Alternatives Assessment Frameworks: Research Needs for the Informed Substitution of Hazardous Chemicals

Overcoming barriers to improved decision-making for battery deployment in the clean energy transition

Decarbonization plans depend on the rapid, large-scale deployment of batteries to sufficiently decarbonize the electricity system and on-road transport. This can take many forms, shaped by technology, materials, and supply chain selection, which will have local and global environmental and social impacts. Current knowledge gaps limit the ability of decision-makers to make choices in facilitating battery deployment that minimizes or avoids unintended environmental and social consequences. These gaps include a lack of harmonized, accessible, and up-to-date data on manufacturing and supply chains and shortcomings within sustainability and social impact assessment methods, resulting in uncertainty that limits incorporation of research into policy making. These gaps can lead to unintended detrimental effects of large-scale battery deployment. To support decarbonization goals while minimizing negative environmental and social impacts, we elucidate current barriers to tracking how decision-making for large-scale battery deployment translates to environmental and social impacts and recommend steps to overcome them.

Freshwater ecotoxicity characterization factors for PMT/vPvM substances

This study addresses the gap in freshwater ecotoxicological characterization factors (CFs) for Persistent, Mobile, and Toxic (PMT) and Very Persistent and Very Mobile (vPvM) substances. These CFs are vital for integrating the ecotoxicity impacts of these chemicals into life cycle assessments. Our goals are twofold: first, to calculate experimental freshwater CFs for PMT/vPvM substances listed by the German Environment Agency (UBA); second, to compare these CFs with those from the USEtox database. The expanded UBA list includes 343 PMT/vPvM substances, each representing a unique chemical structure, and linked to 474 REACH-registered substances. This study successfully computed CFs for 244 substances, with 107 overlapping the USEtox database and 137 being new. However, ecotoxicity data limitations prevented CF determination for 97 substances. This research enhances our understanding of freshwater CFs for PMT/vPvM substances, covering 72% of UBA's 343 PMT/vPvM substances. Data scarcity remains a significant challenge, which invariably impedes CF calculations. Notably, the disparities observed between CF values in the USEtox database and those derived in this research largely stem from variations in ecotoxicity data. Consequently, this research underscores the dynamic nature of CFs for substances, emphasizing the need for regular updates to ensure their accuracy and relevance.

Learning from Safe-by-Design for Safe-and-Sustainable-by-Design: Mapping the current landscape of Safe-by-Design reviews, case studies, and frameworks

With the introduction of the European Commission's "Safe and Sustainable-by-Design" (SSbD) framework, the interest in understanding the implications of safety and sustainability assessments of chemicals, materials, and processes at early-innovation stages has skyrocketed. Our study focuses on the "Safe-by-Design" (SbD) approach from the nanomaterials sector, which predates the SSbD framework. In this assessment, SbD studies have been compiled and categorized into reviews, case studies, and frameworks. Reviews of SbD tools have been further classified as quantitative, qualitative, or toolboxes and repositories. We assessed the SbD case studies and classified them into three categories: safe(r)-by-modeling, safe(r)-by-selection, or safe(r)-by-redesign. This classification enabled us to understand past SbD work and subsequently use it to define future SSbD work so as to avoid confusion and possibilities of "SSbD-washing" (similar to greenwashing). Finally, the preexisting SbD frameworks have been studied and contextualized against the SSbD framework. Several key recommendations for SSbD based on our analysis can be made. Knowledge gained from existing approaches such as SbD, green and sustainable chemistry, and benign-by-design approaches needs to be preserved and effectively transferred to SSbD. Better incorporation of chemical and material functionality into the SSbD framework is required. The concept of lifecycle thinking and the stage-gate innovation model need to be reconciled for SSbD. The development of high-throughput screening models is critical for the operationalization of SSbD. We conclude that the rapid pace of both SbD and SSbD development necessitates a regular mapping of the newly published literature that is relevant to this field.

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).

Frameworks for screening and risk management of chemicals and advanced materials: A critical review

Despite the evolution over the last half century of regulatory programs and frameworks developed for the evaluation of safety and management of risks associated with chemicals and materials, new and emerging contaminant issues continue to be identified. These recurring issues suggest a need for review and reflection on current approaches and strategies for ensuring the safety of chemicals and materials. Twelve existing frameworks relating to the evaluation and management of chemical or material risk were reviewed to identify potential process improvements for facilitating early identification of potentially problematic substances and better inform risk management strategies (e.g., prohibition, restricted use, or selection of safer alternatives). The frameworks were selected to represent a broad spectrum of regional, national, and international authorities and purposes, including preproduction evaluation of new substances, classification and hazard communication, identification of persistent pollutants, and identification of safer alternatives. Elements common to the frameworks were identified, as well as features unique to select frameworks. A comparative evaluation was performed, and potential new strategies and approaches were identified to inform process improvement recommendations. These recommendations include requiring validated analytical procedures to enable measurement in environmental media, improved data transparency and accessibility, flexibility to incorporate advances into the state of the practice (e.g., new approach methodologies and high-throughput assessment tools), and incorporation of monitoring and adaptive management strategies to enable more timely intervention. Process improvement recommendations are discussed and summarized in a conceptual risk management framework. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2023;19:1192-1206. © 2022 The Authors. Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of Society of Environmental Toxicology & Chemistry (SETAC). This article has been contributed to by U.S. Government employees and their work is in the public domain in the USA.

Toward Property-Based Regulation

An expanding web of adverse impacts on people and the environment has been steadily linked to anthropogenic chemicals and their proliferation. Central to this web are the regulatory structures intended to protect human and environmental health through the control of new molecules. Through chronically insufficient and inefficient action, the current chemical-by-chemical regulatory approach, which considers regulation at the level of chemical identity, has enabled many adverse impacts to develop and persist. Recognizing the link between fundamental physicochemical properties and hazards, we describe a new paradigm─property-based regulation. By regulating physicochemical properties, we show how governments can delineate and enforce safe chemical spaces, increasing the scalability of chemical assessments, reducing the time and resources to regulate a substance, and providing transparency for chemical designers. We highlight sparse existing property-based approaches and demonstrate their applicability using bioaccumulation as an example. Finally, we present a path to implementation in the United States, prescribing roles and steps for government, nongovernmental organizations, and industry to accelerate this transition, to the benefit of all.

An insight into bisphenol A, food exposure and its adverse effects on health: A review

Bisphenol A (BPA) is a synthetic chemical widely employed to synthesize epoxy resins, polymer materials, and polycarbonate plastics. BPA is abundant in the environment, i.e., in food containers, water bottles, thermal papers, toys, medical devices, etc., and is incorporated into soil/water through leaching. Being a potent endocrine disrupter, and has the potential to alter several body mechanisms. Studies confirmed its anti-androgen action and estrogen-like effects, which impart many negative health impacts, especially on the immune system, neuroendocrine process, and reproductive mechanism. Moreover, it can also induce mutagenesis and carcinogenesis, as per recent scientific research. This review focuses on BPA's presence and concentrations in different environments, food sources and the basic mechanisms of BPA-induced toxicity and health disruptions. It is a unique review of its type because it focuses on the association of cancer, hormonal disruption, immunosuppression, and infertility with BPA. These issues are widespread today, and BPA significantly contributes to their incidence because of its wide usage in daily life utensils and other accessories. The review also discusses researched-based measures to cope with the toxic chemical.

