In his veto letter, Gov. Gavin Newsom said he agreed with Senate Bill 682’s goal of phasing-out “forever chemicals” from consumer products, but said the bill would sacrifice Californian’s ability to afford household products like cookware.
Crit Rev Anal Chem. 2025 Oct 15:1-20. doi: 10.1080/10408347.2025.2569703. Online ahead of print.
ABSTRACT
The selective and sensitive detection of organic pollutants in complex matrices continues to be a major challenge in environmental, biological, and food analysis. Molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) have emerged as robust and highly selective sorbent materials with the capability to recognize and extract target analytes at trace levels, even in the presence of coexisting interferents. This review article highlights the integration of MIPs with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) as a powerful analytical strategy for the selective pre-concentration and determination of organic contaminants. The MIP-GC-MS platform has been successfully applied in diverse matrices: for instance, bisphenol A and nonylphenol in river water, diclofenac and carbamazepine in human urine, and organochlorine pesticides in fruit and vegetable samples. These applications demonstrate that MIP-based extraction not only enhances selectivity but also minimizes matrix effects, enabling detection limits in the low ng·L-1 to ng·g-1 range. Furthermore, advances in MIP design, including green imprinting approaches and nanostructured composites, have broadened their applicability, improving sensitivity, reproducibility, and reusability. Overall, the synergistic combination of MIPs and GC-MS offers a reliable and sustainable solution for trace-level monitoring of organic pollutants, supporting environmental protection, food safety, and public health.
PMID:41090666 | DOI:10.1080/10408347.2025.2569703
Following a request from the European Commission, EFSA was asked to deliver a scientific opinion on the safety and efficacy of the feed additive consisting of l‐threonine produced by fermentation with Escherichia coli CCTCC M 2024477 when used as a nutritional additive in feed and water for drinking for all animal species and categories. The production strain is genetically modified. None of the genetic modifications raised a safety concern. Viable cells or DNA of the production strain were not detected in the final product. The use of l‐threonine produced with E.
In specific contract No 2 issued under the framework agreement OC/EFSA/MESE/2023/03, EFSA requested Open Analytics NV to reproduce the European Union Summary Report on TSE surveillance (TSE report) in R Markdown and implement a web application to manage the R Markdown chapters and generate a Word report from it. The R Markdown is parametrized, tables and figures have been reproduced where applicable. The online tool is based on the R package rmdUI, developed by Open Analytics NV.
Following a request from the European Commission, EFSA was asked to deliver a scientific opinion on the efficacy of Lactiferm®, a preparation containing viable cells of Enterococcus lactis NCIMB 11181, as a zootechnical feed additive (functional group: gut flora stabilisers). The additive is intended to be used in the feed (3 × 1010 CFU/kg complete feed) and water for drinking (1.5 × 1010 CFU/L) for chickens for fattening or reared for laying, other poultry species for fattening or reared for laying and ornamental birds.
Following a request from the European Commission, EFSA was asked to deliver a scientific opinion on the efficacy of feed additives obtained from the leaves of Ginkgo biloba L.: ginkgo tinctures as sensory additives for all animal species and ginkgo extract as a sensory additive for horses, dogs, cats, rabbits and guinea pigs. In previous assessments, a sensory analysis of ginkgo extract was performed, which showed that aqueous solutions of ginkgo extract have an intense aroma, significantly different from plain water.
Following a request from the European Commission, EFSA was asked to deliver a scientific opinion on the additive consisting of Saccharomyces cerevisiae NBRC 0203 and Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus NBRC 3425 when used as a technological additive to improve ensiling of all fresh plant material for all animal species at a proposed minimum concentration of 4.0 × 102 and 3.2 × 106 colony forming units (CFU)/kg fresh plant material, respectively. The bacterial species S. cerevisiae and L.
The food enzyme phospholipase A2 (phosphatidylcholine 2‐acylhydrolase; EC 3.1.1.4) is produced with the genetically modified Trichoderma reesei strain RF8793 by AB Enzymes GmbH. In a previous opinion, the total organic solids (TOS) values could not be calculated, which led to the inability to establish the representativeness of the batch used for toxicological examination and to calculate the dietary exposure. In this assessment, EFSA completes the safety evaluation of this food enzyme by taking into account the chemical compositional data from new food enzyme batches.
Pursuant to the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA or Agency) is hereby issuing an order for the cancellations of the pesticide product registrations identified in this document. EPA previously announced its receipt of and requested comment on requests to voluntarily cancel the product registrations listed in Table 1 of Unit II. and announced its intent to cancel the product registrations listed in Table 3 of Unit II. With the issuance of this cancellation order, any sale, distribution, or use of products listed in this notice will be permitted after the registrations have been cancelled only if such sale, distribution, or use is consistent with the terms as described in the final order.
Consumer Reports is urging FDA to set enforceable limits on lead in protein powders after an in-house investigation revealed high levels of contamination, raising concerns about daily exposure and regulatory gaps in supplement oversight.
Following a request from the European Commission, EFSA was asked to deliver a scientific opinion (safety and efficacy) on the application for the renewal of the authorisation of l‐carnitine (3a910) and l‐carnitine l‐tartrate (3a911) as nutritional feed additives. The additives are currently authorised for use in all animal species. The applicant has provided evidence that the additives currently in the market comply with the existing conditions of authorisation. Two examples of l‐carnitine preparations currently placed on the market are described in the application.
Following a request from the European Commission, EFSA was asked to deliver a scientific opinion on Enterococcus lactis NCIMB 10415 when used as a technological additive to improve ensiling of all types of fresh plant material for all animal species at a proposed minimum level of 1 × 108 colony forming units (CFU)/kg fresh plant material. The strain NCIMB 10415 was unambiguously identified as Enterococcus lactis, found not to belong to the hospital‐associated clade of Enterococcus faecium and acquired antimicrobial resistance genes were not detected.
The European Commission asked EFSA to provide support in the framework of Article 43 of Regulation (EC) No 396/2005 for the preparation of the EU position for 56th Session of the Codex Committee on Pesticide Residues (CCPR). In the current report, EFSA provided comments and recommendations on the Codex maximum residue limit (CXL) proposals derived by the Joint Meeting on Pesticide Residues (JMPR) that will be discussed in the upcoming CCPR meeting. The current report should serve as the basis for deriving the EU position for the CCPR meeting.
Environ Pollut. 2025 Oct 12:127252. doi: 10.1016/j.envpol.2025.127252. Online ahead of print.
ABSTRACT
Botanical pesticides are increasingly promoted as environmentally benign alternatives to synthetic chemicals in integrated pest management. However, the ecological safety of their persistent ultra-low residues remains poorly understood, particularly regarding non-target natural predators. In this study, we investigated the chronic toxicological effects of an ultra-low concentration (ULC; 1/100 of LC30 of 15.106 mg/mL) of a botanical pesticide mixture-composed of commercially available tea saponin and matrine mixed at a ratio of 10:1 (v:v)-on the generalist Propylea japonica. Long-term exposure significantly prolonged larval development, reduced pupal mass, and compromised female fecundity, indicating potential disruptions to population stability and biocontrol efficacy. Gene expression analyses revealed stage-specific alterations in detoxification and hormone-related pathways: fourth-instar larvae exhibited elevated expression of GST and DuoX, downregulation of JHAMT1 and PjIRS1, and upregulation of EcR, whereas adult females showed marked suppression of JHDK, FOXO, PjIRS1, and Vg. These changes point to endocrine disruption and impaired reproductive capacity. Moreover, 16S rRNA sequencing revealed that ULC exposure significantly decreased microbial diversity and altered symbiont composition, particularly in adult beetles. Collectively, our findings demonstrate that even ultra-low residues of botanical pesticides can impose sublethal physiological stress and reshape symbiotic microbial communities in beneficial insects. This work underscores the need for refined ecological risk assessments of green pesticides and advocates for pest management strategies that balance effective control with the conservation of natural enemies.
PMID:41086911 | DOI:10.1016/j.envpol.2025.127252
As the food safety threats posed by fungal contamination continue to grow, ILSI Europe has introduced a practical risk prioritization framework designed to identify which mycotoxins present the greatest risk to consumers, and where mitigation efforts should be concentrated.
As the food safety threats posed by fungal contamination continue to grow, ILSI Europe has introduced a practical risk prioritization framework designed to identify which mycotoxins present the greatest risk to consumers, and where mitigation efforts should be concentrated.
The International Association of Color Manufacturers has filed a lawsuit against the recently enacted West Virginia House Bill 2354, which prohibits foods containing certain artificial colorants and additives from being sold in the state, arguing that it is unconstitutional and unlawful.
Bioresour Technol. 2025 Oct 10:133477. doi: 10.1016/j.biortech.2025.133477. Online ahead of print.
ABSTRACT
An innovative valorisation train to recover energy, nutrients and water from the liquid fraction of the digestate of the organic fraction of municipal solid waste (ld-OFMSW) was evaluated at bench-scale. The process consisted of ammonia stripping, a thermophilic anaerobic membrane bioreactor (tAnMBR) for biogas production, membrane contactors for residual ammonia recovery from tAnMBR permeate, and regenerated reverse osmosis (RO) membranes for water reclamation. Direct feeding of raw ld-OFMSW into the tAnMBR led to ammonia inhibition, which was mitigated by a stripping pre-treatment at 55 °C, reducing ammonia nitrogen from 3.80 to 0.82 g L-1 and allowing a COD removal > 80 % by the tAnMBR at a high loading rate (3.1 kg COD m-3 d-1). Membrane contactors recovered nearly 100 % of the residual ammonium, and RO produced high water quality. High removal rates of antibiotics, pesticides and hormones were achieved. The process combination proved to be a promising approach for ld-OFMSW valorisation.
