Collaboration on Health and the Environment (CHE) and University of California launch seven-part webinar series on cumulative impacts of toxic chemicals; aims to educate researchers, health professionals, policy makers, advocates and patients; addresses topics such as infertility, prenatal exposure
Belgian survey and national action plan on EDCs
Independent insurance fund carries out survey, finds nearly half of citizens have little to no knowledge about endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs); recommends greater public awareness, policies to prevent consumer exposure, use of safer alternatives; Belgium developing national EDC action plan
Overview of regulations and risk assessment of EDCs in FCMs
Peer-reviewed article provides summary of migration and risk assessment methods used internationally to address endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) in food contact materials (FCMs); discusses legislative trends, remaining challenges
EC publishes working documents on EDC fitness check
European Commission (EC) publishes set of staff working documents detailing outcomes of the fitness check on endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs); recommends simplifications, moving towards single assessment approach, applying data generated within other legislation to food contact materials, considering mixtures
‘The trouble with plastics’
Special issue of peer-reviewed journal Birth Defects Research presents a collection of articles on plastics’ effects on human health, with a particular focus on early development
Recent studies on EDCs and cardiovascular health
Emerging evidence and systematic analyses highlight adverse effects of bisphenols and phthalates on cardiovascular health; meta-analysis of US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data from 2003-2016 finds significant association of cardiovascular disease with bisphenol A; prenatal exposure particularly detrimental; calls for more mechanistic research, evaluation of cardiovascular safety profiles for substitution chemicals
EU’s Chemicals Strategy plans actions on FCMs
European Commission (EC) publishes Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability; plans to ban PFAS for all non-essential uses, move towards grouping approach for regulation of all chemicals; specific actions for food contact materials (FCM) include extending generic approach to risk management, identifying endocrine disruptors, considering cumulative effects of chemical mixtures
CHEM Trust launches website focused on EDCs
New site to serve as resource for concerned consumers on endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs); provides overview of the substances and how they can impact human and environmental health; specific page provides guidance for food contact materials and articles
Online symposium on EDCs and health impacts
Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL) together with Belgian Independent Health Insurance Funds to host online symposium on November 19, 2020; focus on reducing health impacts from endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs); set to feature talks from health and policy experts; registration free of charge
Consumer organization’s position paper, survey on FCMs
German consumer organization publishes position paper; identifies fragmentations, holes in current EU regulations on food contact materials (FCMs); critical of limited supply chain transparency, enforcement of chemicals in FCMs by authorities; calls for banning harmful substances, introducing strict positive lists; survey of 1,000 consumers finds most are not well informed about food packaging labelling, proper use