Release Overview
- New Litagion agent profile for benzotriazole and a new theme summarizing CoMeta content related to persistent, mobile, and toxic (PMT) chemicals
- New blog content: "Emerging litigation over the 'king of poisons'" and "Melamine: Some are calling it the next BPA"
- Updated Litagion agent and company profiles impacted by newly published peer-reviewed science and newly gathered company information
New Content
Themes
- PMT. Persistent, mobile, and toxic (PMT) is a relatively new designation given to chemicals that are not only toxic to humans and persist in the environment but are also readily transported in water. Whereas PBT chemicals bioaccumulate in animals and humans, PMT chemicals are water soluble and mobile. PMT chemicals sorb poorly to sediments and soils resulting in their transport far from the point of discharge and accumulation in water sources that might serve private and public drinking water systems. PMT chemicals can also be particularly difficult to remove from water, passing through, for example, granular activated carbon filters. The German Environment Agency is leading the way in establishing formal criteria for designating chemicals PMT under the European chemical regulatory framework REACH.
Litagion agents
- Benzotriazole. Benzotriazole is an industrial chemical with a diverse set of applications. Among its applications is as a UV filter in plastic and rubber products, a corrosion inhibitor in antifreeze solutions, water cooling systems, and dry-cleaning equipment, an antitarnishing agent in metal working, a fixing agent in photographic emulsions, a protective coating in construction projects, and a drug precursor. Benzotriazole is also found in detergents, personal care products, and paints and coatings.
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:
- Bisphenol A. A meta-analysis using National Health and Nutrition Exam Survey data from 2003-2016 found a significant association between bisphenol A and cardiovascular disease.
- Dibutyl phthalate. A study in China found women with a missed abortion when compared to controls had high urine levels of a dibutyl pththalate metabolite.
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 |
| Tris(methylphenyl) phosphate | Projected science risk changes from Low (green) to Medium-low (light green) | No change |
|
Silicon dioxide nanoparticles (Nano-SiO2) |
Projected science risk changes from Medium (yellow) to Medium-high (orange) | No change |