The US bioeconomy (biotechnology-based economic activity) currently contributes 5.1 percent or more of US GDP and has tremendous growth potential. Realizing that potential requires, among other efforts, investment by the government to advance innovation infrastructure including regulatory frameworks that are open to new technologies and don’t obstruct them.

For the first time plastic particles have been found in human blood. A paper published by authors from Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam in the open access journal Environment International on March 24 reports measurable levels in the blood of 17 out of 22 healthy volunteers.

A new report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine recommends that the U.S. establish a nationally coordinated and expanded monitoring system to track plastic pollution in order to understand the scale and sources of the U.S. plastic waste problem, set reduction and management priorities, and measure progress in addressing it.

The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) plans to propose enforceable limits on perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) in drinking water; replacing the EPA’s 2016 advisory level of 70 parts per trillion for these chemicals (individually or combined).

Vireo Advisors, LLC is proud to announce we are hosting a workshop on market-specific safety demonstration requirements for new substances, with a focus on cellulose nanomaterial applications.