This release of CoMeta includes one new Litagion agent profile (propylene glycol), a new theme summarizing CoMeta content related to pesticides, and a host of updated Litagion agent and company profiles impacted by newly published peer-reviewed science and newly gathered company information.
New Content
Themes
- Pesticides. A pesticide is any substance intended to control unwanted weeds, insects, fungi, or other plant and animal life forms. Fungicides, herbicides, insecticides, and rodenticides are all considered to be pesticides. More than six billion pounds of pesticides are consumed annually worldwide, with more than one billion pounds applied in the United States. Three-quarters of all U.S. households use pesticides, but agriculture accounts for 90 percent of pesticide production. With the amount of land available for cultivation shrinking and the demand for food increasing, it is likely that pesticide usage will only increase in the future. Exposure concerns are greatest for pesticide applicators and children living in agricultural settings. Scientists are also investigating whether pesticide residues in food and resulting from residential and commercial applications pose a risk to human health.
Litagion agents
- Propylene Glycol. A synthetic liquid substance used as an antifreeze, deicing solution, base for e-cigarette liquids, and in various medicinal, cosmetic, personal care, and food products.
Updated Litagion agents based on 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:
- Bisphenol S (BPS): A study published last month using data from the U.S. based National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) shows an association between BPS and obesity.
- Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT): Prenatal DDT in cord blood is associated with the development of breast cancer in early postmenopausal women.
In addition, we highlight the following changes to the components of Litagion agent risk resulting from recently published peer-reviewed science:
| Litagion agent | Risk category change | Overall risk change |
| 1,3-butadiene | Projected science risk changes from Medium-low (light green) to Medium-high (orange) | None |
| oxybenzone | Projected science risk changes from Medium (yellow) to Medium-high (orange) | None |