PMID:41077286 | DOI:10.1016/j.biortech.2025.133477
Environ Sci Technol. 2025 Oct 10. doi: 10.1021/acs.est.5c04458. Online ahead of print.
ABSTRACT
The exposome encompasses environmental exposures throughout life and significantly impacts health and disease. Exposure chemicals, present at trace levels, are frequently quantified using targeted LC-MS/MS. Many existing methods are limited to a narrow range of analyte classes or lack sufficient sensitivity for exposomic analyses, and applicability to large sample cohorts for exposome-wide association studies (ExWAS) remains to be demonstrated. Here, we present a scalable, fit-for-purpose next-generation human biomonitoring (HBM) workflow for analyzing >230 biomarkers in urine, plasma, and serum using solid-phase extraction in 96-well plates and LC-MS/MS. Moreover, a complementary conceptual framework for validation criteria of assays designed to analyze large panels of highly diverse compounds at trace levels is proposed. Method robustness was evaluated, demonstrating extraction recovery (60-130%), matrix effects (SSE, 60-130%), inter-/intraday precision (RSD <30%), and high sensitivity (limit of detection <0.1 ng/mL) for 59-80% of the analytes across the investigated biological matrices. To showcase the method's applicability in epidemiological studies, 200 urine samples from pregnant women in a longitudinal pregnancy cohort were analyzed. More than 100 analytes including PFAS, drugs, air pollutants, pesticides, flame retardants, mycotoxins, industrial products, food processing contaminants, plastics-related chemicals, and phytotoxins, were detected, several for the first time in a U.S. urinary biomonitoring study. With its broad analyte coverage, ultimate sensitivity, robustness, and high sample throughput, this method meets the performance requirements for future large-scale ExWAS applications in public and personalized prevention research.
PMID:41071047 | DOI:10.1021/acs.est.5c04458
Sci Total Environ. 2025 Oct 9;1003:180680. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2025.180680. Online ahead of print.
ABSTRACT
Endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) that interfere with estrogenic, androgenic, thyroidal and steroidogenic (EATS) pathways, as well as non-EATS pathways, should be identified and classified under EU chemical regulations. Identifying and classifying obesogenic EDCs is particularly challenging, as they are typically regulated through non-EATS mechanisms and lack standardized test methods and guidance for evaluation. This review evaluates fish models of obesity, synthesizes current evidence on chemical effects on fish adipogenesis, and discusses the regulatory challenges associated with EDC identification and classification. Diet-induced obesity (DIO) fish models have been developed in species such as zebrafish, medaka, tilapia, rainbow trout, and others. However, the composition and quantity of diets in these studies vary significantly. Notably, the high calorie diet used to induce obesity in one zebrafish experiment may be equivalent to the control diet in another. Fat accumulation in fish has been studied in pharmaceuticals, bioactive chemicals, biocides, pesticides, and industrial chemicals. Body weight, body mass index (BMI), condition factor, and various endpoints derived from adipose tissue are commonly used to investigate obesity-related effects in fish. However, body weight alone may not reliably indicate adiposity. Obesity in fish is not explicitly addressed in existing OECD test guidelines. A mode of action (MOA) analysis is needed to identify and classify obesogenic EDCs. Both EATS and non-EATS pathways should be evaluated to establish biological plausibility regarding effects on population relevant obesogenic endpoints in fish. The challenges of using fish models of obesity are discussed, along with recommendations for incorporating relevant obesity related endpoints into test guidelines.
PMID:41072194 | DOI:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2025.180680
The food enzyme β‐amylase (4‐α‐d‐Glucan maltohydrolase, EC 3.2.1.2) is produced from barley (Hordeum vulgare) by Senson Ltd. A safety evaluation of this food enzyme was made previously, in which EFSA concluded that this food enzyme did not give rise to safety concerns when used in four food manufacturing processes. Subsequently, the applicant requested to extend its use to include two additional processes. In this assessment, EFSA has updated the safety evaluation of this food enzyme when used in a total of six food manufacturing processes.
Assembly Bill (AB) 1264, titled, the Real Food, Healthy Kids Act, establishes a legal definition for ultra-processed foods, and tasks the state Department of Public Health with identifying and banning particularly harmful ultra-processed foods from California schools.
Following a request from the European Commission, EFSA was asked to deliver a scientific opinion on the safety and efficacy of L‐isoleucine produced with Escherichia coli CCTCC M 20231916 as a nutritional feed additive for all animal species. The production strain E. coli CCTCC M 20231916 is genetically modified. No viable cells nor DNA of the production strain are detected in the final product. Therefore, the additive does not pose any safety concern regarding the production strain. The use of L‐isoleucine produced by fermentation with E.
Parma, Italy and online 2025-11-11 to 2025-11-11 , 2025-11-12 to 2025-11-12
Environ Sci Pollut Res Int. 2025 Oct 8. doi: 10.1007/s11356-025-37021-y. Online ahead of print.
ABSTRACT
Plastic tree shelters are widely used in agriculture and forestry to protect young plants from predators and generate a favorable microclimate, thus increasing survival and growth rates. Considering that several thousand tons of plastic tree shelters (mostly polypropylene, PP) are used each year in Europe and that discarded aged shelters can release microplastics, residues of additives, and even pesticides, the destination of this material after use is a matter of concern. Mechanical recycling is the best option for these residues, but its technical feasibility depends on the polymer degradation level and its contamination, both by inorganic materials and by residues of additives and/or agrochemicals. Therefore, not all tree shelter waste is suitable for recycling. The main objective of this work is to characterize the degradation and contamination of PP tree shelters used in agriculture and forestry, to obtain information on the feasibility of their mechanical recycling. The results show the presence of fungicide residues only in some tubes used in agriculture. Although the external faces of the tubes appear strongly degraded, the degradation of the overall tube material is much less due to a dilution effect. Thus, we can conclude that most PP tree shelters, even those used for several years in harsh climates, could be successfully subjected to mechanical recycling.
PMID:41060582 | DOI:10.1007/s11356-025-37021-y
Analysis and mapping of national data flows and processes relevant to EFSA's business data collections is a long‐standing EFSA objective, originally launched with EFSA's SIGMA project in 2018‐2019 and further continued with the launch of a focused activity to “Develop, pilot and document a methodology for the data flow mapping and analysis in the European Member States” in 2023.
Analysis and mapping of national data flows and processes relevant to EFSA's business data collections is a long‐standing EFSA objective, originally launched with EFSA's SIGMA project in 2018‐2019 and further continued with the launch of a focused activity to “Develop, pilot and document a methodology for the data flow mapping and analysis in the European Member States” in 2023.
Analysis and mapping of national data flows and processes relevant to EFSA's business data collections is a long‐standing EFSA objective, originally launched with EFSA's SIGMA project in 2018‐2019 and further continued with the launch of a focused activity to “Develop, pilot and document a methodology for the data flow mapping and analysis in the European Member States” in 2023.
Analysis and mapping of national data flows and processes relevant to EFSA's business data collections is a long‐standing EFSA objective, originally launched with EFSA's SIGMA project in 2018‐2019 and further continued with the launch of a focused activity to “Develop, pilot and document a methodology for the data flow mapping and analysis in the European Member States” in 2023.
Analysis and mapping of national data flows and processes relevant to EFSA's business data collections is a long‐standing EFSA objective, originally launched with EFSA's SIGMA project in 2018‐2019 and further continued with the launch of a focused activity to “Develop, pilot and document a methodology for the data flow mapping and analysis in the European Member States” in 2023.
Analysis and mapping of national data flows and processes relevant to EFSA's business data collections is a long‐standing EFSA objective, originally launched with EFSA's SIGMA project in 2018‐2019 and further continued with the launch of a focused activity to “Develop, pilot and document a methodology for the data flow mapping and analysis in the European Member States” in 2023.
Analysis and mapping of national data flows and processes relevant to EFSA's business data collections is a long‐standing EFSA objective, originally launched with EFSA's SIGMA project in 2018‐2019 and further continued with the launch of a focused activity to “Develop, pilot and document a methodology for the data flow mapping and analysis in the European Member States” in 2023.
Analysis and mapping of national data flows and processes relevant to EFSA's business data collections is a long‐standing EFSA objective, originally launched with EFSA's SIGMA project in 2018‐2019 and further continued with the launch of a focused activity to “Develop, pilot and document a methodology for the data flow mapping and analysis in the European Member States” in 2023.
Analysis and mapping of national data flows and processes relevant to EFSA's business data collections is a long‐standing EFSA objective, originally launched with EFSA's SIGMA project in 2018‐2019 and further continued with the launch of a focused activity to “Develop, pilot and document a methodology for the data flow mapping and analysis in the European Member States” in 2023.
Analysis and mapping of national data flows and processes relevant to EFSA's business data collections launched with the launch of a focused activity to “Develop, pilot and document a methodology for the data flow mapping and analysis in the European Member States” in 2023. The aim of latter activity is to apply a generic methodology for the analysis of any business data collection at Member State level with the ultimate purpose for countries and EFSA to increase understanding of data flows at national level, where existing challenges rely on and what common solutions could be implemented.
Analysis and mapping of national data flows and processes relevant to EFSA's business data collections is a long‐standing EFSA objective, originally launched with EFSA's SIGMA project in 2018‐2019 and further continued with the launch of a focused activity to “Develop, pilot and document a methodology for the data flow mapping and analysis in the European Member States” in 2023.
