The Standard – July 2023
Welcome to the July 2023 edition of “The Standard,” CIL’s newsletter for issues related to environmental, food, water, and human exposure testing. In this issue we highlight an update to the Stockholm Convention, a proposed rule from EPA on chemical plant emissions, PCNs in feed and food, PAHs and a link to rheumatoid arthritis, and microplastics. We hope you enjoy this issue, and be sure to view our complete selection of stable isotope-labeled and native standards!
Dechlorane Plus, UV-328, and Methoxychlor Face Global Ban Under Stockholm Convention
International delegates have agreed to add two plastics additives, Dechlorane Plus and UV-328, as well as the pesticide methoxychlor to the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants. The agreement was reached on May 12, 2023, following a two-week meeting in Geneva, Switzerland.1 The Stockholm Convention is a global treaty that aims to protect human health and the environment from chemicals that are persistent, widespread geographically, bioaccumulative, and harmful to human health or the environment.
US EPA Proposes Rule to Reduce Emissions from Chemical Plants
The United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) proposed a rule in April 2023 to significantly reduce toxic emissions from chemical plants. The proposal includes regulating the known carcinogen ethylene oxide (EtO), as well as the likely carcinogenic chemical, chloroprene. Other air toxics included in the rule are benzene, 1,3-butadiene, ethylene dichloride, and vinyl chloride.
PCNs in Environmental and Human Exposure Studies
Polychlorinated naphthalenes (PCNs) are a group of 75 chlorinated naphthalenes that are structurally similar to PCBs and exhibit similar toxicity effects. PCNs enter the environment via various routes, most notably from older electronic equipment, unintentional contamination in industrial chemicals, and combustion processes such as incineration. Due to their harmful persistent organic pollutant (POP) properties and risks related to the possible continuing production, use, and releases to the environment, PCNs were added to the Stockholm Convention under Annex A (Elimination) and Annex C (Unintentional production).
CIL’s PAH Standards – For Food, Environmental, and Human Exposure Analysis
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are a class of organic compounds that occur naturally in coal, crude oil, and gasoline. PAHs are produced and released into the environment by burning coal, oil, gas, wood, household waste, and tobacco. Along with inhalation, consumption of contaminated food is a main route of human exposure to PAHs, which are associated with health risks including carcinogenesis. Food contamination can occur via environmental pollution, food processing and preparation, and cooking, especially during grilling, toasting, roasting, and frying.