Environmental risks of medium-chain chlorinated paraffins

Scientists review production, environmental occurrence, and toxicity of medium-chain chlorinated paraffins; substantial risks may necessitate regulatory actions

Plastic industry questions regulation on BPA

American Chemistry Council and PlasticsEurope claim safety of BPA for food packaging based on draft CLARITY-BPA core study; many results of 2nd part of CLARITY-BPA still unpublished

Socio-economic analysis of persistent pollutants

DG GROWTH publishes report on persistent, bioaccumulative and toxic (PBT) and very persistent, very bioaccumulative (vPvB) substances, detailing ‘stock pollution’ approach to socio-economic analysis of such substances subject to REACH authorization and restriction in the EU

Review on metals and autism

Scientists review evidence on links between autism spectrum disorder and toxic metal(loids) such as lead, mercury, aluminum, arsenic, postulate mechanism based on neuroinflammation, oxidative stress

JRC’s policy brief on mixtures

EU Commission’s Joint Research Centre publishes policy brief on approaches to ensure chemical mixtures’ safety; current JRC research on mixtures focuses on interaction effects, links to diseases, use of biomonitoring in exposure assessment

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

ECHA and Cefic to work on REACH implementation

European Chemicals Agency and European Chemical Industry Council cooperate on ‘effective implementation of REACH’; Cefic director calls for making REACH compliance a ‘global brand’

EFSA working group on recycling plastics: 23rd meeting

Updated meeting minutes of EFSA’s CEF Panel working group on recycling plastics now available online

BfR statement on polyamide oligomers

German risk assessment institute evaluates migration of polyamide oligomers from kitchen utensils into food; exposure likely to exceed threshold of toxicological concern; call for more toxicity studies

EFSA working group on phthalates: 3rd meeting

EFSA’s CEF Panel working group on phthalates reassesses safety of DBP, BBP and DEHP for food contact plastics; updated meeting minutes now available online