Analysis and mapping of national data flows and processes relevant to EFSA's data collections is a long‐standing EFSA objective, originally launched with EFSA's SIGMA project in 2018‐2019 and further continued with the launch of a focused activity to “Develop, pilot and document a methodology for the data flow mapping and analysis in the European Member States” in 2023.
Analysis and mapping of national data flows and processes relevant to EFSA's business data collections is a long‐standing EFSA objective, originally launched with EFSA's SIGMA project in 2018‐2019 and further continued with the launch of a focused activity to “Develop, pilot and document a methodology for the data flow mapping and analysis in the European Member States” in 2023.
These guidelines have been developed in the context of EFSA's mandate on plant pest surveillance (M‐2020‐0114), at the request of the European Commission. Its purpose is to support the Member States in the planning and preparation of crop‐based surveys of regulated pests in line with Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/2072. In particular, the guidelines include the list of the broadleaved tree species reported as host of the regulated pests targeted by the grant GP/EFSA/ALPHA/2021/08 ‘Development of a crop‐based survey approach for pests of citrus and of broadleaved trees’.
Analysis and mapping of national data flows and processes relevant to EFSA's business data collections is a long‐standing EFSA objective, originally launched with EFSA's SIGMA project in 2018‐2019 and further continued with the launch of a focused activity to “Develop, pilot and document a methodology for the data flow mapping and analysis in the European Member States” in 2023.
Analysis and mapping of national data flows and processes relevant to EFSA's business data collections is a long‐standing EFSA objective, originally launched with EFSA's SIGMA project in 2018‐2019 and further continued with the launch of a focused activity to “Develop, pilot and document a methodology for the data flow mapping and analysis in the European Member States” in 2023.
Analysis and mapping of national data flows and processes relevant to EFSA's business data collections is a long‐standing EFSA objective, originally launched with EFSA's SIGMA project in 2018‐2019 and further continued with the launch of a focused activity to “Develop, pilot and document a methodology for the data flow mapping and analysis in the European Member States” in 2023.
Analysis and mapping of national data flows and processes relevant to EFSA's business data collections is a long‐standing EFSA objective, originally launched with EFSA's SIGMA project in 2018‐2019 and further continued with the launch of a focused activity to “Develop, pilot and document a methodology for the data flow mapping and analysis in the European Member States” in 2023.
Environ Monit Assess. 2025 Oct 7;197(11):1183. doi: 10.1007/s10661-025-14666-3.
ABSTRACT
This narrative review examines the significant advances of artificial intelligence (AI) in enhancing the identification and microbial degradation of environmentally persistent compounds, addressing major issues in pollution monitoring and management. Persistent pollutants, including microplastics, heavy metals, and synthetic pesticides, pose significant threats to environmental sustainability due to their resistance to natural degradation and their adverse effects on ecosystems and human health. Through the qualitative synthesis of over 50 recent peer-reviewed studies, this review highlights notable AI-driven developments representing substantial innovations in environmental biotechnology. Enhanced detection capabilities are demonstrated by AI models, which achieve exceptional detection accuracies exceeding 90% for microplastic classification, enabling precise ecological monitoring that was previously difficult with traditional methods. Compared with conventional methods, advanced enzyme engineering is exemplified by the AI-enabled design of engineered enzymes that increase the degradation rates of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) polymers by up to 46-fold, representing a significant increase in bioremediation technology. Innovative predictive frameworks emerge from AI integration, accelerating the design of microbial enzymes and predicting pollutant behaviors with remarkable accuracy, providing a novel framework for pollution control that is not achievable through conventional approaches. This study demonstrates substantial improvements in the accuracy and efficiency of identifying and monitoring environmental pollutants, enabling more precise assessment and proactive management strategies. The strategic integration of AI in environmental applications has accelerated microbial enzyme design, enhanced ecological risk assessments, and provided innovative solutions for addressing persistent pollution challenges. The findings of this review emphasize AI's crucial and creative role of AI in environmental biotechnology, offering valuable insights for developing sustainable remediation strategies to combat persistent pollutants and protect ecosystem health.
PMID:41055779 | DOI:10.1007/s10661-025-14666-3
Analysis and mapping of national data flows and processes relevant to EFSA's business data collections is a long‐standing EFSA objective, originally launched with EFSA's SIGMA project in 2018‐2019 and further continued with the launch of a focused activity to “Develop, pilot and document a methodology for the data flow mapping and analysis in the European Member States” in 2023.
Analysis and mapping of national data flows and processes relevant to EFSA's business data collections is a long‐standing EFSA objective, originally launched with EFSA's SIGMA project in 2018‐2019 and further continued with the launch of a focused activity to “Develop, pilot and document a methodology for the data flow mapping and analysis in the European Member States” in 2023.
The enhanced StellarScope AM/PA unites micron-scale morphological imaging with Raman spectroscopy, driven by intelligent software control, to allow food industry users to detect, measure, classify, and chemically identify microscopic particles in their products.
After FDA discovered radioactive isotope Cesium-137 in shipments of shrimp and spices from Indonesia, the Indonesian government launched an investigation and discovered environmental contamination near where the shrimp processor is located. The cause of cloves contamination is not yet determined.
Within the framework of the Action “Preparatory measures for the participation of IPA beneficiaries in the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) 2023 – 2026” financed by the European Commission, EFSA and the contractor of the Technical University of Denmark – National Food Institute organised a series of three workshops under the Risk Assessment Training Programme from A to Z for IPA Beneficiaries (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo*, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, and Türkiye).
Toxicology. 2025 Oct 2:154296. doi: 10.1016/j.tox.2025.154296. Online ahead of print.
ABSTRACT
Organophosphate pesticides (OPs) have found extensive use in agriculture due to their short half-lives and relatively low persistence in the environment. In recent years, a growing body of evidence has linked OPs, including chlorpyrifos (CPF), to endocrine, reproductive, and metabolic dysfunction, raising significant public health concerns. Although CPF has been linked to various toxic effects, the epigenetic mechanisms underlying CPF-induced hepatotoxicity remain poorly understood. In the present study, mice were orally exposed to CPF (2 or 20mg/kg body weight), and the effects on hepatic function were assessed. CPF exposure resulted in pronounced hepatotoxicity characterized by increased oxidative stress, impaired mitochondrial function and dysregulated expression of genes involved in oxidative phosphorylation. Notably, CPF exposure significantly depleted hepatic choline levels and downregulated the expression of genes involved in the regulation of DNA methylation, including Dnmt1, Mthfr and Tet2. The decline in hepatic choline was correlated with hypomethylation of the hepatic genome in CPF-exposed mice. CPF also elevated serum corticosterone in mice, reinforcing its role as an endocrine disruptor. This hormonal disruption was associated with dysregulated glucose homeostasis as evidenced by glucose intolerance, elevated hepatic glycogen and altered hepatic expression of the glucose transporter Glut2. Together, the findings from this study provide novel mechanistic insights into the epigenetic and metabolic effects of CPF-induced hepatotoxicity.
PMID:41046031 | DOI:10.1016/j.tox.2025.154296
Walmart is the latest company to say it will remove synthetic dyes from its private-label food brands, as well as 30 other additives, including certain preservatives, artificial sweeteners, and fat substitutes.
After discovering radioactive isotope Cesium-137 in shipments of shrimp and spices from Indonesia, FDA is exercising for the first time a power granted by Congress under the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) to require food safety certification for imports.
State EPA and food safety authority say no evidence of insecticide was found and researcher’s 2024 results were ‘unreliable’
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The NSW Environment Protection Authority and the NSW Food Authority have said blueberries are safe to eat after further testing did not detect any traces of banned chemical thiometon.
The presence of thiometon was first flagged by a researcher, Dr Kirsten Benkendorff at Southern Cross University in Coffs Harbour, after she tested punnets of blueberries bought at local supermarkets in 2024.
Continue reading...A Latin American–Caribbean consortium, aided by FAO, is working toward establishing Codex Alimentarius-aligned maximum residue limits (MRLs) for regionally important veterinary drug residues, advancing food safety.
A Latin American–Caribbean consortium, aided by FAO, is working toward establishing Codex Alimentarius-aligned maximum residue limits (MRLs) for regionally important veterinary drug residues, advancing food safety.
The UK Food Standards Agency (FSA) has proposed a ban on Bisphenol A, structurally similar analogues, and its derivatives in food contact materials (FCMs), aligning with recently passed EU regulations.
Parma, Italy and online 2025-11-04 to 2025-11-04 , 2025-11-05 to 2025-11-05 , 2025-11-06 to 2025-11-06
Front Plant Sci. 2025 Sep 16;16:1675657. doi: 10.3389/fpls.2025.1675657. eCollection 2025.
ABSTRACT
Modern agricultural technologies are crucial for addressing global food security and environmental sustainability challenges amidst a growing population and climate change. These innovations, including precision agriculture, biotechnology, smart irrigation, automation, vertical farming, and artificial intelligence (AI), significantly enhance productivity and land use efficiency. Precision agriculture, utilizing GPS, drones, and IoT, improves yields by 20-30% and cuts input waste by 40-60%. Biotechnology, with CRISPR and GMOs, delivers drought and pest-resistant crops, stabilizing yields, as seen with Bt cotton reducing pesticide use by 50% in India. Smart irrigation boosts water efficiency by 40-60%, while automation and robotics mitigate labor shortages and reduce costs by 25%. Vertical farming increases yields 10-20 times with 95% less land and water, supporting urban food security. AI analytics enhance decision-making with over 90% accuracy in forecasting and resource allocation. Despite these benefits, high costs, technological illiteracy, and regulatory issues hinder adoption, especially among smallholders. Policy support, public-private partnerships, and training are vital for broader technology access and fair benefits. Integrating renewable energy and circular economy principles into aggrotech presents a path to sustainability. This review highlights the transformative potential of modern technologies for sustainable intensification, increasing productivity without expanding farmland, while lessening environmental impacts. It underscores the need for coordinated efforts to overcome adoption challenges and harness these innovations for global food security and climate resilience.