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.

Informed substitution of hazardous chemicals through the lens of California's Safer Consumer Products Alternatives Analysis: Best practices, challenges, and opportunities

California adopted the Safer Consumer Products (SCP) regulations in 2013, which mandate that companies that manufacture specific products containing designated chemicals of concern complete an Alternatives Analysis. Alternatives Analysis is a process to avoid regrettable substitution by identifying, comparing, and selecting safer alternatives based on technical functions, hazards, exposure pathways, life-cycle multimedia impacts, and economic impacts. The SCP Alternatives Analysis builds upon and expands existing frameworks for alternatives assessments (AAs). The aim of this study was to identify practices from AA that facilitate the robust assessment of alternatives and that align with SCP requirements and identify gaps in the practice. We evaluated completed AAs for methods regarding transparency and careful documentation of information sources, data gaps, uncertainty, criteria, and justification for decision-making. The AAs in this review demonstrate some of the challenges in the field. Most AAs have a constrained scope and only consider chemical substitutes rather than a broad array of functional alternatives. Their scopes were also limited in the hazard endpoints that were evaluated. This was most noted with ecotoxicity endpoints, which were generally confined to aquatic toxicity. The majority of AAs do not explicitly explain their decision-making methods or adequately discuss tradeoffs across the adverse impacts. The AAs also lack the analysis in the exposure, life-cycle impacts, and economic impacts that are required in the SCP Alternatives Analysis process. Further, we recommend strategies and research opportunities to address these challenges and strengthen the practice of AAs. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2022;18:1007-1019. © 2021 SETAC.

Enhancing Scientific Support for the Stockholm Convention's Implementation: An Analysis of Policy Needs for Scientific Evidence

The Stockholm Convention is key to addressing the global threats of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) to humanity and the environment. It has been successful in identifying new POPs, but its national implementation remains challenging, particularly by low- and middle-income Parties. Concerted action is needed to assist Parties in implementing the Convention's obligations. This analysis aims to identify and recommend research and scientific support needed for timely implementation of the Convention. We aim this analysis at scientists and experts from a variety of natural and social sciences and from all sectors (academia, civil society, industry, and government institutions), as well as research funding agencies. Further, we provide practical guidance to scientists and experts to promote the visibility and accessibility of their work for the Convention's implementation, followed by recommendations for sustaining scientific support to the Convention. This study is the first of a series on analyzing policy needs for scientific evidence under global governance on chemicals and waste.

An Empirical Study on Hazardous Chemicals Risk of Urban Residents in China: Analysis of Mediating Effect and Channel Preference of Response Action Decision Model

Because urban residents do not have a strong understanding of hazardous chemicals, they cannot effectively make response action decisions to ensure safety, protect lives, and reduce property damage. This paper constructs the Response Action Decision Model of hazardous chemicals, and analyzes the mediating effect of Information Processing and Threat Perception, as well as channel preferences of urban residents with different demographic characteristics. A total of 1700 questionnaires were collected in Chongqing, Tianjin, Fujian Zhangzhou, Shandong Zibo and Lanzhou, where there are significant hazardous chemicals factories. The results show that: Firstly, Information Processing and Threat Perception have significant mediating effects on the relationship between Mass Media, Social Media, Face-to-face communication and Response Action Decision in a single channel, which can effectively promote the spread effect of different channels, affecting the ways that urban residents make hazard response action decisions; secondly, Information Processing and Threat Perception do not have a mediating effect on the relationship between the channel combination of “Mass Media ↔ Social Media”, “Mass Media ↔ Face-to-face communication”, “Social Media ↔ Face-to-face communication” and Response Action Decision, and the channel combination can directly link to the Response Action Decision; thirdly, in terms of the extent that it affects urban residents to make response action decisions, Mass Media is greater than Social Media and greater than Face-to-face communication; fourthly, two demographic characteristics of gender and experience have a stronger moderating effect for the Mass Media channel, while other demographic characteristics have greater influences on the Response Action Decision Model; finally, the Response Action Decision Model can be better applied to those analyses and research which address threat perception of hazardous chemicals and response action decisions of urban residents in China.

Quantitative microbiological risk assessment of complex microbial community in Prawn farm wastewater and applicability of nanoparticles and probiotics for eliminating of antibiotic-resistant bacteria

The current review highlighted the quantitative microbiological risk assessment of Vibrio parahaemolyticus in Prawn farm wastewaters (PFWWs) and the applicability of nanoparticles for eliminating antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB). The high availability of the antibiotics in the environment and their transmission into human through the food-chain might cause unknown health effects. The aquaculture environments are considered as a reservoir for the antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) and contributed effectively in the increasing of ABR. The metagenomic analysis is used to explore ARGs in the non-clinical environment. V. parahaemolyticus is among the pathogenic bacteria which are transmitted through sea food causing human acute gastroenteritis due to available thermostable direct hemolysin (tdh), adhesins, TDH related hemolysin (trh). The inactivation of pathogenic bacteria using nanoparticles act by disturbing the cell membrane, interrupting the transport system, DNA and mitochondria damage, and oxidizing the cellular component by reactive oxygen species (ROS). The chloramphenicol, nitrofurans, and nitroimidazole are among the prohibited drugs in fish and fishery product. The utilization of probiotics is the most effective and safe alternative for antibiotics in Prawn aquaculture. This review will ensure public understanding among the readers on how they can decrease the risk of the antimicrobial resistance distribution in the environment.

Finding essentiality feasible: common questions and misinterpretations concerning the "essential-use" concept

The essential-use concept is a tool that can guide the phase-out of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and potentially other substances of concern. This concept is a novel approach to chemicals management that determines whether using substances of concern, such as PFAS, is truly essential for a given functionality. To assess the essentiality of a particular use case, three considerations need to be addressed: (1) the function (chemical, end use and service) that the chemical provides in the use case, (2) whether the function is necessary for health and safety and critical for the functioning of society and (3) if the function is necessary, whether there are viable alternatives for the chemical for this particular use. A few illustrative examples of the three-step process are provided for use cases of PFAS. The essential-use concept takes chemicals management away from a substance-by-substance approach to a group approach. For PFAS and other substances of concern, it offers a more rapid pathway toward effective management or phase-out. Parts of the concept of essential use have already been widely applied in global treaties and international regulations and it has also been recently used by product manufacturers and retailers to phase out substances of concern from supply chains. Herein some of the common questions and misinterpretations regarding the practical application of the essential-use concept are reviewed, and answers and further clarifications are provided.

