European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) panel publishes assessment of styrene in plastic food contact materials, follows 2018 International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) conclusion labelling it as ‘probably carcinogenic’; calls for systematic review of genotoxicity, toxicokinetics, species differences to determine safety
IARC: Styrene ‘probably carcinogenic’
International Agency for Research on Cancer concludes that styrene and styrene-6,8-oxide are ‘probably carcinogenic to humans’
California sets safe level for styrene
State of California adopts No Significant Risk Level for styrene of 27 µg/day under Proposition 65; styrene exposure from polystyrene food packaging assumed to be low, likely requiring no warning label
New York City again bans polystyrene foam packaging
Expanded polystyrene food packaging to be banned in the City of New York effective November 13, 2017; foam recycling found not “economically feasible” or “environmentally effective”
Styrofoam ban discussed in Jamaica
Editorial in The Cleaner discusses a potential ban of plastic and styrofoam food containers in Jamaica
Push to ban polystyrene packaging in London
London restaurant chefs call for ban on polystyrene food packaging; UK food packaging association opposes request; recycler says focus should be on creating circular material systems
Migration of styrene oligomers into food
German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment evaluates migration of styrene oligomers from FCMs into food simulants; finds no evidence for health risks at currently measured migration levels
California: Styrene listing
State of California adds styrene to lists of known human carcinogens; polystyrene food packaging not affected by required styrene warning label
New York City bans plastic foam in food packaging
Proposed ban becomes effective after almost two years, no proof for economical recyclability found
Styrene may be a human carcinogen
US National Research Council concludes review of styrene; substance reasonably anticipated to be a human carcinogen