PMID:41036393 | PMC:PMC12481170 | DOI:10.3389/fpls.2025.1675657
J Environ Manage. 2025 Oct 1;394:127478. doi: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2025.127478. Online ahead of print.
ABSTRACT
The solid fraction of wastewater digested sludge is a material rich in nutrients and organic matter that is typically applied to the soil, composted or disposed of. To further exploit its potential, it can be used as a secondary raw material for the production of marketable products, such as biopesticides, through solid-state fermentation (SSF). In this study, a thorough characterisation in terms of pyrolysis gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis, physicochemical methods and biodegradability analysis was carried out on four different digested sewage sludges to understand their inherent properties. The effect of these properties on the growth and sporulation of Bacillus thuringiensis during a laboratory-scale SSF process was then evaluated. Sporulation yields ranged from a maximum of 11.3 to a minimum of 0.4 (expressed as spores per initial viable cell), highlighting the influence of digestate variability on the fermentation performance. Finally, the SSF process was scaled up to bench-scale using the two solid digestates with the highest Bacillus thuringiensis viable cell and spore production to assess the robustness and reproducibility of the process. By scaling up, both sporulation yield and viable cell yield increased compared to the laboratory-scale trials with a maximum spore production of 2.3 × 108 spores g-1 DM. The results confirmed the feasibility of growing Bacillus thuringiensis by SSF in three of the four solid digestates studied, highlighting the importance of advanced techniques to obtain reliable characterisation of the digestate as a substrate for SSF and the production of valuable bioproducts. These results help to determine the most effective valorisation pathway for the solid digestate within the circular economy paradigm.
PMID:41038101 | DOI:10.1016/j.jenvman.2025.127478
EFSA J. 2025 Sep 30;23(9):e9639. doi: 10.2903/j.efsa.2025.9639. eCollection 2025 Sep.
ABSTRACT
On 29 January 2021, the EFSA Panel on Plant Protection Products and their Residues adopted a Statement on acetamiprid in response to a mandate from the Commission following a notification under Article 69 of Regulation (EC) No 1107/2009 in which, among others, it was recommended to conduct an assessment of the endocrine disrupting (ED) properties of acetamiprid in line with the criteria established by Commission Regulation (EU) No 2018/605. On 27 March 2024, EFSA issued a Statement on the toxicological properties and maximum residue levels of acetamiprid and its metabolites, following a mandate from the Commission pursuant to Article 31 of Regulation (EC) No 178/2002. EFSA concluded that there are data gaps in the in vivo body of evidence, including the lack of an acceptable measurement of learning and memory, motor activity and morphometric evaluation in the available developmental neurotoxicity (DNT) studies. To account for the identified gaps, EFSA proposed to include an additional uncertainty factor of 5 in the derivation of the Health-Based Guidance Values: as a consequence, it could not be fully established that acetamiprid still meets the approval criteria laid down in Article 4 of Regulation (EC) No 1107/2009 with respect to its DNT, as well as for the ED properties for which an assessment is not available. Therefore, the European Commission decided to launch a review of the existing approval in accordance with Article 21 of that Regulation and invited the applicant to submit a comprehensive list of existing or planned studies, along with any relevant information, for re-assessing the ED and DNT properties of acetamiprid. On 21 May 2025, pursuant to Article 21(2) of Regulation (EC) No 1107/2009, the Commission requested EFSA to assess the proposal, as submitted by the applicant, on the testing strategy and associated timelines for the generation of additional data for the assessment of the DNT and ED properties of acetamiprid. The current statement contains EFSA's considerations whether the proposed studies are considered sufficient and realistic to complete the assessment of the ED properties of the active substance in line with Commission Regulation (EU) 2018/605 and to conduct an evaluation of DNT properties in line with the recommendations given in the EFSA statement issued in 2024.
PMID:41036495 | PMC:PMC12481163 | DOI:10.2903/j.efsa.2025.9639
Kurita America Inc. and Cyclopure are partnering to deliver an advanced and sustainable solution for removing per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) from water, using a completely regenerable material.
Research from the University of Plymouth has demonstrated the ability of nanoplastics to infiltrate the edible radish root, which raises questions about the food safety and public health implications of dietary exposure to plastics.
The advancement not only supports the recycling of “forever chemical” polymers—which are used on cookware and food packaging, for example—but also boasts high recovery of fluorine, a finite resource.
BMC Public Health. 2025 Sep 30;25(1):3220. doi: 10.1186/s12889-025-24093-1.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Rapidly increasing evidence has documented that endocrine disruptors (EDs) contribute substantially to disease and disability, particularly neurodevelopmental disorders, metabolic diseases, reproductive disorders, immune and thyroid dysfunctions, as well as hormone-related cancers. These conditions can lead to chronic impairments and disability, such as learning and behavioral difficulties, infertility, long-term treatment dependence, or reduced functional capacity. Biomonitoring studies conducted in France have shown widespread exposure of the general population to several endocrine disruptors (phthalates, bisphenols, pesticides, PCBs, etc.), with particularly high levels observed among children. However, there is still too little epidemiological surveillance data. To address this gap, Santé publique France has undertaken a project to prioritize the health effects to be surveilled in relation to EDs, considering both scientific and societal criteria. Scientific criteria included the strength of evidence for ED-related causality, severity of health outcomes, and data availability. Societal criteria considered public concern, perceived vulnerability, and relevance to policymaking.
METHODS: We conducted a consultation with experts and French stakeholders in the field of EDs using the Delphi consensus method from November 2021 to June 2022. A list of 59 health effects was submitted for prioritization.
RESULTS: Several effects were prioritized by all the participants according to scientific, epidemiological and societal criteria, including certain effects on neurodevelopment in children (attention deficit disorder with or without hyperactivity, autism spectrum disorder), the metabolic system (e.g. overweight and obesity) and reproductive health (e.g. endometriosis, breast cancer, alteration in sperm quality, etc.).
CONCLUSION: Based on the results of this consultation, Sante publique France will develop an integrated ED-related health surveillance strategy to identify and prioritize effective prevention strategies and actions in a context of uncertainty and lack of knowledge.
PMID:41029561 | PMC:PMC12486999 | DOI:10.1186/s12889-025-24093-1
J Chromatogr A. 2025 Sep 27;1762:466419. doi: 10.1016/j.chroma.2025.466419. Online ahead of print.
ABSTRACT
A novel Sin-QuEChERS cleanup method was developed for multi-pesticide residue analysis in Codonopsis radix by introducing a compressible composite adsorbent-isoreticular metal-organic framework-3 (IRMOF-3)/multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs)-functionalized melamine sponge (MOF/MT@MeS). This innovative material enables one-step matrix cleanup through immersion and physical squeezing, eliminating the need for centrifugation and multiple sorbents required in conventional QuEChERS method. The covalent integration of amino-functionalized IRMOF-3 and MWCNTs exploits synergistic hydrogen bonding and π-π interactions for efficient purification. The composite significantly suppressed matrix effects (-12.7 to 17.4 % vs -30.9 to 32.8 %). Compared to traditional adsorbent materials, the composite yielded more consistent pesticide recoveries (90.4-117.9 % vs 83.7-123.4 %). The validated method exhibited excellent linearity (R², 0.9934-0.9991), high sensitivity (detection limits 0.54-8.33 μg/kg), and satisfactory accuracy with recoveries of 72.4-111.9 % and RSD ≤14.1 %. This work establishes functionalized sponge-based adsorbents as an efficient, rapid, and reliable alternative for pesticide monitoring in complex botanical matrices.
PMID:41033238 | DOI:10.1016/j.chroma.2025.466419
Chemosphere. 2025 Nov;389:144702. doi: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2025.144702. Epub 2025 Oct 1.
ABSTRACT
Air pollution is closely associated with increased lung cancer incidence and mortality. Because many semi-volatile industrial chemicals, pesticides and combustion by-products are endocrine-disrupting or genotoxic, their mixtures in outdoor urban air, even at trace levels, could have cumulative effects. However, evidence for the impact of outdoor air pollution on human health remains limited, partly because its composition is poorly characterized. Non-targeted analysis (NTA) based on the combination of liquid (LC) and gas (GC) chromatographic separation with high resolution mass spectrometry (MS), allows for the comprehensive analysis of contaminants in environmental samples. Here, we present the first application of an NTA approach using both LC- and GC-MS to characterize the chemical mixture in outdoor urban air by analyzing forty passive samplers deployed for 82 days during summer 2021 across the Island of Montreal, Canada. The confirmed 25 molecular features included nitrophenols, pesticides/repellents, plasticizers, organophosphorus compounds, organohalogen compounds, other industrial chemicals, and natural products. Triethylene glycol monomethyl ether, triethylene glycol monobutyl ether, n-octyl-pyrrolidone, quinoline n-oxide, 4-hydroxy-acetophenone, citric acid, 2-phenyl acetamide, and hexachloroethane were detected for the very first time in the atmosphere. Previously reported in atmospheric particles, 4-nitrophenol, 2,4-dinitrophenol, tri- and tetraethylene glycol, nonanoic acid, diethylene glycol dibenzoate, caprolactam, phenylacrylic acid, pinonic acid and triphenylphosphine oxide were also detected in the outdoor atmospheric gas phase. The spatial grouping of data between residential and public areas emphasizes the impact of anthropogenic activities on atmospheric vapor composition. This study facilitates the assessment of airborne exposure to chemical mixtures and its effects on human health.