Deep Dive into Plastic Monomers, Additives, and Processing Aids

A variety of chemical substances used in plastic production may be released throughout the entire life cycle of the plastic, posing risks to human health, the environment, and recycling systems. Only a limited number of these substances have been widely studied. We systematically investigate plastic monomers, additives, and processing aids on the global market based on a review of 63 industrial, scientific, and regulatory data sources. In total, we identify more than 10'000 relevant substances and categorize them based on substance types, use patterns, and hazard classifications wherever possible. Over 2'400 substances are identified as substances of potential concern as they meet one or more of the persistence, bioaccumulation, and toxicity criteria in the European Union. Many of these substances are hardly studied according to SciFinder (266 substances), are not adequately regulated in many parts of the world (1'327 substances), or are even approved for use in food-contact plastics in some jurisdictions (901 substances). Substantial information gaps exist in the public domain, particularly on substance properties and use patterns. To transition to a sustainable circular plastic economy that avoids the use of hazardous chemicals, concerted efforts by all stakeholders are needed, starting by increasing information accessibility.

Avoiding Regrettable Substitutions: Green Toxicology for Sustainable Chemistry

Green chemistry seeks to design less hazardous chemicals, but many of the efforts to replace chemicals have resulted in so-called "Regrettable Substitutions", when a chemical with an unknown or unforeseen hazard is used to replace a chemical identified as problematic. Here, we discuss the literature on regrettable substitution and focus on an oft-mentioned case, Bisphenol A, which was replaced with Bisphenol S-and the lessons that can be learned from this history. In particular, we focus on how Green Toxicology can offer a way to make better substitutions.

Biomass-derived chemical substitutes for bisphenol A: recent advancements in catalytic synthesis

Bisphenol A is an oil-derived, large market volume chemical with a wide spectrum of applications in plastics, adhesives and thermal papers. However, bisphenol A is not considered safe due to its endocrine disrupting properties and reproductive toxicity. Several functional substitutes of bisphenol A have been proposed in the literature, produced from plant biomass. Unless otherwise specified, the present review covers the most significant contributions that appeared in the time span January 2015-August 2019, describing the sustainable catalytic synthesis of rigid diols from biomass derivatives. The focus is thereupon on heterogeneous catalysis, use of green solvents and mild conditions, cascade processes in one-pot, and continuous flow setups. More than 500 up-to-date references describe the various substitutes proposed and the catalytic methods for their manufacture, broken down according to the main biomass types from which they originate.

Towards 'one substance - one assessment': An analysis of EU chemical registration and aquatic risk assessment frameworks

With the Green Deal the EU aims to achieve a circular economy, restore biodiversity and reduce environmental pollution. As a part of the Green Deal a 'one-substance one-assessment' (OS-OA) approach for chemicals has been proposed. The registration and risk assessment of chemicals on the European market is currently fragmented across different legal frameworks, dependent on the chemical's use. In this review, we analysed the five main European chemical registration frameworks and their risk assessment procedures for the freshwater environment, covering 1) medicines for human use, 2) veterinary medicines, 3) pesticides, 4) biocides and 5) industrial chemicals. Overall, the function of the current frameworks is similar, but important differences exist between the frameworks' environmental protection goals and risk assessment strategies. These differences result in inconsistent assessment outcomes for similar chemicals. Chemicals are also registered under multiple frameworks due to their multiple uses, and chemicals which are not approved under one framework are in some instances allowed on the market under other frameworks. In contrast, an OS-OA will require a uniform hazard assessment between all different frameworks. In addition, we show that across frameworks the industrial chemicals are the least hazardous for the freshwater environment (median PNEC of 2.60E-2 mg/L), whilst biocides are the most toxic following current regulatory assessment schemes (median PNEC of 1.82E-4 mg/L). Finally, in order to facilitate a successful move towards a OS-OA approach we recommend a) harmonisation of environmental protection goals and risk assessment strategies, b) that emission, use and production data should be made publicly available and that data sharing becomes a priority, and c) an alignment of the criteria used to classify problematic substances.

Evaluating the Application of Decision Analysis Methods in Simulated Alternatives Assessment Case Studies: Potential Benefits and Challenges of Using MCDA

We compare how several forms of multicriteria decision analysis (MCDA) can enhance the practice of alternatives assessment (AA). We report on a workshop in which 12 practitioners from US corporations, government agencies, NGOs, and consulting organizations applied different MCDA techniques to 3 AA case studies to understand how they improved the decision process. Participants were asked to select a preferred alternative in each case using a different decision analysis approach: their unaided decision-making method, individual or lightly facilitated group multiattribute value theory (MAVT), and more extensively facilitated group structured decision making (SDM). Surveys conducted after each exercise revealed that participants were positive toward the use of formal decision-making methods for AA, reporting meaningful increases in their understanding of the trade-offs involved and their own values. Participants also reported challenges with each approach. While the MCDA techniques were reported to enhance transparency and communication, they did not consistently lead to higher satisfaction with a decision and/or outcome, and they were not more likely to be adopted within their organizations than unaided approaches. More formal decision-making methods have promise in the context of AA, but practitioners will need more guidance to use such tools successfully. Practitioners will also need to define what "success" constitutes; different approaches may be called for depending on whether the objective is increased understanding, satisfaction with the outcome, satisfaction with the process, or something else. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2021;17:27-41. © 2020 SETAC.

QSAR Use in REACH Analyses of Alternatives to Predict Human Health and Environmental Toxicity of Alternative Chemical Substances

In 2006, the European Union (EU) enacted the Registration, Evaluation, Authorization, and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) to address growing concerns of hazardous chemicals in the EU market. Under REACH, companies seeking authorization to use priority substances identified as substances of very high concern (SVHCs) and included in the authorization list must apply and submit health and environmental effects data in analyses of alternatives (AoAs) to the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA). To assess safer alternatives, especially in AoA hazard assessment cases where vital information could be missing or insufficient, quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) nontesting methods have gained increasing acceptance and importance. This article assesses AoA applicants' use of QSAR sources and documentation while looking for meaningful trends. In this assessment, usage and frequency of QSAR sources were evaluated in 189 analyses of alternatives for 15 physicochemical properties and 19 human health and environmental endpoints to determine the scope of purpose of QSAR use in AoAs. We found that only 24 out of 189 applications cited QSAR sources to rank or evaluate the safety of their alternative substances relative to the REACH Annex XIV chemical. For human health and environmental hazard endpoints, applicants cited the Danish (Q)SAR Database (n = 63) and unidentified QSARs (n = 36) most frequently. While QSARs were not used to eliminate an alternative, 7.9% and 1.4% per maximum opportunity (MOP) of hazard endpoint and physicochemical QSAR predictions reported background information on alternatives using weight of evidence (WoE). In addition, 3.0% per MOP of hazard endpoint QSAR predictions supported the safety of the alternative while 0.7% per MOP of physicochemical QSAR predictions gave mixed support for their alternative's safety. Documentation regarding QSARs was absent in all 24 AoAs that used QSARs. Limited QSAR use and missing documentation may be the result of several factors, including inconsistent regulatory guidance. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2020;16:745-760. © 2020 SETAC.

