News
Cadmium exposure from food was estimated using new food consumption data from the recent German food consumption survey (Nationale Verzehrsstudie II – NVS II). Based on these comprehensive data, information on the consumption of 545 individual food items by the German population was derived. With complementary concentrations of Cadmium in foodstuffs compiled from German and European authority programs as well as the published literature, estimates of intake from food were determined.
The manuscript as accepted for publication in Food Additives & Contaminants: Part A is available online.
In a research project by the German Federal Environmental Agency FoBiG investigated PBT properties of sPAC, their relevance regarding occurrence, and concomitant need for regulatory action under the European chemicals legislation (REACH) in collaboration with the Biochemical Institute for Environmental Carcinogens, Prof. Dr. Gernot Grimmer-Foundation. The work will be published in an upcoming edition of the SETAC-Journal Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management and is currently available as early view.
The Drinking Water Commission advices the Federal Ministry of Health and the Federal Environmental Agency on all aspects of drinking water hygiene. The honorary members were appointed to the session 2014-2018 on 17 March 2014, among them our colleague Ulrike Schuhmacher-Wolz. Congratulations!
You may find further information on the Commission here.
Polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxin and -furan (PCDD/F) and dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyl (dl-PCB) exposure from food were estimated using new food consumption data from the recent German food consumption survey (Nationale Verzehrsstudie II – NVS II). Based on these comprehensive data, information on the consumption of 545 individual food items by the German population was derived. With complementary concentrations of dioxin-like compounds in foodstuffs compiled from German and European authority programmes as well as the published literature, estimates of intake from food were determined. Accordingly, already intake of average consumers is close to a reference value derived by the Scientific Committee on Food in 2001. The complete results as published in Food Additives & Contaminants: Part A may be accessed here.
The evaluation of endocrine active substances is currently under discussion. EU legislation demands extensive consequences for endocrine disruptors: biocides and pesticides containing endocrine disruptive substances may not be placed on the market. Endocrine active substances may be placed on the candidate list for authorisation on a case-by-case basis in the context of REACH. Currently, no standardised definition or evaluation criteria for endocrine disruptors exist in the EU. The previous goal to elaborate such criteria untill the end of 2013 has been postponed till October 2014. Endocrine disruptors and regulatory consequences are the topic of the next Advanced Course in Toxicology of the Working Group Regulatory Toxicology of the German Society of Toxicology (DGPT). This course takes place on 31 March 2014 as satellite activity of the annual conference of the DGPT in Hannover. FoBiG is presenting results of an actual project.
You find the program and the registration form for the course here.
This conference, attended by FoBiG staff, provided a state-of-the-art overview on the biocides regulation landscape. Many changes are actually coming with the entry-into-force of the new Biocidal Products Regulation (BPR) (Regulation (EU) No. 528/2012) in September 2013, which replaced the Biocidal Product Directive (BPD). Among many other changes, biocidal product dossiers now have to be prepared and submitted using IUCLID 5.5. Also, many guidance documents, e.g. on definition of substances of concern, or on mixture assessment, are still under development.
If you have questions regarding biocidal product authorization, contact Klaus Schneider.
Poster presented at the EUROTOX 2013 in Interlaken:
Ranking of epoxy resin compounds based on their sensitising potency
Ulrike Schuhmacher-Wolz, Karin Heine, Johannes Geier, Fritz Kalberlah
FoBiG prepared a data collection on the oral toxicity of organic and inorganic mercury on behalf of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) in the beginning of 2012. This report considered studies published since 2002 that were not evaluated in former JECFA (Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives) risk assessments. The report is now available on the EFSA Web page, see here.
EFSA actually evaluated the risk for public health related to the presence of mercury and methylmercury in food and reviewed the existing PTWI values (Provisional Tolerable Weekly Intake) from JECFA. The Scientific Opinion of EFSA is available here.
Dr. Heine will present results from the project “Ranking of Substances Included in Epoxy Resin Systems According to their Sensitising Potency” which was funded by the German Social Accident Insurance (DGUV) at the INRS Occupational Health Research Conference 2013 on OCCUPATIONAL ALLERGIES in Nancy. Please find the conference homepage here. The full report is available at the GISBAU homepage here.
Posters presented by FoBiG associates at the spring meeting of the German Society for Toxicology (DGPT) in Halle, 2013:
- Cancer risk figures from exposure risk relationship assessments – current state and envisaged update
Fritz Kalberlah, Rüdiger Bartsch, Dorothee Hecker, Eberhard Nies
The SCCS (Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety) has published the following opinion on testing and safety evaluation of cosmetic ingredients in December 2012:
Please note our services in the area cosmetics and consumer products here.