Special issue of peer-reviewed journal Hormones and Behavior focuses on endocrine disrupting chemicals’ effects on behavior; articles address molecular mechanisms, animal studies and epidemiological observations, discuss specific chemicals including BPA, triclosan, PBDEs, PFASs
New FPF report: Flame retardants detected in FCMs
Czech researchers find brominated flame retardants in food contact materials due to illicit recycling practices
Guide for assessing health risks
German Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) publishes guideline for assessment of health risks, outlining adopted procedures; transparency on risk assessment is crucial component of risk communication
WSJ opinion article: BPA scare looks like a false alarm
Opinion article in The Wall Street Journal calls for reallocation of resources for BPA studies to more productive projects
Uptake and internal distribution of PFAS
Scientists develop radiolabeling method to trace per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) uptake and distribution in mice; observe uptake in all organs, transport from mother to fetus across placenta; highest uptake in liver after tail vein administration, in lungs after oral gavage
Opinion: EDC decision matrix not suitable
CHEM Trust analyzes “option 4b” to identify EDCs as proposed by German risk assessment institute and considers method as not adequate to set EDC criteria
Behavioral studies shed light on how to increase reuse, recycling, and sustainable packaging use
Two scientific studies explore recycling and reuse behavior and options for improvement; report that high level of perceived policy effectiveness can favor residents’ recycling behavior; combine environmental impacts assessment with behavioral science to determine best packaging reuse option and system; third study evaluates consumers’ response to sustainable packaging when benefit trade-offs are involved
Study finds 109 industrial chemicals in pregnant women
Scientists publish study in Environmental Science & Technology detecting 109 industrial chemicals in blood samples from 30 pregnant women and newborns, includes 55 chemicals never-before reported in humans; higher socioeconomic status correlates with relatively higher exposures to some chemicals; detected 42 chemicals for which no information on use was available
Urinary Bisphenol A levels in pregnant women linked to reduced thyroid stimulating hormone in newborn boys
A study investigating the association of maternal Bisphenol A levels with maternal and neonatal thyroid hormone levels finds an association between maternal urinary BPA and thyroid stimulating hormone levels in male neonates.
Hazardous chemicals in food contact materials?
The Food Packaging Forum’s second annual workshop was dedicated to hazardous chemicals in food contact materials (FCMs). A recent study by the Food Packaging Forum revealed that known chemicals of concern are knowingly and intentionally used in the manufacture of FCMs. During the workshop, participants learned from internationally renowned scientific experts how hazardous chemicals are managed in FCMs, how their risk is assessed, how chemical analytical work helps to ensure the safety of food packaging, and what emerging issues are related to the risk of chemicals in FCMs. They also heard […]