The phase out of and restrictions on per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances: Time for a rethink

Industrial manufacture boom in the past decades had resulted in the release of new chemicals to the environment. A group of manmade chemicals called per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) are among these chemicals that have gained traction in recent years which are used in myriad consumer and industrial products worldwide. Since some PFASs are persistent, bioaccumulative, and toxic in nature, series of programs and regulatory initiatives have been introduced to end their production; and gradually replacing them with short chain alternatives. However, concerns have been expressed in the scientific literature about the characteristics and effects of some of these short chain alternatives on environmental and living systems. Here, we suggest that professional scientific bodies should be part of the review process of alternatives short chain PFASs, owing to their immeasurable contribution to knowledge and understanding of these chemicals. Per and poly fluoroalkyl substances are understudied and poorly regulated in developing countries. Therefore, in order for these countries to contribute meaningfully to the global regulatory initiatives on PFASs, transfer of technology and capacity building must be explicitly considered, given the developed competencies, technical expertise and skills that are required for evidence-based policy development and implementation. Furthermore, the issue of transparency of the production and use of PFASs which some companies consider as confidential business information (CBI) must be closely paid attention to by regulators. Confidential business information if not properly addressed may undermine regulatory and risk reduction measures as it may limit most of the relevant information pertaining to PFASs.

An automated framework for compiling and integrating chemical hazard data

Comparative chemical hazard assessment, which compares hazards for several endpoints across several chemicals, can be used for a variety of purposes including alternatives assessment and the prioritization of chemicals for further assessment. A new framework was developed to compile and integrate chemical hazard data for several human health and ecotoxicity endpoints from public online sources including hazardous chemical lists, Globally Harmonized System hazard codes (H-codes) or hazard categories from government health agencies, experimental quantitative toxicity values, and predicted values using Quantitative Structure-Activity Relationship (QSAR) models. QSAR model predictions were obtained using EPA's Toxicity Estimation Software Tool. Java programming was used to download hazard data, convert data from each source into a consistent score record format, and store the data in a database. Scoring criteria based on the EPA's Design for the Environment Program Alternatives Assessment Criteria for Hazard Evaluation were used to determine ordinal hazard scores (i.e., low, medium, high, or very high) for each score record. Different methodologies were assessed for integrating data from multiple sources into one score for each hazard endpoint for each chemical. The chemical hazard assessment (CHA) Database developed in this study currently contains more than 990,000 score records for more than 85,000 chemicals. The CHA Database and the methods used in its development may contribute to several cheminformatics, public health, and environmental activities.

Artificial Turf Infill: A Comparative Assessment of Chemical Contents

Concerns have been raised regarding toxic chemicals found in tire crumb used as infill in artificial turf and other play surfaces. A hazard-based analysis was conducted, comparing tire crumb with other materials marketed as alternative infills. These include other synthetic polymers as well as plant- and mineral-based materials. The comparison focused on the presence, absence, number, and concentration of chemicals of concern. No infill material was clearly free of concerns, but several are likely to be somewhat safer than tire crumb. Some alternative materials contain some of the same chemicals of concern as those found in tire crumb; however, they may contain a smaller number of these chemicals, and the chemicals may be present in lower quantities. Communities making choices about playing surfaces are encouraged to examine the full range of options, including the option of organically managed natural grass.

A Case study on the utility of predictive toxicology tools in alternatives assessments for hazardous chemicals in children's consumer products

Children's consumer products represent an important exposure source for many toxicants. Chemicals of high concern, as designated by the Washington State Child Safe Product Act include phthalates, Bisphenol A (BPA) and parabens, among others. As regulation and reporting requirements increase, so has demand for safer alternatives. This project examines how predictive toxicology and exposure comparison tools can fill gaps in alternatives assessments for hazardous chemicals found in children's products. Phthalates, parabens, BPA and their alternatives were assessed for endocrine disruption and reproductive toxicity using authoritative lists and US Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) predictive toxicology and exposure comparison tools. Resources included the European Chemical Agency's Endocrine Disruptor Substances of Concern database, Global Harmonization System and Classification of Labeling Chemicals, Quantitative Structural Activity Relationships from the Toxicity Estimation Software Tool, the Toxicological Prioritization Index (ToxPi) score calculated from the ToxCast Database, and No Observable Adverse Effects Levels (NOAELs)/Highest No Effects Levels (HNEL) from animal studies found in the CompTox Chemistry Dashboard. Exposure was assessed using ExpoCast predictions. Though alternatives were rarely included in authoritative lists, predictive toxicology tools suggested that BPA alternatives may not be safer but paraben and phthalate alternatives may be safer. All four paraben and no bisphenol or phthalate alternatives were listed on EPA's Safer Chemical Ingredients List. Overall, we found that predictive toxicology tools help fill gaps for alternatives assessments when existing classifications are incomplete.

Assessing Human Exposure to Chemicals in Materials, Products and Articles: The International Risk Management Landscape for Phthalates

Risk-based chemical safety assessments are increasingly being conducted to support chemical management decisions and informed substitution to protect public health. Rapid evaluation and prioritization of large numbers of chemicals used in materials, products, and other indoor articles has become a major focus of chemical risk management strategies. Internationally, although a shared understanding of the value of rapid risk-based evaluations appears to be emerging, implementation strategies and associated management decisions vary from one agency and jurisdiction to another. This paper highlights the international chemical risk management landscape focusing on phthalates as an example, and reviews how phthalate exposure assessments have been performed, resulting at times in different decisions based on the application of scientific information within different policy contexts. In general, the need for efficient and effective risk-based assessment approaches is driving increased needs for high-quality exposure data and validated, mechanistic exposure models. Further development of mechanistic models and related parameters will reduce uncertainties in exposure estimates and support scientific risk-based evaluations of chemical/product combinations for a variety of decisions.

