International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classifies melamine as possibly carcinogenic to humans
No vote on EDC criteria yet
No formal vote on proposed EDC criteria took place during latest SC-PAFF meeting; Commission likely to re-draft proposals due to wide disagreement among stakeholders
WWF: marine plastic pollution irreversible, strategies needed beyond recycling
World Wildlife Fund (WWF) publishes principles for chemical recycling to avoid harming human health or goals for circular economy; should not compete with mechanical recycling, need transparency about resource consumption; prioritize reduction, reuse over recycling; WWF and Alfred Wegener Institute report on plastics’ impacts on oceans; plastic contamination is permanent; at least 2144 species affected, 99.8% of seabird species will eat plastics by 2050
EFSA: Consultations on weight of evidence and biological relevance
EFSA announces public consultation on two draft guidance documents concerning use of weight of evidence approach in scientific assessments and identification of biological relevance of observed effects
BPA linked to breast cancer
BPA found to induce malignant mammary gland cancer in rats
Grouping of nanoforms
ECHA, JRC and RIVM release guidance report on nanoform grouping in harzard assessment; recommend minimizing toxicological testing
Review on mineral oil hydrocarbons in food
Scientific review summarizes publications on mineral oil hydrocarbons in food until 2010, calls for systematic investigation of contamination sources, matching TDI levels for contamination and industrial applications
BPA exposure too low to have health effects
New study estimating BPA exposure to be safe raises opposing voices
How new research will shed light on BPA
Innovative research program CLARITY-BPA unites regulatory risk assessors and academic researchers, studies BPA’s hazards; first results expected in early 2015
NGOs petition US FDA to ban PFAS in food packaging
NGOs in the United States including the Environmental Defense Fund, Center for Food Safety, Breast Cancer Prevention Partners, and the League of Conservation Voters, send petition to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) calling on the agency to ban all PFAS in food packaging; US Representative Dingell plans to introduce legislation banning PFAS to US House of Representatives