Multicriteria Decision Analysis Characterization of Chemical Hazard Assessment Data Sources

Chemical hazard assessment toward safer electrolytes for lithium-ion batteries

Commercialization of rechargeable lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries has revolutionized the design of portable electronic devices and is facilitating the current transition to electric vehicles. The technological specifications of Li-ion batteries continue to evolve through the introduction of various high-risk liquid electrolyte chemicals, yet critical evaluation of the physical, environmental, and human health hazards of these substances is lacking. Using the GreenScreen for Safer Chemicals approach, we conducted a chemical hazard assessment (CHA) of 103 electrolyte chemicals categorized into seven chemical groups: salts, carbonates, esters, ethers, sulfoxides-sulfites-sulfones, overcharge protection additives, and flame-retardant additives. To minimize data gaps, we focused on six toxicity and hazard data sources, including three empirical and three nonempirical predictive data sources. Furthermore, we investigated the structural similarities among selected electrolyte chemicals using the ChemMine tool and the simplified molecular input line entry system inputs from PubChem to evaluate whether chemicals with similar structures exhibit similar toxicity. The results demonstrate that salts, overcharge protection additives, and flame-retardant additives contain the most toxic components in the electrolyte solutions. Furthermore, carbonates, esters, and ethers account for most flammability hazards in Li-ion batteries. This study supports the complementary use of quantitative structure-activity relationship models to minimize data gaps and inconsistencies in CHA. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2024;00:1-14. © 2024 The Author(s). Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of Society of Environmental Toxicology & Chemistry (SETAC).

Alternatives assessment: An analysis on progress and future needs for research and practice

Alternatives assessment is a science-policy approach to support the informed substitution of chemicals of concern in consumer products and industries, with the intent of avoiding regrettable substitution and facilitating the transition to safer, more sustainable chemicals and products. The field of alternatives assessment has grown steadily in recent decades, particularly after the publication of specific frameworks and the inclusion of substitution and alternatives assessment requirements in a number of policy contexts. Previously, 14 research and practice needs for the field were outlined across five critical areas: comparative hazard assessment, comparative exposure characterization, lifecycle considerations, decision-making and decision analysis, and professional practice. The aim of the current article is twofold: to highlight methodological advances in the growing field of alternatives assessment based on identified research and practice needs and to propose areas for future developments. We assess advances in the field based on the analysis of a broad literature review that captured 154 sources published from 2013 to 2022. The results indicate that research conducted advanced many of the needs identified, but several remain underaddressed. Although the field has clearly grown and taken root over the past decade, there are still research and practice gaps, most notably on the hazard assessment of mixtures or different forms of chemicals, the integration of lifecycle considerations, and the development of practical approaches to address trade-offs in decision-making. We propose modifications to four of the prior research and practice needs in addition to new needs, including the development of standardized hazard assessment approaches for chemical mixtures as well as better integration of equity and/or justice considerations into assessments. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2024;00:1-18. © 2023 The Authors. Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of Society of Environmental Toxicology & Chemistry (SETAC).

Advancing chemical hazard assessment with decision analysis: A case study on lithium-ion and redox flow batteries used for energy storage

Batteries are important for promoting renewable energy, but, like most engineered products, they contain multiple hazardous materials. The purpose of this study is to evaluate industrial-scale batteries using GreenScreen® for Safer Chemicals, an established chemical hazard assessment (CHA) framework, and to develop a systematic, transparent methodology to quantify the CHA results, harmonize them, and aggregate them into single-value hazard scores, which can facilitate quantitative comparison and a robust evaluation of data gaps, inconsistencies, and uncertainty through the implementation of carefully selected scenarios and stochastic multicriteria acceptability analysis (SMAA). Using multiple authoritative toxicity data sources, six battery products are evaluated: three lithium-ion batteries (lithium iron phosphate, lithium nickel cobalt manganese hydroxide, and lithium manganese oxide), and three redox flow batteries (vanadium redox, zinc-bromine, and all-iron). The CHA results indicate that many materials in these batteries, including reagents and intermediates, inherently exhibit high hazard; therefore, safer materials should be identified and considered in future designs. The scenario analysis and SMAA, combined, provide a quantitative evaluation framework to support the decision-making needed to compare alternative technologies. Thus, this study highlights specific strategies to reduce the use of hazardous materials in complex engineered products before they are widely used in this rapidly-expanding industry sector.

Lessons from the 2018 International Symposium on Alternatives Assessment: Advances and Reflections on Practice and Ongoing Needs to Build the Field

Alternatives assessment is gaining traction as a systematic method to support the informed substitution of chemicals of concern. The 2nd International Symposium on Alternatives Assessment, on 1-2 November 2018, convened nearly 150 professionals from government agencies, industry, consultant firms, academia, and advocacy organizations to advance a greater understanding of the evolving methods, practices, and challenges in the use of alternatives assessment. This article reviews highlights and lessons from the symposium, including 1) notable advances in methods, 2) shared insights from practitioners on best practices as well as inherent tensions and challenges, and 3) research and practice needs in the field that can be addressed by organizations such as the newly launched Association for the Advancement of Alternatives Assessment. Being interdisciplinary in nature, the establishment of educational frameworks across disciplines and inclusion of diverse expertise in hazard and exposure assessments, life cycle impacts considerations, design principles, and economic and engineering evaluations will ensure continued growth of the field. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2019;00:1-8. © 2019 SETAC.