Qualitative approach to comparative exposure in alternatives assessment

Most alternatives assessments (AAs) published to date are largely hazard-based rankings, thereby ignoring potential differences in human and/or ecosystem exposures; as such, they may not represent a fully informed consideration of the advantages and disadvantages of possible alternatives. Building on the 2014 US National Academy of Sciences recommendations to improve AA decisions by including comparative exposure assessment into AAs, the Health and Environmental Sciences Institute's (HESI) Sustainable Chemical Alternatives Technical Committee, which comprises scientists from academia, industry, government, and nonprofit organizations, developed a qualitative comparative exposure approach. Conducting such a comparison can screen for alternatives that are expected to have a higher or different routes of human or environmental exposure potential, which together with consideration of the hazard assessment, could trigger a higher tiered, more quantitative exposure assessment on the alternatives being considered, minimizing the likelihood of regrettable substitution. This article outlines an approach for including chemical ingredient- and product-related exposure information in a qualitative comparison, including ingredient and product-related parameters. A classification approach was developed for ingredient and product parameters to support comparisons between alternatives as well as a methodology to address exposure parameter relevance and data quality. The ingredient parameters include a range of physicochemical properties that can impact routes and magnitude of exposure, whereas the product parameters include aspects such as product-specific exposure pathways, use information, accessibility, and disposal. Two case studies are used to demonstrate the application of the methodology. Key learnings and future research needs are summarized. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2018;00:000-000. © 2018 The Authors. Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of Society of Environmental Toxicology & Chemistry (SETAC).

Environmental impact assessment model for substitution of hazardous substances by using life cycle approach

Regulations that are indirectly driving the substitution of hazardous chemicals, such as the EU REACH regulation, necessitate improvements in chemical alternatives assessment frameworks. In those frameworks, life cycle thinking lacks some important aspects such as systematic and quantitative occupational safety methods and risks from intermediate chemicals that are not released to the environment under normal operating conditions. Concerns of companies about regulatory drivers regarding substances of very high concern often lead to inadequate evaluation of the baseline situation; an issue also overlooked by the frameworks. Moreover, life cycle assessment is optional for assessors with limited resources, such as small and medium enterprises. However, the success of substitution should not be evaluated without life cycle concerns. An environmental impact assessment model has been suggested to overcome these shortcomings of the chemical alternatives assessment frameworks. The model was applied to a case study of primed metal sheet production, where the company was driven to substitute reprotoxic 2-methoxypropanol used in their formulations. The results show that the proposed model is promising for solving the mentioned shortcomings, informing the assessor about substances of very high concern along the life cycle, and it has the potential to be further improved with the help of supporting software and databases. Particularly, in the occupational safety area that concerns risks of accidents at work, improvements to the EU occupational health database can drastically increase the accuracy of the assessments. Besides, the development of methodologies for the quantification of the impacts of reprotoxic, bioaccumulative and endocrine disruptor substances is necessary.

Advancing alternatives assessment for safer chemical substitution: A research and practice agenda

Alternatives assessment has emerged as a science policy field that supports the evaluation and adoption of safer chemistries in manufacturing processes and consumer products. The recent surge in the development and practice of alternatives assessment has revealed notable methodological challenges. Spurred by this need, we convened an informal community of practice comprising industry experts, academics, and scientists within government and nongovernmental organizations to prioritize a research and practice agenda for the next 5 years that, if implemented, would significantly advance the field of alternatives assessment. With input from over 40 experts, the agenda outlines specific needs to advance methods, tools, and guidance in 5 critical areas: hazard assessment, comparative exposure characterization, life cycle considerations, decision making, and professional practice. Fifteen research and practice needs were identified, ranging from relatively simple efforts to define a minimum hazard data set to the development of more complex performance and decision-analytic methods and data integration tools. Some research needs involve adapting existing approaches to the alternatives assessment context, while others will require the development of entirely new methods and tools. The proposed research and practice agenda is ambitious. Implementing it will require expanding the current network of researchers from academia, government, and industry, as well as increased funding for methodological, application, and evaluation research. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2018;00:000-000. © 2018 SETAC.

Multicriteria Decision Analysis Characterization of Chemical Hazard Assessment Data Sources

Chemical hazard assessment (CHA), which aims to investigate the inherent hazard potential of chemicals, has been developed with the purpose of promoting safer consumer products. Despite the increasing use of CHA in recent years, finding adequate and reliable toxicity data required for CHA is still challenging due to issues regarding data completeness and data quality. Also, collecting data from primary toxicity reports or literature can be time consuming, which promotes the use of secondary data sources instead. In this study, we evaluate and characterize numerous secondary data sources on the basis of 5 performance attributes: reliability, adequacy, transparency, volume, and ease of use. We use GreenScreen for Safer Chemicals v1.4 as the CHA framework, which defines the endpoints of interest used in this analysis. We focused upon 34 data sources that reflect 3 types of secondary data: chemical-oriented data sources, hazard-trait-oriented data sources, and predictive data sources. To integrate and analyze the evaluation results, we applied 2 multicriteria decision analysis (MCDA) methodologies: multiattribute utility theory (MAUT) and stochastic multiobjective acceptability analysis (SMAA). Overall, the findings in this research program allow us to explore the relative importance of performance criteria and the data source quality for effectively conducting CHA. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2019;00:1-14. © 2019 SETAC.

The concept of essential use for determining when uses of PFASs can be phased out

Because of the extreme persistence of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) and their associated risks, the Madrid Statement argues for stopping their use where they are deemed not essential or when safer alternatives exist. To determine when uses of PFASs have an essential function in modern society, and when they do not, is not an easy task. Here, we: (1) develop the concept of "essential use" based on an existing approach described in the Montreal Protocol, (2) apply the concept to various uses of PFASs to determine the feasibility of elimination or substitution of PFASs in each use category, and (3) outline the challenges for phasing out uses of PFASs in society. In brief, we developed three distinct categories to describe the different levels of essentiality of individual uses. A phase-out of many uses of PFASs can be implemented because they are not necessary for the betterment of society in terms of health and safety, or because functional alternatives are currently available that can be substituted into these products or applications. Some specific uses of PFASs would be considered essential because they provide for vital functions and are currently without established alternatives. However, this essentiality should not be considered as permanent; rather, constant efforts are needed to search for alternatives. We provide a description of several ongoing uses of PFASs and discuss whether these uses are essential or non-essential according to the three essentiality categories. It is not possible to describe each use case of PFASs in detail in this single article. For follow-up work, we suggest further refining the assessment of the use cases of PFASs covered here, where necessary, and expanding the application of this concept to all other uses of PFASs. The concept of essential use can also be applied in the management of other chemicals, or groups of chemicals, of concern.

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.

Formamides as Isocyanate Surrogates: A Mechanistically Driven Approach to the Development of Atom-Efficient, Selective Catalytic Syntheses of Ureas, Carbamates, and Heterocycles

Despite the hazardous nature of isocyanates, they remain key building blocks in bulk and fine chemical synthesis. By surrogating them with less potent and readily available formamide precursors, we herein demonstrate an alternative, mechanistic approach to selectively access a broad range of ureas, carbamates, and heterocycles via ruthenium-based pincer complex catalyzed acceptorless dehydrogenative coupling reactions. The design of these highly atom-efficient procedures was driven by the identification and characterization of the relevant organometallic complexes, uniquely exhibiting the trapping of an isocyanate intermediate. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations further contributed to shed light on the remarkably orchestrated chain of catalytic events, involving metal-ligand cooperation.