PMID:41033295 | DOI:10.1016/j.chemosphere.2025.144702
Commun Med (Lond). 2025 Oct 1;5(1):410. doi: 10.1038/s43856-025-01119-8.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Bisphenol A (BPA) is an endocrine disruptor, and exposure to low doses in utero has been associated with the development of metabolic diseases. Previous studies have suggested that bone marrow (BM) may be particularly susceptible to BPA exposure.
METHODS: Here, we investigate how developmental exposure to low levels of BPA affects the BM transcriptome and the blood metabolic profile in Fischer 344 rats later in life. We compare these effects to those observed in human metabolic syndrome (MetS) using a population-based cohort.
RESULTS: The results show an unexpectedly extensive sex-biased effect on the BM transcriptome from a BPA dose approximately eight times lower than the recent temporary European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) human tolerable daily intake (TDI) and a higher dose considered safe in 2015. BPA exposure induces sex-specific changes in gene expression, progressing toward a hypometabolic cancer-like state in females and a hypermetabolic autoimmunity-like state in males, with a blood metabolic profile that significantly overlaps with human MetS in a cross-sectional study.
CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that developmental low-dose BPA exposure might induce metabolic syndrome specifically in males, possibly by affecting T cell activity in a sex-specific manner. Our study provides biologically plausible and convincing evidence for significant effects from low-dose BPA exposure, supporting the substantial lowering of the human BPA TDI by EFSA based on its critical effects on T cells.
PMID:41034487 | PMC:PMC12488919 | DOI:10.1038/s43856-025-01119-8
This regulation establishes tolerances for residues of amicarbazone (CASRN 129909-90-6) in or on sugarcane, cane; and sugarcane, molasses. Under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA), UPL Delaware, Inc. submitted a petition to EPA requesting that EPA establish a maximum permissible level for residues of this pesticide in or on the identified commodities.
On 29 January 2021, the EFSA Panel on Plant Protection Products and their Residues adopted a Statement on acetamiprid in response to a mandate from the Commission following a notification under Article 69 of Regulation (EC) No 1107/2009 in which, among others, it was recommended to conduct an assessment of the endocrine disrupting (ED) properties of acetamiprid in line with the criteria established by Commission Regulation (EU) No 2018/605.
Toxicol Sci. 2025 Sep 29:kfaf136. doi: 10.1093/toxsci/kfaf136. Online ahead of print.
ABSTRACT
Environmental exposure to industrial chemicals, endocrine disruptors, and pharmaceuticals has been increasingly linked to the global decline in male reproductive health. To address the urgent need for efficient and mechanistically informed toxicity screening, we developed a high-throughput, high-content screening (HTS/HCA) platform using a 3D in vitro mini-testis model. This system was used to evaluate 87 structurally diverse compounds from the National Toxicology Program (NTP) chemical library. The model incorporates murine-derived spermatogonia, Sertoli, and Leydig cells embedded in an extracellular matrix, providing a physiologically relevant environment for mechanistic toxicology. Each compound was tested across ten phenotypic endpoints, including nuclear morphology, cytoskeletal integrity (F-actin), DNA damage (γH2AX), and cell viability by using high-content imaging. Quantitative Points of Departures (PODs) were calculated and integrated into a High-content Assay Index (HCAI). Toxicological Priority Index (ToxPi) scores, derived from the PODs, enabled compound ranking and clustering. Compared to existing in vivo reproductive toxicity data, the 3D model demonstrated 91.5% sensitivity, 93.8% specificity, and 93.6% concordance (n = 64 compounds). Notably, 22 compounds lacking reproductive toxicity data were identified as potentially reproductive toxicants. Mechanistic analyses revealed that nuclear morphology, F-actin intensity, and γH2AX were the most sensitive indicators of reproductive toxicity. Cluster and category-level analysis showed that flame retardants and pesticides ranked highest in toxicity. The integration of multi-parametric data via ToxPi facilitated high-resolution chemical prioritization. Given current ethical and technical challenges in sourcing human testicular tissue or differentiating stem cells into testicular cell types, murine cells provide a reproducible and practical alternative for complex multicellular testis modeling. Our results demonstrate that the HCA-integrated 3D mini-testis model offers a robust, scalable, and mechanistically insightful platform for male reproductive toxicity screening, supporting its adoption as New Approach Methodologies (NAMs) aligned with regulatory and ethical testing goals.
PMID:41017718 | DOI:10.1093/toxsci/kfaf136
Food Chem Toxicol. 2025 Sep 27;206:115768. doi: 10.1016/j.fct.2025.115768. Online ahead of print.
ABSTRACT
Gut microbiota (GM) is a complex consortium of diverse microbes in the gastrointestinal tract, which collectively sustains host health through various physiological processes. GM's health benefits include regulation of host immunity, neurotransmitters, intestinal epithelium, energy absorption, and short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) production. The extensive utilization of additives and the presence of contaminants in food has raised concerns regarding the GM. Chemical compounds such as pesticides, potentially toxic elements, microplastics, antibiotics, and certain food additives (e.g., emulsifiers, sweeteners, preservatives) have been shown to disrupt the GM's composition, leading to gut dysbiosis with subsequent adverse health effects. The complex mechanisms through which these substances affect microbiota lack a thorough understanding, although animal studies have provided new insights into the dysbiosis caused by these substances in the GM. This review aims to comprehensively explore the interaction of food additives and contaminants with the equilibrium of GM, with strong emphasis on their influence on gut health. We outline these substances as causing inflammation, gastrointestinal injury, altered short-chain fatty acids and polyamines' synthesis, higher expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines, and hepatic lipid metabolic disorders. Further studies are needed to understand the mechanisms and impact of such negative effects of food additives and contaminants on GM's integrity.
PMID:41022361 | DOI:10.1016/j.fct.2025.115768
This document announces the Agency's receipt of and solicits comment on applications to register new pesticide products containing currently registered active ingredients that would entail a change in use pattern. The Agency is providing this notice in accordance with the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA). EPA uses the month and year in the title to identify when the Agency complied the applications identified in this notice of receipt. Unit II. of this document identifies certain applications received in 2024 that are currently being evaluated by EPA, along with information about each application, including when it was received, who submitted the application, and the purpose of the application.
This document announces the Agency's receipt of and solicits comment on applications to register pesticide products containing active ingredients not included in any currently registered pesticide products. The Agency is providing this notice in accordance with the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA). EPA uses the month and year in the title to identify when the Agency complied the applications identified in this notice of receipt. Unit II. of this document identifies certain applications received in 2024 that are currently being evaluated by EPA, along with information about each application, including when it was received, who submitted the application, and the purpose of the application.
This document announces the Agency's receipt of and solicits public comment on initial filings of pesticide petitions requesting the establishment or modification of regulations for residues of pesticide chemicals in or on various commodities. The Agency is providing this notice in accordance with the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA). EPA uses the month and year in the title to identify when the Agency compiled the petitions identified in this notice of filing. Unit II. of this document identifies certain petitions received in 2021, 2023, 2024, and 2025 that are currently being evaluated by EPA, along with information about each petition, including who submitted the petition and the requested action.
Environ Sci Technol. 2025 Oct 7;59(39):21300-21311. doi: 10.1021/acs.est.5c06876. Epub 2025 Sep 28.
ABSTRACT
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and fluorinated ionic liquids were investigated in municipal effluents from 30 wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) across 15 European countries using supercritical fluid chromatography-high-resolution mass spectrometry (SFC-HRMS) for nontarget screening. Bis-perfluoroalkyl sulfonimide (bis-FASI) ionic liquids were detected as bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide (NTf2-), two rarely reported homologues (±2 CF2, namely FSI- and BETI-), and two previously unreported homologues (±1 CF2, namely FTFSI- and FTNTf2-). Bis-FASIs were present in 85% of samples and were more abundant in effluents from larger WWTPs. The fluorinated anion PF6-, commonly used in ionic liquids, was found in all samples (≤3 μg/L). Hexafluoroarsenate (AsF6-), reported here for the first time in municipal wastewater, was detected in 32% of samples in eight countries. PF6- and AsF6- concentrations exceeded those of traditional PFSAs and PFCAs in 97% of the samples. No removal was detected for perfluorinated compounds, inorganic anions, and low-fluorinated pharmaceuticals and pesticides. Low-fluorinated substances were detected in 90% of samples (>100 ng/L), yet PF6- alone surpassed the combined concentration of all low-fluorinated substances in 27 out of 30 samples. These results reveal the significance of unconventional fluorinated substances for the overall fluorine load in wastewater, highlighting the need to extend monitoring strategies beyond legacy PFAS.
PMID:41015941 | PMC:PMC12509314 | DOI:10.1021/acs.est.5c06876
Foods. 2025 Sep 20;14(18):3269. doi: 10.3390/foods14183269.
