Extended One-Generation Reproductive Toxicity (EOGRT) study of benzoic acid in Sprague Dawley rats.

Benzoic acid (BA) was administered in the diet to male and female Sprague Dawley Crl:CD(SD) rats in an OECD Test Guideline 443 Extended One-Generation Reproductive Toxicity (EOGRT) study to test for effects that may occur as a result of pre- and postnatal exposure. The study included cohorts of F offspring to evaluate potential effects of benzoic acid on reproduction, the developing immune system, and the developing neurological system with the inclusion of learning and memory assessments. Benzoic acid was incorporated in the diet at concentrations of 0, 7,500, 11,500, and 15,000 mg/kg diet (ppm).

Caffeine and cardiovascular health.

This report evaluates the scientific literature on caffeine with respect to potential cardiovascular outcomes, specifically relative risks of total cardiovascular disease (CVD), coronary heart disease (CHD) and acute myocardial infarction (AMI), effects on arrhythmia, heart failure, sudden cardiac arrest, stroke, blood pressure, hypertension, and other biomarkers of effect, including heart rate, cerebral blood flow, cardiac output, plasma homocysteine levels, serum cholesterol levels, electrocardiogram (EKG) parameters, heart rate variability, endothelial/platelet function and plasma/urine catecholamine levels. Caffeine intake has been associated with a range of reversible and transient physiological effects broadly and cardiovascular effects specifically. This report attempts to understand where the delineations exist in caffeine intake and corresponding cardiovascular effects among various subpopulations.

Human health risk assessment of chloroxylenol in liquid hand soap and dishwashing soap used by consumers and health-care professionals.

A quantitative human risk assessment of chloroxylenol was conducted for liquid hand and dishwashing soap products used by consumers and health-care workers. The toxicological data for chloroxylenol indicate lack of genotoxicity, no evidence of carcinogenicity, and minimal systemic toxicity. No observed adverse effect levels (NOAEL) were established from chronic toxicity studies, specifically a carcinogenicity study that found no cancer excess (18 mg/kg-day) and studies of developmental and reproductive toxicity (100 mg/kg-day).

Neurobehavioral hazard identification and characterization for caffeine.

This report evaluates the scientific literature on caffeine with respect to potential central nervous system (CNS) effects, specifically effects on sleep, anxiety, and aggression/risk-taking. Caffeine has been the subject of more scientific safety studies than any other food ingredient. It is important, therefore, to evaluate new studies in the context of this large existing body of knowledge.

Formaldehyde exposure and leukemia: critical review and reevaluation of the results from a study that is the focus for evidence of biological plausibility.

A recent study (Zhang et al., 2010) has provided results attributed to aneuploidy in circulating stem cells that has been characterized as providing potential support for proposed mechanisms for formaldehyde to impact bone marrow. A critical review of the study, as well as a reanalysis of the underlying data, was performed and the results of this reanalysis suggested factors other than formaldehyde exposure may have contributed to the effects reported.

Chronic inhalation exposure of rats for up to 104 weeks to a non-carbon-based magnetite photocopying toner.

Male and female Han Wistar rats were exposed for 6 h/day, 5 days/week for 13 or 104 weeks (whole body) to a magnetite photocopying toner. The toner contained 45% to 50% magnetite, with 45% to 50% styrene acrylic resin and less than 5% external additives, including hydrophobic amorphous silica and proprietary surface functional modifiers. Exposure levels were 1, 5, and 25 mg/m(3) for the 13-week study and 1, 4, and 16 mg/m(3) for the 104-week study.