Annual Report 2015 of the German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) includes topics relevant to food contact materials and human health, e.g. silver nanoparticles, microplastics
BfR opinion on EFSA’s PFOS, PFOA evaluation
German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment publishes opinion supporting tolerable weekly intake levels for PFOS and PFOA developed by European Food Safety Authority; reconfirms earlier 2008 statement that consumer health risk in Germany exists
Assessing low-dose toxicity of EDCs
New report by the National Academies of Sciences presents strategy to evaluate low-dose effects of endocrine active substances, provides systematic reviews for phthalates and PBDEs
Chemicals of concern in the circular economy
Scientists find one-fifth of brominated flame retardants’ content in recycling streams is transferred to new products; discuss trade-offs between consumer safety and resource efficiency; European officials maintain toxics can be managed within the circular economy
BfR: 17th Meeting on contaminants in food chain
German Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) publishes meeting minutes of its commission for contaminants in the food chain; discusses PFASs and mineral oil hydrocarbons
2021 FPF Workshop: Sharing recent scientific research
On the first day of the Food Packaging Forum’s annual workshop, speakers discuss their latest scientific research projects covering food contact chemical migration, human biomonitoring, mixture effects, threshold levels, microplastics, and impacts on reproduction
BPA disrupts regulation of feeding behavior
Scientists show that exposure to low-dose BPA during fetal development interferes with leptin and hypothalamic feeding circuitry, disrupts regulation of feeding behavior, predisposes to obesity in later life
EFSA: Scientific Opinion on the impact of NMDR on risk assessment
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
Science and statecraft at the second Plastics Treaty negotiation
Diplomats from across the globe descended on Paris, France to continue developing the UN treaty on plastics pollution; Scientist’s Coalition for an Effective Plastics Treaty members spoke to delegates from every continent, representing 33% of the world’s population; UN secretariat will develop INC-2 synthesis report, create zero draft by INC-3; elements for intersessional work can be submitted until August 15, 2023; INC-3 in Nairobi, Kenya in November 2023
DEHP increases BPA exposure
Scientists show that diethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP) leads to higher accumulation of bisphenol A (BPA) in reproductive tissues of mice, likely due to competition for detoxification enzymes