants and speakers from regulatory authorities, industry, and academia, as well as from public interest groups, gathered to discuss the issue of chemical migration from food contact materials and impact on health. We addressed today’s perspectives, looked at historical developments in analytical chemistry and chemical risk assessment, and shared insights on scientific challenges and […]
Plastics Treaty should align circular economy goals with waste hierarchy, scientists say
Letter in Science by 13 members of the Scientists’ Coalition for an Effective Plastics Treaty calls for UN Plastic Treaty negotiators to integrate circular economy goal with waste hierarchy principles to encourage sustainable long-term solutions to end plastic pollution
How to integrate chemical aspects into the global plastic treaty
Scientists share perspective that all chemicals in plastics need considering in the global plastic treaty also to not hamper technological solutions; recommend key elements to tackle plastic pollution problem holistically including less complexity, as well as more transparency and incentives