ABSTRACT
Hazelnut cultivation is a strategic agricultural sector in Italy, with Calabria contributing through the native "Tonda Calabrese" cultivar, valued for its biodiversity. Despite its importance, data on the nutritional and compositional characteristics of this cultivar remain limited. In this study, hazelnuts from three different Calabrian producers were analyzed for morphological traits, proximate composition, and elemental content, using both conventional and non-destructive techniques such as CIELab color profiling and ATR-FTIR spectroscopy. The nuts showed high levels of essential micro-elements (Fe, Cu, Zn), aligning with previous findings on other cultivars, and showed no detectable pesticide residues, confirming their nutritional quality. Moreover, this study also aims to explore sustainable valorization strategies for hazelnut by-products, embracing circular economy principles in a "zero waste" approach, including oils and defatted flours. The extracted oils were evaluated for oxidative stability (peroxide value, p-anisidine, TOTOX index) and acidity, meeting Codex Alimentarius quality standards. The residual defatted flour was upcycled through eco-friendly methods, such as Ultrasound-Assisted Extraction (UAE) and Enzyme-Assisted Extraction (EAE), to isolate the polyphenol and protein fractions, respectively. Both extracts exhibited notable antioxidant activity (34.7-35.3 mmol Fe2+ eq/100 g and 64.3-82.2 mmol Fe2+ eq/100 g, respectively), suggesting their potential use as valuable ingredients for dietetic and nutraceutical applications.
PMID:41008241 | PMC:PMC12470017 | DOI:10.3390/foods14183269
Int J Mol Sci. 2025 Sep 15;26(18):8979. doi: 10.3390/ijms26188979.
ABSTRACT
Insulin resistance is a condition of impaired tissue reactivity to insulin. This state is primarily associated with obesity and the lifestyle of modern Western societies, which favors abnormalities of glucose and lipid homeostasis. As a result, more and more people suffer from illnesses that develop because of the disturbed metabolic function of insulin, including type 2 diabetes, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and polycystic ovarian syndrome. There are many studies describing the relationship between declining sensitivity to insulin and insufficient physical activity or unhealthy dietary habits. However, there is a vast number of other factors that may contribute to the development of this condition. In recent years, more attention has been paid to environmental pollutants as promoters of insulin resistance. As the overall grade of waste accumulation in the environment rises, factors like toxic metals, pesticides, dust, harmful gases and micro- or nanoplastics are starting to pose an increasingly serious threat in the context of metabolic disorder development. This review gathers data concerning the influence of the mentioned pollutants on the metabolic health of living organisms, with particular emphasis on the impact on carbohydrate processing, insulin resistance and molecular pathways associated with these processes.
PMID:41009549 | PMC:PMC12470157 | DOI:10.3390/ijms26188979
Toxics. 2025 Sep 11;13(9):769. doi: 10.3390/toxics13090769.
ABSTRACT
Freshwater pollution is a global issue that can impact aquatic organisms in multiple ways. One of the many detrimental consequences of freshwater pollution is the disruption of the intestinal microbiome in aquatic animals. This review addresses the impact of various chemical entities like pesticides, heavy metals, antibiotics, dyes, and microplastic. Gut microbiota serves as a crucial regulator of metabolic processes across all organisms. Since numerous metabolic pathways are coordinated by microbial communities, even minor disruptions can lead to consequences ranging from mild to severe. The widespread use of chemicals in modern life has made them a primary focus of current gut microbiota research. Zebrafish (Danio rerio) can serve as a model organism to investigate gut microbiome responses to exposure to hazardous contaminants. In this review we include research studying pesticides (methomyl, λ-cyhalothrin, cyproconazole, dieldrin, penthiopyrad, acetochlor, metamifop, imidacloprid, difenoconazole, imazalil, cypermethrin), heavy metals (lead, cadmium, arsenic, chromium, copper, and various nanoparticles), antibiotics (oxytetracycline, florfenicol, doxycycline, trimethoprim, erythromycin, streptomycin, tetracycline, sulfamethoxazole, and clarithromycin), and microplastics (polystyrene, polyethylene, polyester, polypropylene). This review study provides a description of microbiome alterations due to single and combined short- and long-term exposure to the aforementioned contaminants in zebrafish and larvae microbiomes.
PMID:41012390 | PMC:PMC12473707 | DOI:10.3390/toxics13090769
Reprod Biol. 2025 Sep 26;25(4):101086. doi: 10.1016/j.repbio.2025.101086. Online ahead of print.
ABSTRACT
Chlorpyrifos (CPS) is an organophosphate pesticide known to induce oxidative stress, apoptosis, and histopathological damage in male reproductive tissues. Ganoderma lucidum (GDL), a medicinal fungus rich in bioactive polysaccharides and triterpenoids, has demonstrated potent antioxidant and antiapoptotic properties in various models. This study aimed to evaluate the protective effects of GDL extract against CPS-induced testicular toxicity in male rats by assessing histological integrity, oxidative stress markers, apoptosis signaling, and hormonal balance. Twenty-four adult male Wistar rats were randomly divided into four groups (n = 6): Cont, CPS (20 mg/kg), GDL (150 mg/kg), and Treat. Treatments were administered orally once daily for 30 days. At the end of the study, the testes were harvested for morphometric and Cosentino histopathological scoring, immunohistochemistry for BAX, BCL2, and Ki67, RTqPCR quantification, biochemical assays of antioxidant enzymes and serum testosterone, LH, and FSH measurements. CPS treatment significantly elevated histopathological damage scores, and disrupted regular cell arrangement. IHC revealed increased BAX and decreased BCL2 and Ki67 expression, corroborated by the upregulation of Bax and Caspase3 transcripts and downregulation of Bcl2. Antioxidant enzymes were suppressed and MDA was elevated in the CPS group. Hormonal assays showed decreased testosterone and LH. Co-administration of GDL partially restored histological architecture, normalized Voronoi patterns, attenuated apoptotic marker alterations, enhanced antioxidant defenses, reduced lipid peroxidation, and recovered hormone levels toward control values. GDL extract confers significant protection against CPS-induced testicular injury by mitigating oxidative stress, modulating apoptotic pathways, and preserving endocrine function, highlighting its therapeutic potential against pesticide-related reproductive toxicity.
PMID:41014984 | DOI:10.1016/j.repbio.2025.101086
Environ Int. 2025 Sep 26:109782. doi: 10.1016/j.envint.2025.109782. Online ahead of print.
ABSTRACT
Bioassays are increasingly applied in the monitoring of chemical water quality. To determine whether elevated bioassay activities indicate a risk, identification of the active substances is needed. This study investigated the presence and fate of 10 biological activities detected by CALUX bioassays and chemical contaminants detected by targeted screening in sources and treatments of drinking water companies in the Dutch parts of the Rhine and Meuse catchments. This was reported in the accompanying article. As the correlations elucidated by the hierarchical cluster analysis approach did not in all cases reveal the causative compounds, effect directed analysis (EDA) was performed and reported in this article. By embedding the p53 and the Nrf2 CALUX bioassays (for genotoxicity and oxidative stress, respectively) in an earlier developed high throughput EDA platform, the identification of contributors to multiple different endpoints was achieved. The platform combined microfractionation, miniaturised bioassays and targeted screening using high resolution mass spectrometry, and was applied to eight samples. Natural and synthetic steroid hormones and their metabolites were identified as contributors to androgenic, estrogenic, glucocorticoid and progestogenic activities. Fourteen pesticides were found to contribute to anti-androgenic, anti-progestogenic and/or cytotoxic activities, underlining the increasing public concern of pesticide use. Two pharmaceuticals contributed to oxidative stress in the WWTP effluent sample. Although the p53 CALUX assay was successfully integrated in the EDA platform, is was not applied to water samples due to lack of detectable activity. The applied EDA platform proved to be powerful to identify bioactive compounds in water with a high endpoint coverage in a high throughput format. EDA creates an integrated and risk-based view on those contaminants that deteriorate chemical water quality.
PMID:41015663 | DOI:10.1016/j.envint.2025.109782
FDA detected radioactive isotope Cesium-137 (Cs-137) in a shipment of Indonesian cloves, due to heightened surveillance efforts initiated after radioactive shrimp was detected in another Indonesian import. Additionally, the radioactive shrimp recall has been expanded, and now affects Walmart, Kroger, and other retailers nationwide.
This document provides the conclusions of the pest survey card that was prepared in the context of the EFSA mandate on plant pest surveillance (M‐2020‐0114) at the request of the European Commission. The full pest survey card for Carposina sasakii is published and available online in the EFSA Pest Survey Card gallery at the following link and will be updated whenever new information becomes available: https://efsa.europa.eu/plants/planthealth/monitoring/surveillance/carpo…
Ecotoxicol Environ Saf. 2025 Oct 1;304:119101. doi: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2025.119101. Epub 2025 Sep 25.
ABSTRACT
Understanding the mechanisms of chemical bioaccumulation in aquatic invertebrates is fundamental to ecological toxicology, as contaminant retention in key species shapes exposure pathways and trophic transfer within aquatic ecosystems. In this study, we developed a physiologically based kinetic (PBK) model to quantify the bioaccumulation factors (BAF) of 101 organic contaminants in adult white-leg shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei). The model subdivides the organism into hemolymph, digestive tract, gills, muscle, shell, and eggs, and simulates uptake through gill respiration and dietary intake, together with elimination via respiratory exchange, fecal excretion, growth dilution, molting, and spawning. Predictions showed overall good agreement with reported BAF, with 50-80 % of chemicals deviating by less than one order of magnitude. Performance was highest for brominated flame retardants (BFRs) and other hydrophobic compounds (Log Kow 4-6), whereas substantial biases occurred for Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and certain pesticides, likely due to unmodeled metabolic processes and sediment-water interactions. Simulations identified gill and egg tissues as major accumulation sites, reflecting their lipid content and direct environmental exposure. Exposure pathways were chemical-specific: gill uptake dominated for most hydrophobic pollutants (>94 %), while dietary intake was the principal contributor to PFAS accumulation in the digestive system (>90 %). The nonlinear relationship between bioconcentration factor (BCF) and Octanol-Water Partition Coefficient (Kow) suggested a threshold effect in bioavailability. Overall, this shrimp-based PBK model enhances mechanistic understanding of contaminant dynamics in crustaceans and provides a basis for evaluating chemical risks and exposure heterogeneity in aquatic ecosystems.
