Publication assesses over fifty studies on endocrine disrupting chemicals migrating from packaging into beverages; finds that material type, acidity, and storage impact migration rates; phthalates were most detected in polymer films, while bisphenol A was measured most in canned beverages
January 11, 2024
EDCs in plastics cost the US $250 billion in healthcare annually
Scientists calculate US health care costs caused by a well-studied subset of endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) in plastics; estimate exposure cost $250 billion in 2018, equivalent to 1.22% of Gross Domestic Product; recommend addressing chemicals of concern in global plastics treaty to reduce disease burden and costs
August 21, 2023
Scientists recommend policy actions to reduce EDC health impacts
Review describes how cost and disease burden of endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) can be reduced by policy actions informed by science; recommended solutions include updating testing to account for mixture, cumulative exposure, effects occurring later life; second review summarizes studies linking EDC exposure with immunological and metabolic impacts during pregnancy
April 18, 2023
New Japanese coalition to protect children from harmful chemicals
Group of Japanese consumer organizations form ‘Network for Protecting Children from Hazardous Chemicals’; purpose is to gather and communicate scientific research and urge for legislative changes; inauguration event takes place on April 22, 2023
March 24, 2023
BPS and other color developers migrate from food labels into food
Scientists analyze 140 Canadian samples of food packaging and thermal labels; first to demonstrate that bisphenol S (BPS) and alternative chemicals found in food labels migrate through packaging materials into food; study assesses levels of BPS and other bisphenols in 79 canned Turkish foods; detect BPS in six samples in levels up to 0.036 mg/kg food
March 16, 2023
EU Court of Justice rules in favor of ECHA identifying BPA as SVHC
Trade body PlasticsEurope loses fourth legal case concerning regulations of bisphenol A (BPA); European Court of Justice supports ECHA’s classification of BPA as substance of high very high concern (SVHC)
February 28, 2023
Proposals for change from inside and outside the US FDA
US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) proposes structural changes within the institution in response to recent critique; includes increased focus on nutrition, partnerships with other regulatory authorities and incorporating outside advisors; Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) publishes report on obesogens; encourages FDA to ‘incorporate framework’ to identify obesogens and other endocrine disruptors when reviewing chemical safety
January 18, 2023
Six FCCs including melamine and bisphenol S added to SVHC candidate list
European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) adds nine chemicals to the Candidate List of substances of very high concern (SVHC); six have been listed for intentional use or measured in food contact articles; listing obligates producers and suppliers to provide safety information and to notify ECHA; candidate list now contains 233 substances
January 3, 2023
Opportunities for India to improve EDC management
Article assesses India’s current approach to managing endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs); identifies EDC actions as fragmented and far behind developed countries; proposes actions to move ahead by adopting new modern regulatory framework for managing EDCs, enhancing monitoring, raising awareness, employing public-private partnership programs
