Toxicology and Regulatory News - CONTENTS Archive

Volume 45, Number 3

March 2006 

PART I: SHORT CUTS

Isomalt may sweeten up your gut bacteria
Dietary fructooligosaccharides (FOS) and intestinal health
Don’t forget the fish!
Dairy product consumption and ovarian cancer risk
Coffee may decrease the risk of pre-menopausal breast cancer
Preschool diet and breast cancer risk in adulthood
Beneficial effects of soy proteins and isoflavones questioned
Prostate cancer and diet
Carbonated drinks exonerated from more serious implications of burping
Chocolate may be good for the heart, but not as you know it
Diet, stroke and heart health
Confused about good and bad cholesterol?
Lipid metabolism, atherosclerosis and species of choice – rat or hamster?
Possible protection against heart disease – α-linolenic acid…
… and various omega-3 fatty acids
Omega-3 fatty acid supplements and cancer
Rats behaving badly on low n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid diets
Bone density and saturated fatty acid intake
Plant glucosinolate breakdown products, genistein and cancer risk
Rats thrive on MON 863 maize
Vitamin D may assist lung function
Magnesium intake and the risk of colorectal cancer
Folic acid and immune function
High serum selenium and total carotenoids may help older women live longer
L-Isoleucine – long-term feeding study in rats
Foetal development unaffected by aminopentol, a metabolite of fumonisin B1
Phthalates in breast milk may affect baby boys
Pesticides and Parkinson’s disease – is there a link?
Chlorinated drinking water and adult leukaemia
Hydrocarbons and end stage renal disease (ESRD)
Dry cleaning workers and cancer risk
Textile workers may have greater risk of thyroid cancer
Gasoline spill and cancer risk
Toxicity of 2,2’-isobutylidenebis(4,6-dimethylphenol) (IBBMP)
Low-level exposure to mercury vapour affects mouse behaviour
Toxicity tests on tetradecanoic acid, 2-sulpho-, 1-methylester, sodium salt (C14-MES)
Health risk assessment within Europe


PART II: WORLD NEWS

EUROPEAN UNION

EFSA evaluations of ferrous bisglycinate……
… and polyvinyl alcohol
Food-contact compounds assessed by EFSA
EFSA states that its December opinion on ITX is final
EFSA assessments on clopyralid, cyprodinil, dimethenamid, thiodicarb and metrafenone
SCHER deliberations…….
… on the emission of chemicals by air fresheners
… on the cancer risk of musk ketone
… on the risk to human health of anthracene
… on the human health risk of TAME
… and on the environmental risk of 2-ethoxyethyl acetate
EU RARs on musk ketone, methylenediphenyl diisocyanate and 2-ethylhexyl acetate
ECETOC publications
SCCP opinions on more hair dye ingredients
REACH – analysis? Could do better!

UNITED KINGDOM

Sugary FSA approval for D-tagatose
ACNFP – UK and EU disagree over the acceptability of chia as a novel food ingredient
ACNFP January agenda
COT statements on food additives and developmental neurotoxicity, and
diet-drug interactions
COT February deliberations
COM February deliberations
COC statement on childhood leukaemia and traffic exhaust
Crop spraying and health of residents and bystanders – ACP responds to
Royal Commission Report
… and seeks the advice of COT and COC
HSE Hazard assessment of Portland cement dust
UK Government report on nanoparticles

UNITED STATES

Redbook 2000: carcinogenicity studies in rodents
Pesticide petitions filed with the EPA
EPA risk assessments of pesticides
OEHHA child specific reference doses proposed for atrazine and deltamethrin
ETS considered by OEHHA to disproportionately impact infants and children
EPA IRIS review of phosgene
CIR final reports on nicotinamide, niacin, methacrylic acid, and
methacrylate ester monomers
Scaling body weights suggested by EPA as a default method in deriving oral RfD
EPA guidance on age group selection for monitoring and assessing childhood exposures

OTHER AUTHORITATIVE BODIES

Nordic council report on novel plant foods
JMPR pesticide monographs
WHO nutrients in drinking water
SIDS Initial Assessment Reports (SIARs)
WHO carcinogenesis hazard assessments – chrysotile asbestos replacements


PART III: LEGISLATION

EUROPEAN UNION

Eventually coming through… the rye bread with added phytosterols/phytostanols
Genetically modified maize products and novel foods get marketing go-ahead
Maximum residue levels for pesticides
Veterinary medicinal products in foodstuffs of animal origin
Dioxins in food and animal feed
Feed additive authorisations given in new Commission Regulations
More plant protection products approved
Further directives on dangerous substances

UNITED KINGDOM

Food-contact plastics
Feeding animals in Wales

UNITED STATES

FDA proposed labelling amendments for cochineal extract and carmine
FDA GRAS status letter for lycopene from Blakeslea trispora and plant sterol esters
EPA pesticide tolerances and exemptions