Prospective Life Cycle Assessment of a Structural Battery

With increasing interest in reducing fossil fuel emissions, more and more development is focused on electric mobility. For electric vehicles, the main challenge is the mass of the batteries, which significantly increase the mass of the vehicles and limits their range. One possible concept to solve this is incorporating structural batteries; a structural material that both stores electrical energy and carries mechanical load. The concept envisions constructing the body of an electric vehicle with this material and thus reducing the need for further energy storage. This research is investigating a future structural battery that is incorporated in the roof of an electric vehicle. The structural battery is replacing the original steel roof of the vehicle, and part of the original traction battery. The environmental implications of this structural battery roof are investigated with a life cycle assessment, which shows that a structural battery roof can avoid climate impacts in substantive quantities. The main emissions for the structural battery stem from its production and efforts should be focused there to further improve the environmental benefits of the structural battery. Toxicity is investigated with a novel chemical risk assessment from a life cycle perspective, which shows that two chemicals should be targeted for substitution.

Combining in Silico Tools with Multicriteria Analysis for Alternatives Assessment of Hazardous Chemicals: A Case Study of Decabromodiphenyl Ether Alternatives

Alternatives assessment is applied for minimizing the risk of unintentionally replacing a hazardous chemical with another hazardous chemical. Central challenges are the diversity of properties to consider and the lack of high-quality experimental data. To address this, a novel alternatives assessment procedure was developed based on in silico data and multicriteria decision analysis (MCDA) methods. As a case study, 16 alternatives to the flame retardant decabromodiphenyl ether were considered. The hazard properties included persistence (P), bioaccumulation potential (B), toxicities (T), and mobility in water (M). Databases were consulted and 2866 experimental data points were collected for the target chemicals; however, these were mostly replicate data points for some hazard criteria for a subset of alternatives. Therefore, in silico data and three MCDA strategies were tested including heat mapping, multiattribute utility theory (MAUT), and Elimination Et Choix Traduisant la REalité (ELECTRE III). The heat map clearly showed that none of the target chemicals are hazard-free, whereas MAUT and ELECTRE III agreed on ranking the "least worst" choices. This study identified several challenges and the complexity in the alternatives assessment processes motivating more case studies combining in silico and MCDA approaches.

Chemistry and pharmacological diversity of quinoxaline motifs as anticancer agents

Surpassing heart diseases, cancer is taking the lead as the deadliest disease because of its fast rate of spreading in all parts of the world. Tireless commitment to searching for novel therapeutic medicines is a worthwhile adventure in synthetic chemistry because of the drug resistance predicament and regular outbreak of new diseases due to abnormal cell growth and proliferation. Medicinal chemistry researchers and pharmacists have unveiled quinoxaline templates as precursors of importance and valuable intermediates in drug discovery because they have been established to possess diverse pharmacological potentials. Hence, this review highlights the current versatile routes to accessing functionalized quinoxaline motifs and harnessing their documented therapeutic potentials for anticancer drug development.

The California Safer Consumer Products Program: Evaluating a Novel Chemical Policy Strategy

In 2008, California enacted laws to restructure chemical policy and promote green chemistry. Ten years after the passage of California’s green chemistry laws, we assessed their performance through structured interviews with a sample of experts from government, academia, business, and the nonprofit sector. We combined the interviews with a scoping literature review to propose a new ten-point framework for evaluating the effectiveness of a chemical regulatory policy, and we assessed the performance of the California law against this framework. The California program performed well on transparency of the regulatory process; protecting vulnerable populations; placing the primary burden on the manufacturer; breadth of regulatory authority; and advancing the public right-to-know. Areas of weakness include unclear authority to require data on chemical use in products; an inefficient pace of implementation; and limited incentives for innovation. Promoting safer chemicals in products will require additional incentives to protect public health and the environment.

The role of data source selection in chemical hazard assessment: A case study on organic photovoltaics

Chemical hazard assessment (CHA), designed to evaluate the inherent hazard of chemicals used in everyday consumer products, is gaining in popularity and rigor. Although CHA is being more commonly used by industry and government organizations, there is limited information in the academic literature on the merits and limitations of CHA methods. In the current study, the significance of the need to use multiple data sources to successfully complete a CHA is explored. Specifically, a case study approach is used in which more than one hundred organic substances used in the synthesis of organic solar cells are evaluated using the GreenScreen® for Safer Chemicals framework as the basis for the CHA. Seven data sources, including three chemical-oriented, two hazard-trait-oriented, and two predictive data sources, are utilized to minimize data gaps and allow for complete assessments for most of the chemicals of interest. Findings from sensitivity analysis using single data sources and combinations of data sources highlight that the CHA outcomes can vary considerably as a function of data sources used, which highlights the importance of identifying and/or creating more comprehensive and standardized data sources.

Framework towards more Sustainable Chemical Synthesis Design - A Case Study of Organophosphates

In recent years, the advancement of sustainable chemistry concepts and approaches along with their demonstrated application has become a central part of the design, synthesis, and manufacture of a chemical. Sustainable chemistry not only utilizes the principles of green chemistry, but also expands to incorporate economic, societal, and environmental aspects. This is further elucidated by the incorporation of life cycle assessment/thinking to include the raw material production, manufacture, processing, and use and disposal stages, allowing for a comprehensive evaluation of the environmental and human health impacts attributed to a chemical. This contribution outlines an approach for the development of a preliminary framework for the sustainable synthesis of a chemical that is identified as an alternative for an existing chemical of concern. The framework is introduced concurrently with a case study for organophosphates that are selected as potential replacements for brominated flame retardants (BFRs). This framework is designed to apply existing knowledge of green chemistry to the synthesis of alternatives, along with its integration into Life Cycle Assessment culminating in the development of a more overall sustainable chemical entity when compared to its predecessor.

Demystifying Evidence-Based Policy Analysis by Revealing Hidden Value-Laden Constraints

Consider any choice that affects some social policy. A decision that considers evidence will, at its heart, contain some kind of explicit or implicit "because" statement: "We are doing X because the evidence says Y." But can evidence ever truly speak for itself, in the sense of being reducible to objective utterances that are either correct or in need of correction? Before answering, consider what you'd prefer. Would you rather receive evidence that was free of any value judgments imposed by human actors, that was laden with value judgments that you agree with, or laden with value judgments that you disagree with? The central assertion of this essay is that, throughout policy analysis but especially in assessments of the costs and benefits of regulating versus encouraging new technologies (cost-benefit analysis, or CBA), the first possibility above is a mirage, and the second and third are self-contradictory. Instead, we are overwhelmingly confronted with a fourth possibility: we receive evidence that appears to be (or is deliberately touted as) value neutral but is suffused with hidden value judgments. In the second part of this essay, entitled "A Guided Tour through Inevitable Value Judgments," I identify in a systematic way approximately sixty-five value judgments that are routinely (in some cases, invariably) made in CBA, but that are kept hidden. For each judgment, I discuss its genesis as it is most commonly invoked in CBA, explain how it is hidden in plain sight, and offer one or more value judgments that could be made instead of or in addition to the conventional one. The alternative judgments highlight the width of the spectrum of reasonable conclusions an analyst could reach merely by substituting other judgments for the ones currently embedded. Bringing hidden value judgments to light is doubly valuable. First, it allows discussion to ensue on a level playing field; instead of conclusory statements about what the evidence says, transparency permits statements taking the form of "when channeled through these value judgments, the evidence says this." Perhaps more importantly, transparency about value judgments permits participants in the discussions to offer interpretations of evidence contingent on there being different value judgments chosen at one or more points in the analysis, interpretations that may suggest that alternative course(s) of action are preferable to the one being championed.