PMID:41005070 | DOI:10.1016/j.ecoenv.2025.119101
Arch Toxicol. 2025 Sep 26. doi: 10.1007/s00204-025-04133-w. Online ahead of print.
ABSTRACT
The grouping of chemicals based on common properties or molecular mechanisms of action is pivotal for advancing regulatory toxicology, reducing data gaps, and enabling cumulative risk assessments. This study introduces a novel framework using chemical-gene-phenotype-disease (CGPD) tetramers derived from the Comparative Toxicogenomics Database (CTD). Our approach integrates publicly available toxicogenomics data to identify and cluster chemicals with similar molecular and phenotypic effects. The considered chemicals belong to diverse use groups including pesticides, pharmaceuticals, and industrial chemicals. We validated our method by comparing CGPD tetramer-based clusters with cumulative assessment groups (CAGs) that have been established by EFSA for pesticides and demonstrate strong overlap with established groupings while identifying additional compounds relevant for risk assessment. Key examples include clusters associated with endocrine disruption and metabolic disorders. By bridging omics-derived molecular data with phenotypic and disease endpoints, this framework provides a comprehensive tool for chemical grouping and the support of evidence-based regulatory decision-making to facilitate the transition to next-generation risk assessment methodologies.
PMID:41003772 | DOI:10.1007/s00204-025-04133-w
Int J Gynaecol Obstet. 2025 Sep 26. doi: 10.1002/ijgo.70547. Online ahead of print.
ABSTRACT
This FIGO committee opinion paper addresses the growing body of evidence linking environmental exposures to common gynecologic and reproductive conditions across the life course. From adolescence through menopause, women are exposed to a wide range of environmental toxicants, including endocrine-disrupting chemicals, air pollutants, heavy metals, pesticides, and industrial compounds, which influence hormonal function, ovarian reserve, and disease risk. This article synthesizes high-quality systematic and authoritative reviews along with high-quality literature on exposures that can increase the risk of infertility, polycystic ovary syndrome, endometriosis, uterine fibroids, hormonally mediated cancers, and menopause. It highlights underlying mechanisms, such as endocrine disruption, oxidative stress, inflammation, and epigenetic modification. Importantly, the article emphasizes disparities in exposure and outcomes, particularly among historically marginalized populations with heightened vulnerability to environmental injustice. Practical guidance is offered to help clinicians incorporate environmental health into routine care, through patient counseling, exposure screening, and advocacy. The article calls for obstetrician/gynecologists to take leadership roles in recognizing environmental risk as a determinant of reproductive health and equity-both within the clinic and through systems-level policy change.
PMID:41001939 | DOI:10.1002/ijgo.70547
Following a request from the European Commission, the EFSA Panel on Nutrition, Novel Foods and Food Allergens (NDA) was asked to deliver an opinion on the safety of an extension of use of pasteurised Akkermansia muciniphila as a novel food (NF) pursuant to Regulation (EU) 2015/2283. The extension pertains to the use of the NF in food supplements and Foods for Special Medical Purposes (FSMPs) for adolescents from 12 to < 18 years of age and to pregnant and lactating women.
The research can serve as a foundation for updating or developing new Restricted Substances Lists to mitigate potential risks to human and environmental health posed by hazardous chemicals used food contact materials.
The way we respond to the disappointments, dangers, and defects of the present helps determine our political affiliations. If you think the answers lie somewhere in a future condition we’ve yet to achieve, then you may be persuaded by progressive politics; if you think the resources for rescuing society lie somewhere in the past, you may be attracted to conservative politics.
This general pattern helps explain the recent alignment of conservative politics and the anti-vaccine movement, despite its long-standing association with crunchy, left-ish causes. Today, the two tendencies have joined in mutual agreement about the wholesomeness of natural health versus modern medicine, indulging in nostalgia for a world before the widespread use of vaccines.
The past does contain its share of treasures, and it can be hard to accept that a world so rife with pain and despair is in certain ways the best it has ever been. But the idea that the past held a secret to health and happiness that we’ve lost somehow—especially with respect to infectious disease—is a fantasy with potentially lethal ramifications.
[Read: The neo-anti-vaxxers are in power now]
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the vaccine-skeptical current secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, originally shared politics with the older anti-vaccine advocates, back-to-the-Earth types who themselves demonstrated a conservative impulse in their search for a primeval Eden. (Plenty of left-leaning people persist in that tradition, though it seems better fit for today’s right, which has a certain appreciation for the pastoral.) A Democrat until 2023, Kennedy entered public life as a champion of environmental protection, battling against corporate interests in court to keep harmful waste out of the air and water. Over time, this overall concern with modern impurity destroying pristine nature evidently extended to other areas of his thinking. As his career progressed, Kennedy adopted several controversial opinions regarding healthy eating, condemning, among other things, meat issued from factory farms, seed oils, and processed food. In a 2024 campaign video from his presidential-primary run, Kennedy promised to “reverse 80 years of farm policy in this country,” harkening to a time before synthetic pesticides and chemical additives to animal feed.
If a conservative is, as William F. Buckley Jr. famously wrote, someone who “stands athwart history, yelling ‘Stop!’” then Kennedy certainly fits the bill. A proper conservative fights to preserve the status quo. But the most reactionary members of the right won’t settle for protecting the ground their party has already staked out; their project is to return to the status quo ante, the way things were in the (sometimes distant) past. The slogan “Make America Great Again” manages to disparage the present while promising a return to an era in which Christianity was nationally dominant, manufacturing jobs were the bedrock of the economy, and the country was ever expanding. Kennedy’s positions on processed food and pharmaceuticals fit perfectly into that picture.
“Today’s children have to get between 69 and 92 vaccines in order to be fully compliant, between maternity and 18 years,” Kennedy said during a recent Senate hearing about Trump’s 2026 health-care agenda, by way of comparison with children of the past, who were required to receive fewer vaccines (if any at all). Likewise, Kennedy has rejected the introduction of fluoride into drinking water, a practice initiated in the mid-1940s to help prevent tooth decay, as well as the pasteurization of milk, which began in the late 19th century. “When I was a kid” in the ’50s and ’60s, Kennedy said earlier this year, “we were the healthiest, most robust people in the world. And today we’re the sickest.”
[Read: How RFK Jr. could eliminate vaccines without banning them]
This is in some respects true, but in other ways dangerously wrong. Kennedy is quick to point out the relative rarity of chronic conditions such as childhood diabetes and autoimmune disorders in the past. But he is apparently hesitant to acknowledge that mid-century America came with its own share of serious health problems, including a high rate of cigarette smoking and horrifying infant mortality rates compared with the present. When Kennedy was young, vaccine-preventable childhood illnesses such as measles routinely killed hundreds annually. So far this year, only three people in the United States ha
Anal Methods. 2025 Sep 24. doi: 10.1039/d5ay01084e. Online ahead of print.
ABSTRACT
Emerging organic pollutants (EOPs), encompassing a vast array of substances like pharmaceuticals, pesticides, endocrine disruptors, and industrial chemicals, pose a significant threat to environmental integrity and human health. Traditional analytical methods for their detection, while accurate, are often laboratory-bound, costly, and time-consuming, hindering effective environmental monitoring. Electrochemical aptasensors (hereafter, 'aptasensors') have surfaced as a highly promising alternative, merging the high sensitivity, potential for portability, and cost-effectiveness of electrochemical transduction with the specific molecular recognition capabilities and stability of aptamers - short, synthetic nucleic acid sequences. This review comprehensively examines the fundamental principles underpinning these sensors, including aptamer selection methodologies like SELEX, particularly addressing the challenges associated with small molecule targets characteristic of many EOPs. It delves into various electrochemical transduction mechanisms such as voltammetry, impedance spectroscopy, and electrochemiluminescence, alongside critical aptamer immobilization techniques onto electrode surfaces. The significant role of diverse nanomaterials (e.g., gold nanoparticles, carbon-based materials, metal oxides, and MOFs) in enhancing sensor performance through increased surface area, improved conductivity, and signal amplification is thoroughly discussed. Furthermore, this review surveys recent advancements and applications of these aptasensors for detecting key classes of EOPs in environmental matrices like water and soil, critically evaluating reported analytical performance metrics like limits of detection and selectivity.
PMID:40990921 | DOI:10.1039/d5ay01084e
These findings and a wealth of additional results on what drives food choices in Europe are available in the new “2025 Eurobarometer Survey on Food Safety in the EU”. EFSA conducts the survey every 3 years, which this year includes both the 27 EU Member States and 7 EU Candidate Countries at the same time.
“Hugely encouraging”
EFSA’s Executive Director Nikolaus Kriz said: “The new figures on citizens’ awareness of EU food safety are hugely encouraging for EFSA and our many partners across Europe.
“We will continue to join forces with the European Commission...
Bioresour Technol. 2025 Sep 21;439:133367. doi: 10.1016/j.biortech.2025.133367. Online ahead of print.
