Project objectives:
ChemScreen aims to provide practical solutions within the tight framework of REACH. The focus of our project will be on the generation of a simple, rapid screening
system for reproductive toxic chemicals, aiming at widespread implementation within the tight time schedule of the REACH program. It will provide be a flexible
tools that can be adapted and used for applications beyond the scope of REACH and in the post-REACH period. This will include innovative prescreening tools
with largely in silico methods, In addition, a novel high throughput approach to replace animal tests that are used for assessing human- and environmental
reproductive toxicity of chemicals will be generated. The system will be tiered allowing waiving of further testing at all steps. Data interpretation and
decision trees will be developed using a novel quantitative weight of evidence approach that uses all knowledge generated and chemicals of high concern will
be rapidly prioritized for further testing. The program aims to provide an extremely cost-effective means to generate a basic set of data suitable for regulatory
purposes on toxicological properties of chemicals and a decision tool to assess if further testing of chemicals is required or can be waived.
|
Project
Summary:
The current system of risk assessment of chemicals is complex, very resource-intensive and extremely time-consuming.
Because of this, there is a great need to modernize this process. However, this is not feasible without alternative, integrated
testing strategies in which chemical characteristics are used to more advantage and where costly and time consuming
animal tests are replaced to a large extent by more rapid, cheap and ethically less controversial methods. This is
particularly needed for reproductive toxicity testing of chemical. Reproductive toxicity is important to assess both human
and environmental toxicity and uses the most animals in toxicity testing. Unfortunately, there are very few alternative
methods. We aim to fill this gap and place the tests in a more general innovative animal free testing strategy. For this, we
will generate a simple rapid screening system, which aims at widespread implementation within the tight time schedule of
the REACH program. It will be a flexible tool that can be adapted and used for applications beyond the scope of REACH
and in the post-REACH period. It will use in silico methods for prescreening chemicals for all relevant toxic effects. When
found positive, this will be followed by further in silico and in vitro tests, most of which are available already. To fill the gap
of suitable alternative methods for reproductive toxicity testing we will use a novel high throughput approach combining in
silico/in vitro methods. In this approach we will combine knowledge of critical processes affected by reproductive toxicants
with knowledge on the mechanistic basis of such effects. Straight forward data interpretation and decision trees will be
developed in which all information on the potential toxicity of a chemical is considered. In this way we will provide a costeffective
means to generate a basic set of data on toxicological properties of chemicals and a decision tool to assess if
further testing of chemicals is required.
|
Professor Paul Bardos