Source-to-exposure assessment with the Pangea multi-scale framework - case study in Australia

Effective planning of airshed pollution mitigation is often constrained by a lack of integrative analysis able to relate the relevant emitters to the receptor populations at risk. Both emitter and receptor perspectives are therefore needed to consistently inform emission and exposure reduction measures. This paper aims to extend the Pangea spatial multi-scale multimedia framework to evaluate source-to-receptor relationships of industrial sources of organic pollutants in Australia. Pangea solves a large compartmental system in parallel by block to determine arrays of masses at steady-state for 100 000+ compartments and 4000+ emission scenarios, and further computes population exposure by inhalation and ingestion. From an emitter perspective, radial spatial distributions of population intakes show high spatial variation in intake fractions from 0.68 to 33 ppm for benzene, and from 0.006 to 9.5 ppm for formaldehyde, contrasting urban, rural, desert, and sea source locations. Extending analyses to the receptor perspective, population exposures from the combined emissions of 4101 Australian point sources are more extended for benzene that travels over longer distances, versus formaldehyde that has a more local impact. Decomposing exposure per industrial sector shows petroleum and steel industry as the highest contributing industrial sectors for benzene, whereas the electricity sector and petroleum refining contribute most to formaldehyde exposures. The source apportionment identifies the main sources contributing to exposure at five locations. Overall, this paper demonstrates high interest in addressing exposures from both an emitter perspective well-suited to inform product oriented approaches such as LCA, and from a receptor perspective for health risk mitigation.

Toward Automated Inventory Modeling in Life Cycle Assessment: The Utility of Semantic Data Modeling to Predict Real-World Chemical Production

A set of coupled semantic data models, i.e., ontologies, are presented to advance a methodology toward automated inventory modeling of chemical manufacturing in life cycle assessment. The cradle-to-gate life cycle inventory for chemical manufacturing is a detailed collection of the material and energy flows associated with a chemical's supply chain. Thus, there is a need to manage data describing both the lineage (or synthesis pathway) and processing conditions for a chemical. To this end, a Lineage ontology is proposed to reveal all the synthesis steps required to produce a chemical from raw materials, such as crude oil or biomaterials, while a Process ontology is developed to manage data describing the various unit processes associated with each synthesis step. The two ontologies are coupled such that process data, which is the basis for inventory modeling, is linked to lineage data through key concepts like the chemical reaction and reaction participants. To facilitate automated inventory modeling, a series of SPARQL queries, based on the concepts of ancestor and parent, are presented to generate a lineage for a chemical of interest from a set of reaction data. The proposed ontologies and SPARQL queries are evaluated and tested using a case study of nylon-6 production. Once a lineage is established, the process ontology can be used to guide inventory modeling based on both data mining (top-down) and simulation (bottom-up) approaches. The ability to generate a cradle-to-gate life cycle for a chemical represents a key achievement toward the ultimate goal of automated life cycle inventory modeling.

Use of Monte Carlo analysis in a risk-based prioritization of toxic constituents in house dust

Many chemicals have been detected in house dust with exposures to the general public and particularly young children of potential health concern. House dust is also an indicator of chemicals present in consumer products and the built environment that may constitute a health risk. The current analysis compiles a database of recent house dust concentrations from the United States and Canada, focusing upon semi-volatile constituents. Seven constituents from the phthalate and flame retardant categories were selected for risk-based screening and prioritization: diethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP), butyl benzyl phthalate (BBzP), diisononyl phthalate (DINP), a pentabrominated diphenyl ether congener (BDE-99), hexabromocyclododecane (HBCDD), tris(1,3-dichloro-2-propyl) phosphate (TDCIPP) and tris(2-chloroethyl) phosphate (TCEP). Monte Carlo analysis was used to represent the variability in house dust concentration as well as the uncertainty in the toxicology database in the estimation of children's exposure and risk. Constituents were prioritized based upon the percentage of the distribution of risk results for cancer and non-cancer endpoints that exceeded a hazard quotient (HQ) of 1. The greatest percent HQ exceedances were for DEHP (cancer and non-cancer), BDE-99 (non-cancer) and TDCIPP (cancer). Current uses and the potential for reducing levels of these constituents in house dust are discussed. Exposure and risk for other phthalates and flame retardants in house dust may increase if they are used to substitute for these prioritized constituents. Therefore, alternative assessment and green chemistry solutions are important elements in decreasing children's exposure to chemicals of concern in the indoor environment.

A quantitative screening-level approach to incorporate chemical exposure and risk into alternative assessment evaluations

As the general public and retailers ask for disclosure of chemical ingredients in the marketplace, a number of hazard screening tools were developed to evaluate the so-called "greenness" of individual chemical ingredients and/or formulations. The majority of these tools focus only on hazard, often using chemical lists, ignoring the other part of the risk equation: exposure. Using a hazard-only focus can result in regrettable substitutions, changing 1 chemical ingredient for another that turns out to be more hazardous or shifts the toxicity burden to others. To minimize the incidents of regrettable substitutions, BizNGO describes "Common Principles" to frame a process for informed substitution. Two of these 6 principles are: "reduce hazard" and "minimize exposure." A number of frameworks have emerged to evaluate and assess alternatives. One framework developed by leading experts under the auspices of the US National Academy of Sciences recommended that hazard and exposure be specifically addressed in the same step when assessing candidate alternatives. For the alternative assessment community, this article serves as an informational resource for considering exposure in an alternatives assessment using elements of problem formulation; product identity, use, and composition; hazard analysis; exposure analysis; and risk characterization. These conceptual elements build on practices from government, academia, and industry and are exemplified through 2 hypothetical case studies demonstrating the questions asked and decisions faced in new product development. These 2 case studies-inhalation exposure to a generic paint product and environmental exposure to a shampoo rinsed down the drain-demonstrate the criteria, considerations, and methods required to combine exposure models addressing human health and environmental impacts to provide a screening level hazard and exposure (risk) analysis. This article informs practices for these elements within a comparative risk context to improve alternatives assessment evaluation and decision making. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2017;13:1007-1022. © 2017 The Authors. Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of Society of Environmental Toxicology & Chemistry (SETAC).

