Release Overview
- New Litagion agent profiles for N-butylbenzenesulfonamide and permanent hair dye
- New emerging risk insight: "Opioids are the next tobacco. Are antibiotics the next opioids?"
- Updated Litagion agent and company profiles impacted by newly published peer-reviewed science and newly gathered company information
New Content
Litagion agents
- N-butylbenzenesulfonamide. N-Butylbenzenesulfonamide (NBBS) [CAS No. 3622-84-2] is used as a plasticizer and anti-fungal agent in polyamides, polycarbonates, polyacetals, and polysulfones. Applications for these resins include cooking utensils, textiles, food-contact film, water bottles, and flexible tubing. NBBS has been detected in a wide array of environmental samples and is considered both persistent and mobile in water.
- Permanent hair dye. Permanent hair dye works by combining colorless dye intermediates (like aromatic amines) and dye couplers in the presence of an oxidizing agent (like hydrogen peroxide) to form pigment molecules that penetrate each hair cuticle, reacting with the cortex, and changing its color. As the name suggests, permanent hair dye does not wash out, although it might fade over time, and instead grows out as new hair comes in. An estimated 70% of women use hair coloring products. Permanent hair dye makes up about 80% percent of the overall hair coloring market. Exposure to hair dye occurs during the coloring process both through direct skin contact and through the inhalation of fumes.
Updated Litagion agent profiles based upon newly published science
All Litagion agent profiles have been updated to reflect the most recently published peer-reviewed science. Notable scientific studies added to CoMeta since the last release include:
- Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP). A study in Canadian children aged 2-5 years reported a significant association between DEHP levels found in indoor dust and asthma and wheeze.
- Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS). A study employing the Odense Child Cohort reported a significant association between maternal serum levels of PFOA or PFOS and the likelihood a child is hospitalized with lower respiratory tract infection.
In addition, we highlight the following changes to the components of Litagion agent risk resulting from newly published peer-reviewed science:
| Litagion agent | Risk category change | Overall risk change |
| DINCH | Projected science risk changes from Medium (yellow) to Medium-high (orange) | Change from Medium (yellow) to Medium-high (orange) |
|
Tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA) |
Projected science risk changes from Medium-low (light green) to Medium (yellow) | Change from Medium-low (light green) to Medium (yellow) |