ABSTRACT
This study investigates the properties of CO2-activated biochars derived from second-generation agricultural waste, specifically pistachio hulls and walnut shells. The biochars were prepared using varying pyrolysis temperatures of 500 °C and 750 °C, followed by physical activation with CO2 at 850 °C and, in some cases, acid washing. A range of characterization techniques were used to assess the effects of biomass type, pyrolysis temperature, and acid-washing on the biochars' properties. This comprehensive analysis provided insights into the surface chemistry and structural characteristics of biochars. The results demonstrate the significant versatility of pyrolysis in modulating the properties of the resultant biochars. Sorption experiments with atrazine showed high removal efficiencies (94-95 %), comparable to commercial active carbon. Notably, the acid washing treatment did not affect pesticide sorption. These findings indicate the potential of using waste-derived biochars as high-performance sorbents for sustainable water remediation and circular economy initiatives.
PMID:40987349 | DOI:10.1016/j.biortech.2025.133367
This technical report reflects the outcome of the physical‐chemical properties experts’ meeting on general recurring issues noted during the EFSA peer reviews of pesticide active substances under Regulation (EC) No 1107/2009. General and specific issues were identified and discussed related to the quality and level of details of the assessment reports and the adherence to the data requirements, in particular regarding analytical methods and issues related to the assessment of the impurity profiles and the proposed active substance and product specifications.
Following a request from the European Commission, EFSA was asked to deliver a scientific opinion on Pediococcus pentosaceus NCIMB 12674 when used as a technological additive to improve ensiling of all fresh plant material for all animal species at a proposed minimum concentration of 1 × 109 colony forming units (CFU)/kg fresh plant material. The bacterial species P. pentosaceus is considered by EFSA to be suitable for the qualified presumption of safety approach to safety assessment.
The aim of the present report is to collect data on toxic effects in the liver and gallbladder from various pesticides and their metabolites and, subsequently, to establish cumulative assessment groups (CAGs), in view of performing cumulative risk assessment (CRA) of pesticide residues for liver. For this purpose, a list of previously defined indicators of the specific effects was consulted to retrieve the relevant data from toxicological assessment reports.
Bloc urged to end ‘unethical double standard’ of allowing sale of products deemed too dangerous for EU farms
European chemical corporations have issued plans to export increasing quantities of “toxic” pesticides deemed too dangerous to spray on EU farms, an investigation has found, despite a pledge to end the practice.
Planned exports of domestically banned pesticides rose from 81,600 tons in 2018 to 122,000 tons in 2024, according to export notifications obtained via freedom of information requests by Unearthed, the investigative newsroom of Greenpeace, and the Swiss nonprofit Public Eye.
Continue reading...At a press conference today, President Donald Trump dispensed one clear piece of medical advice to American parents in a rambling, repetitive monologue: Don’t. Take. Tylenol. He told pregnant women that they could help keep their children safe from autism by not taking the drug whenever they could avoid it (“fight like hell,” he instructed). He advised parents not to give Tylenol to their young children. He denounced giving the hepatitis B vaccine to infants and suggested that parents space out their children’s immunization schedule. (“They pump so much stuff into those beautiful little babies, it’s a disgrace,” he said.) He declared that children ideally should be given the measles, mumps, and rubella vaccines separately, though such individual shots are not available in the United States. “This is based on what I feel,” the president said.
Trump had been hinting at his big announcement for weeks, and it was evident that he wasn’t interested in making sure the contents had passed through the normal research process. “I don’t want to wait any longer. We don’t need anything more. And if it’s wrong—it’s not going to be wrong, but—if it is wrong, it’s fine. We have to do it,” Trump told the audience at a dinner for the American Cornerstone Institute on Saturday. Today, instead of opting for measured guidance, or urging additional research, Trump borrowed a strategy from his health secretary, Robert F. Kennedy Jr.: pushing ahead with a sensational conclusion based on a handful of disputed studies.
Researchers have been studying possible causes of autism for decades, and they generally dismiss singling out one culprit like a drug or a vaccine ingredient. (Instead, the consensus is that genetics play a large role, along with an array of environmental factors.) Some studies have found a possible association between acetaminophen and neurodevelopmental disorders. In 2015, the FDA issued a notice about a possible link between prenatal Tylenol use and ADHD, though it also mentioned that the cited studies had design flaws. Last month, Andrea Baccarelli, the dean of Harvard’s school of public health, published a review of other studies in which he and his co-authors concluded that acetaminophen use during pregnancy is associated with neurodevelopmental disorders, including autism, and that pregnant women should be advised to limit their use of the drug. (Baccarelli was invited to appear at today’s announcement but did not attend, a Harvard spokesperson told me. In a statement sent to reporters shortly before the White House announcement, he wrote that his August review suggests the “possibility of a causal relationship” between Tylenol and autism, but also noted that acetaminophen is “an important tool for pregnant patients and their physicians.”)
[Read: RFK Jr. is neglecting a legitimate autism concern]
Two recent large studies, meanwhile, challenge any connection at all. A Swedish study, published last year, analyzed the health records of more than 2 million children and found that acetaminophen use was not associated with autism. A study of more than 200,000 Japanese children, published earlier this month, likewise didn’t find any meaningful association. That paper suggested that links in other studies could be explained, at least in part, by “misclassification and other biases.” A spokesperson for Kenvue, the company that makes Tylenol, told me in an email, “We believe independent, sound science clearly shows that taking acetaminophen does not cause autism. We strongly disagree with any suggestion otherwise and are deeply concerned about the health risks and confusion this poses for expecting mothers and parents.”
None of that nuance was aired during the announcement. Instead Trump professed to feel “very certain” about the Tylenol theory, and repeatedly warned Americans off the drug. This is not how science—or public health—normally works. The president of the United States doesn’t tease that he’s figured out the cause of a disorder before the research has been done to support that conclusion. Nor does he warn the American people against a common medication or the childhood-vaccine schedule without detailed evidence of his reasoning, or the full support of his staff. “It may be stronger from me than from the group,” he said in his speech, referring to Kennedy, FDA Commissioner Marty Makary, NIH Director Jay Bhattacharya, and Mehmet Oz, his head of Medicare and Medicaid. “They are waiting for certain studies. I don’t—I just want to say it like it is.” (Trump’s spokesperson, Kush Desai, wrote in an email that “the Trump Administration does not believe popping more pills is always the answer for better health” and that “there is mounting evidence
Arh Hig Rada Toksikol. 2025 Sep 30;76(3):183-194. doi: 10.2478/aiht-2025-76-3976. eCollection 2025 Sep 1.
ABSTRACT
Water pollution caused by micropollutants has been a global issue for decades, prompting the scientific community and industry professionals to develop new and effective wastewater treatment methods. Understanding the interactions of these compounds in real water samples is particularly challenging, as they contain complex mixtures that may alter the mechanism of action and toxic effects of these compounds on aquatic organisms. To address such challenges, computational methods and mathematical models have been developed to complement experimental research and predict the toxicity of micropollutant mixtures in water. This narrative review summarises current literature on such mathematical models, including the concentration addition (CA), independent action model (IA), and their combinations to predict the toxicity of mixtures involving pharmaceuticals, pesticides, and perfluorinated compounds. We also discuss computational methods like quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) modelling and machine learning (ML). While the CA and IA models provide basic frameworks for predicting toxicity in chemical mixtures, their practical application is often limited by the assumption of additivity and by the complexity of real water mixtures. QSAR and ML approaches, though promising, face challenges such as limited data availability, overfitting, and difficult interpretation. Future research should focus on enhancing model robustness, incorporating mechanistic data, and developing hybrid approaches that integrate experimental and computational methods to improve the reliability of toxicity predictions for complex environmental mixtures.
PMID:40981093 | PMC:PMC12455698 | DOI:10.2478/aiht-2025-76-3976
Following an application from PepsiCo International, submitted pursuant to Article 19 of Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006 via the Competent Authority of Ireland, the EFSA Panel on Nutrition, Novel Foods and Food Allergens (NDA) was asked to deliver an opinion on the modification of an authorised health claim related to beta‐glucans from oats or barley and reduction of postprandial glycaemic responses. The proposed modification concerns a reduction of the lowest effective dose from 4 g to 2 g of beta‐glucans (BG) per 30 g of available carbohydrates (avCHO).
Toxicol Appl Pharmacol. 2025 Sep 19;505:117577. doi: 10.1016/j.taap.2025.117577. Online ahead of print.
ABSTRACT
Disruption of the retinoid signaling pathway by environmental chemicals is currently not directly assessed in regulatory testing. Although in vitro and in silico methods are available to assess disruption of this modality, more data on the selectivity and in vivo predictivity of specific assays are needed. To address this, we tested twenty-one pesticides and pharmaceuticals for their ability to agonize or antagonize the retinoic acid receptor alpha (RARα) or to inhibit the activity of aldehyde dehydrogenases (ALDH1As). Experimental data was generated using a RARα reporter gene assay and a cell line stably transfected to express two isoforms of ALDH1A for enzyme inhibition assay. The measured output of the latter was synthesized retinoic acid (RA) converted from added retinal. RARα antagonism predictions were obtained from the Danish (Q)SAR Database. Several test compounds acted as RAR agonists, while only a few inhibited ALDH1As, suggesting that the two assays together provide a more comprehensive view of how compounds impact RA signaling. Some substances were active in only one of the in vitro assays, highlighting the importance of including both models to avoid false negatives. No clear pattern was seen to suggest that either endpoint was more predictive of in vivo effects. Collectively, these findings underscore the need to include more assays for detecting different mechanisms of retinoid signal disruption in future testing regimens relying less on in vivo toxicity observation and more on predictive methods.
PMID:40976440 | DOI:10.1016/j.taap.2025.117577