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Methods and Tools for Assessing Nanomaterials and Uses and Regulation of Nanosilver in Europe
Published in Huiliang Cao, Silver Nanoparticles for Antibacterial Devices, 2017
Steffen Foss Hansen, Aiga Mackevica
The USA CFS has generated a database containing food items and food contact materials that are claiming to contain or are positively tested for their nanomaterial content (Center for Food Safety 2015). It contains more than 300 products in total, and the most abundant nanomaterial in these products is silver, which is found in 86 products. These products generally contain silver to attribute antibacterial action for a wide range of items, such as baby bottles, food containers and personal care products, like toothbrushes and toothpastes, and even white goods.
Environmental Toxins and Chronic Illness
Published in Aruna Bakhru, Nutrition and Integrative Medicine, 2018
Compounding the problem is the immense number of chemicals used in daily life that have endocrine disrupting properties. According to Maqbool et al. (2016), this number is about 800. Furthermore, the authors point out that only some of them have been examined. What is known about these chemicals? Kabir et al. (2015) provide much more detail than what was presented above. First, what is the precise definition of an endocrine-disrupting compound? The authors answer this question by providing the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) definition: “an agent that interferes with the synthesis, secretion, transport, binding, or elimination of natural hormones in the body that are responsible for the maintenance of homeostasis, reproduction, development and/or behavior.” Kabir et al. (2015) then simplify this definition by stating: “this means that endocrine disruptors are chemicals, or chemical mixtures, that interfere with normal hormone function.” Next, the authors divide EDCs into two categories. First, there are those that occur naturally such as natural chemicals found in human and animal food. These include phytoestrogens, genistein, and coumestrol. Second, there are those that are synthesized. These include industrial solvents and lubricants and their byproducts, for example, PCBs polybrominated biphenyls (PBBs), dioxins, plastics, bisphenol A (BPA), plasticizers, pesticides, fungicides, and some pharmaceuticals such as diethylstilbesterol (DES). Next, Kabir et al. (2015) group EDCs based on origin. First, there exists natural and artificial hormones such as phytoestrogens, omega-3 fatty acids, contraceptive pills, and thyroid medications. Second, there exists drugs with hormonal side effects such as naproxen, metoprolol, and clofibrate. Third, there exists industrial and household chemicals such as phthalates, alkylphenoltoxilate detergents, fire retardants, plasticizers, solvents, and PCBs. Finally, there exists side products of industrial and household processes such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), dioxins, and pentachlorobenzene. Still another way of categorizing EDCs according to Kabir et al. (2015) is pesticides, chemicals in products used in everyday life which includes lead and brominated flame retardants, and food contact materials with BPA being the most common. Maqbool et al. (2016) provide additional information on the organ and systemic effects of EDCs. These include reproductive and developmental effects, carcinogenicity, obesity and diabetes, and effects on the thyroid, cardiovascular system and nervous system. Kabir et al. (2015) provide additional detail about reproductive effects, pointing out that EDCs have been linked with abnormal development during puberty, ovarian failure, menstrual irregularities, polycystic ovary syndrome, poor sperm quality, and male infertility.
Substitution of bisphenol A: a review of the carcinogenicity, reproductive toxicity, and endocrine disruption potential of alternative substances
Published in Critical Reviews in Toxicology, 2020
Shalenie P. den Braver-Sewradj, Rob van Spronsen, Ellen V. S. Hessel
In Europe, BPA is authorized for use as a monomer in plastic food contact materials, in accordance with Commission Regulation (EU) No 10/2011 on plastic materials and articles intended to come into contact with foodstuffs (The European Commission 2011b). The recently published Commission Regulation (EU) 2018/213 amends this law by strengthening the migration limit from 0.6 mg/kg to 0.05 mg/kg in food contact plastics. In addition, it places a migration limit of 0.05 mg/kg for food contact varnished and coated articles and materials (The European Commission 2018). For varnished and coated food contact materials intended for use by infants and young children, no migration of BPA is permitted (The European Commission 2018). The prohibition of the use of BPA in the manufacture of polycarbonate infant feeding bottles (The European Commission 2011a) and in cosmetics (The European Commission 2009), and the restriction on the use of BPA in thermal paper (The European Commission 2016) remain unchanged, apart from extension of the prohibition of the use of BPA in the manufacture of polycarbonate drinking cups or bottles for young children (The European Commission 2018).
Insights into possibilities for grouping and read-across for nanomaterials in EU chemicals legislation
Published in Nanotoxicology, 2019
A. Mech, K. Rasmussen, P. Jantunen, L. Aicher, M. Alessandrelli, U. Bernauer, E. A. J. Bleeker, J. Bouillard, P. Di Prospero Fanghella, R. Draisci, M. Dusinska, G. Encheva, G. Flament, A. Haase, Y. Handzhiyski, F. Herzberg, J. Huwyler, N. R. Jacobsen, V. Jeliazkov, N. Jeliazkova, P. Nymark, R. Grafström, A. G. Oomen, M. L. Polci, C. Riebeling, J. Sandström, B. Shivachev, S. Stateva, S. Tanasescu, R. Tsekovska, H. Wallin, M. F. Wilks, S. Zellmer, M. D. Apostolova
REACH (EC 2006) does not yet define NMs, but an agreement has been reached to amend the REACH annexes and include a definition of ‘nanoform’ (EU 2018), which is expected to take place during 2018; after this also REACH, and hence CLP, will define NMs. Regarding the sector-specific legislation, the BPR (EU 2012a) was the first legal act to define NMs on basis of the EC Definition (EC 2011); like the BPR, the Novel Foods Regulation (EU 2015b) and the Food Information to Consumers (EU 2011b) apply a definition that differs from the EC Definition in terms of the threshold for the number proportion of particles at the nanoscale. The CPR (EC 2009b) defines NMs as intentionally produced and insoluble or biopersistent, which differs from the EC definition (EC 2011). The plastic food contact materials regulation (EU 2011a) as well as the legislation for various types of additives to food (EC 2008b, 2008c, 2008d) refer either to the use of nanotechnology or to manufactured (engineered) NMs, without however giving a definition. The PPPR (EC 2009a) and the FCM regulation (EC 2004) do not explicitly mention NMs.
Mineral oil in food, cosmetic products, and in products regulated by other legislations
Published in Critical Reviews in Toxicology, 2019
Ralph Pirow, Annegret Blume, Nicole Hellwig, Matthias Herzler, Bettina Huhse, Christoph Hutzler, Karla Pfaff, Hermann-Josef Thierse, Tewes Tralau, Bärbel Vieth, Andreas Luch
MOH occur in food as a result of intended uses of food-grade products (e.g. as food additives, additives used in food-contact materials; see Table 2) and due to contamination. Food becomes contaminated via the environment, food processing, and migration from food packaging materials such as paperboard (see Chapter “Activities of surveiillance and regulatory authorities on MOH in food and food contact materials”) and jute bags. Depending on the source, the composition of the contaminating MOH mixtures varies.