Science editorial: Persistence of chemicals calls for innovation beyond PFAS

Scientist outlines why chemical persistence makes an update of chemical technology and traditional chemical risk assessment necessary; uses per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) as an example while clarifying that innovation needs to go beyond PFAS

UV-328 listed as POP under the Stockholm Convention

11th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Stockholm Convention lists UV absorber as Persistent Organic Pollutant (POP); first non-halogenated POP under the Convention; also listing of flame retardant dechlorane plus and pesticide methoxychlor in Annex A

It’s time for regulating high persistence chemicals, scientists find

Viewpoint article points out high persistence of chemicals as the main driver for global chemical pollution footprints; urge development of chemicals regulation addressing high persistence alone

UV-328, PFCAs, chlorinated paraffins move closer to global restrictions

17th meeting of the Stockholm Convention’s Persistent Organic Pollutants Review Committee (POPRC) considers scientific evidence, agrees to move all substances onto next step in review process; long-chain perfluorocarboxylic acids (PFCAs), medium-chain chlorinated paraffins, and UV-328 all known to have been used in food packaging

Call to consider persistence as CLP hazard class

Global PFAS Science Council comments on proposed revision of European Union classification, labeling and packaging (CLP) regulation; calls for the CLP to “introduce persistence as a stand-alone hazard classification”

Framework developed to support safe-by-design nanomaterials

Scientists create set of 17 questions to help innovators consider potential risks to human health posed by nano-sized products or materials during the innovation process, aiming to guide development and identify safety issues already at early design stages

Safety of DEHCH

EFSA assesses safety of bis(2-ethylhexyl)cyclohexane-1,4-dicarboxylate (DEHCH) for use as plasticizer in PVC; concluded to present no safety concerns; uncertainty remains about bioaccumulation potential in humans

Guidance document for PMT/vPvM substances

German Environment Agency (UBA) provides updated guidelines for identifying substances that are persistent, mobile, and toxic (PMT) or very persistent and very mobile (vPvM); finds 260 REACH registered substances meet set criteria, prioritizes 122 for further investigation

POPs regulation endorsed by European Council

European Council endorses recast of Persistent Organic Pollutants Regulation, adopts 500 ppm limit for brominated flame retardants and 10,000 ppm limit for short-chain chlorinated paraffins