Category Archives: Chemical Regulation
New Publication: Conceptual Framework for Mixture Risk Assessment
We just published the following policy analysis in ”Environmental Science and Technology”: Thomas Backhaus, Michael Faust: “Predictive environmental risk assessment of chemical mixtures: a conceptual framework” DOI:10.1021/es2034125. Abstract: Environmental risks of chemicals are still often assessed substance-by-substance, neglecting mixture effects. This may result in risk underestimations, as the typical exposure is towards multi-component chemical “cocktails”. We use the two well established mixture toxicity concepts (Concentration Addition (CA) and Independent Action (IA)) for providing a tiered outline for environmental hazard and … Continue reading
Comments to the SCHER opinion on mixture (eco)toxicity
The public consultation on the ”opinion concerning Toxicity and Assessment of Chemical Mixtures” by the Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS), the Scientific Committee on Health and Environmental Risks (SCHER) and the Scientific Committee on Emerging and Newly Identified Health Risks (SCENIHR) ended on the 15th of September. Below are the comments that I submitted. For the ease of reading things in context, I first provide the inital question, then the reaction of the Scientific Committees (all of which are … Continue reading
Last week’s ECETOC workshop on mixture toxicity
ECETOC, the European Centre for Ecotoxicology and Toxicology of Chemicals, conducted a 2-day workshop on mixture toxicity and risk assessment last week in Berlin. Around 80 (my estimate) toxicologists and ecotoxicologists, coming from industry (obviously the majority), academia and regulation. The first day was occupied with a collection of presentations on various topics, covering (amongst others) the recently published WHO/ICPS workshop report, the MCR (maximum cumulative ratio) concept, the draft opinion of the EU Scientific Committees on mixture toxicity assessment, … Continue reading
Draft opinion of EU scientific committees on mixture toxicity published
The Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS), the Scientific Committee on Health and Environmental Risks (SCHER) and the Scientific Committee on Emerging and Newly Identified Health Risks (SCENIHR) have just published their draft opinion concerning Toxicity and Assessment of Chemical Mixtures. The text (PDF) can be downloaded here. According to the procedures for stakeholder dialogue, comments to the opinion can be submitted until the 9th of September. As the opinion is (partly) a comment on the “state of the art … Continue reading
State of the Art report on mixture toxicology and ecotoxicology
The University of Gothenburg just published this press release (in Swedish) on our State of the Art report, which was taken up by Göteborgs Posten, the local newspaper here. Miljöaktuellt published it here, Forskning.se here. Thomas PS.: and here are the English versions: Chemicals Health Monitor, Medical News PPS.: and Eureka, X-Journals, (although I don’t particularly like that they ripped of my photo from the site), ScienceDaily, ChemicalProcessing, EMaxHealth, etc…
State of the Art – report on the toxicology and ecotoxicology of chemical mixtures
Our State of the Art report on the toxicology and ecotoxicology of chemical mixtures has just been published by the European Commission. It is actually open for discussion, i.e. the Commisssion invites feedback until the 30th of April. Our main conclusions are: We need a European guideline for the assement of the toxic effects of chemical mixtures on human health and the environment. Current US guidelines can serve as a template, but efforts should be made to incorporate human health … Continue reading
Regulation of toxic chemicals in the US
Here is a short but comprehensive overview of the currently regulatory system for chemicals in the US. Lead author is Emily Monosson, who is also taking up the issue of chemical mixtures in the article: The FQPA [Food Quality Protection Acti] is changing the way pesticide residues are regulated by setting ‘health-based’ standards for ALL pesticides in foods. ‘All’ in this case means combined residues from several different pesticides, or, chemical mixtures. The importance of this amendment, with respect to … Continue reading
Swedish press releases regarding the Council conclusion on combination effects
I seem to have missed those, so let me just supplement my last post with two links to the website of the Swedish Presidency: The official press release is found here and a short question and answers section with Ulf Björnhom, the chair of the Council Working Party on the Environment can be seen here. Thomas
New workshop report on mixtures of endocrine disrupters
The Danish ministry for the environment recently conducted a workshop on combination effects of chemicals (28-30 January 2009). Although I was invited I unfortunately couldn’t make it. During the time I was hosting some nice, lively influenza viruses. All the fun you can have… Andreas Kortenkamp from the School of Pharmacy in London was organising the workshop, hence it might not be that surprising, that the main focus was on mixtures of endocrine disrupters. However, most of the conclusions also … Continue reading
Substances subject to authorisation under REACH
ECHA, the European Chemicals Agency, published the first recommendations for substances to be included in Annex XIV of REACH, i.e. substances that are subject to authorisation. These are the following (excerpt from the offical press release of the ECHA): musk xylene (vPvB). A fragrance enhancer which is used for example in detergents, fabric softeners and fabric conditioners; 4,4`-diaminodiphenylmethane – MDA (carcinogenic). A hardener which is used for example in epoxy resins and adhesives; short chained chlorinated paraffins – SCCPs (PBT … Continue reading