Advancing Alternative Analysis: Integration of Decision Science

BACKGROUND

Decision analysis-a systematic approach to solving complex problems-offers tools and frameworks to support decision making that are increasingly being applied to environmental challenges. Alternatives analysis is a method used in regulation and product design to identify, compare, and evaluate the safety and viability of potential substitutes for hazardous chemicals.

OBJECTIVES

We assessed whether decision science may assist the alternatives analysis decision maker in comparing alternatives across a range of metrics.

METHODS

A workshop was convened that included representatives from government, academia, business, and civil society and included experts in toxicology, decision science, alternatives assessment, engineering, and law and policy. Participants were divided into two groups and were prompted with targeted questions. Throughout the workshop, the groups periodically came together in plenary sessions to reflect on other groups' findings.

RESULTS

We concluded that the further incorporation of decision science into alternatives analysis would advance the ability of companies and regulators to select alternatives to harmful ingredients and would also advance the science of decision analysis.

CONCLUSIONS

We advance four recommendations: a) engaging the systematic development and evaluation of decision approaches and tools; b) using case studies to advance the integration of decision analysis into alternatives analysis; c) supporting transdisciplinary research; and d) supporting education and outreach efforts. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP483.

The applicability of chemical alternatives assessment for engineered nanomaterials

The use of alternatives assessment to substitute hazardous chemicals with inherently safer options is gaining momentum worldwide as a legislative and corporate strategy to minimize consumer, occupational, and environmental risks. Engineered nanomaterials represent an interesting case for alternatives assessment approaches, because they can be considered both emerging "chemicals" of concern, as well as potentially safer alternatives to hazardous chemicals. However, comparing the hazards of nanomaterials to traditional chemicals or to other nanomaterials is challenging, and critical elements in chemical hazard and exposure assessment may have to be fundamentally altered to sufficiently address nanomaterials. The aim of this paper is to assess the overall applicability of alternatives assessment methods for nanomaterials and to outline recommendations to enhance their use in this context. The present paper focuses on the adaptability of existing hazard and exposure assessment approaches to engineered nanomaterials as well as strategies to design inherently safer nanomaterials. We argue that alternatives assessment for nanomaterials is complicated by the sheer number of nanomaterials possible. As a result, the inclusion of new data tools that can efficiently and effectively evaluate nanomaterials as substitutes is needed to strengthen the alternatives assessment process. However, we conclude that with additional tools to enhance traditional hazard and exposure assessment modules of alternatives assessment, such as the use of mechanistic toxicity screens and control banding tools, alternatives assessment can be adapted to evaluate engineered nanomaterials as potential substitutes for chemicals of concern and to ensure safer nanomaterials are incorporated in the design of new products. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2017;13:177-187. © 2016 SETAC.

Prioritizing Chemicals for Risk Assessment Using Chemoinformatics: Examples from the IARC Monographs on Pesticides

BACKGROUND

Identifying cancer hazards is the first step towards cancer prevention. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) Monographs Programme, which has evaluated nearly 1,000 agents for their carcinogenic potential since 1971, typically selects agents for hazard identification on the basis of public nominations, expert advice, published data on carcinogenicity, and public health importance.

OBJECTIVES

Here, we present a novel and complementary strategy for identifying agents for hazard evaluation using chemoinformatics, database integration, and automated text mining.

DISCUSSION

To inform selection among a broad range of pesticides nominated for evaluation, we identified and screened nearly 6,000 relevant chemical structures, after which we systematically compiled information on 980 pesticides, creating network maps that allowed cluster visualization by chemical similarity, pesticide class, and publicly available information concerning cancer epidemiology, cancer bioassays, and carcinogenic mechanisms. For the IARC Monograph meetings that took place in March and June 2015, this approach supported high-priority evaluation of glyphosate, malathion, parathion, tetrachlorvinphos, diazinon, p,p'-dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT), lindane, and 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D).

CONCLUSIONS

This systematic approach, accounting for chemical similarity and overlaying multiple data sources, can be used by risk assessors as well as by researchers to systematize, inform, and increase efficiency in selecting and prioritizing agents for hazard identification, risk assessment, regulation, or further investigation. This approach could be extended to an array of outcomes and agents, including occupational carcinogens, drugs, and foods. Citation: Guha N, Guyton KZ, Loomis D, Barupal DK. 2016. Prioritizing chemicals for risk assessment using chemoinformatics: examples from the IARC Monographs on Pesticides. Environ Health Perspect 124:1823-1829; http://dx.doi.org/10.1289/EHP186.

Environmental and Economic Strategies for Primary Prevention of Cancer in Early Life

This article summarizes the evidence for environmental toxic exposures contributing to cancers in early life, focusing on the most common cancer sites in this age group. It provides examples of widespread avoidable exposures to human carcinogens through air, water, and food and then describes recent examples of successful initiatives to reduce exposure to chemicals linked to these cancer sites, through government policy, industry initiatives, and consumer activism. State government initiatives to reduce toxic chemical exposures have made important gains; the Toxics Use Reduction Act of Massachusetts is now 25 years old and has been a major success story. There are a growing number of corporate initiatives to eliminate toxics, especially carcinogens, from the products they manufacture and sell. Another important opportunity for cancer prevention is provided by online databases that list chemicals, their toxicity, and lower-toxicity alternatives; these can be used by businesses, health care institutions, consumers, and workers to reduce exposures to chemicals of concern. The article concludes by inviting pediatricians and public health professionals to include elimination of carcinogen exposures in their work to promote primary prevention of cancer in early life.

Consumer Product Chemicals in Indoor Dust: A Quantitative Meta-analysis of U.S. Studies

Indoor dust is a reservoir for commercial consumer product chemicals, including many compounds with known or suspected health effects. However, most dust exposure studies measure few chemicals in small samples. We systematically searched the U.S. indoor dust literature on phthalates, replacement flame retardants (RFRs), perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs), synthetic fragrances, and environmental phenols and estimated pooled geometric means (GMs) and 95% confidence intervals for 45 chemicals measured in ≥3 data sets. In order to rank and contextualize these results, we used the pooled GMs to calculate residential intake from dust ingestion, inhalation, and dermal uptake from air, and then identified hazard traits from the Safer Consumer Products Candidate Chemical List. Our results indicate that U.S. indoor dust consistently contains chemicals from multiple classes. Phthalates occurred in the highest concentrations, followed by phenols, RFRs, fragrance, and PFASs. Several phthalates and RFRs had the highest residential intakes. We also found that many chemicals in dust share hazard traits such as reproductive and endocrine toxicity. We offer recommendations to maximize comparability of studies and advance indoor exposure science. This information is critical in shaping future exposure and health studies, especially related to cumulative exposures, and in providing evidence for intervention development and public policy.