Federated search technology is an essential factor underlying the effectiveness of information portals and similar solutions that deliver content from many different sources. In this blog post we review the concept of federated search, examine a few of the key benefits associated with it, and…
Exposure to ototoxic chemicals is a serious issue, and one of increasing concern, in many workplace environments. Given this significance, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has published a Safety and Health Information Bulletin focused on chemical ototoxicity and its prevention. In this blog…
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is issuing final significant new use rules (SNURs) for 145 chemicals under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). This group represents the largest collection to be introduced since the Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 21st Century Act…
Under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), amended and updated in 2016 via the Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 21st Century Act, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) must determine if a new chemical poses an unreasonable risk to human health or the…
On August 1, 2019, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced that it has updated its online chemical review status tracker. The Agency has committed itself to increasing transparency in both its information and its endeavors, and this update represents an important step in its…
Health Canada (HC), the governmental department focused on improving the health and wellbeing of individuals throughout Canada, is currently seeking public feedback on a proposed strategy for protecting its country’s workforce from dangerous chemical exposures. To aid in this process, it has produced a consultation…
During the month of July 2019, Safe Work Australia sought feedback and consultation on the prospect of adopting the seventh revision of the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS). Here we review this system and take a brief look at its…
The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) recently provided its recommendation to the European Commission (EC) to modify the REACH Authorization List with the incorporation of endocrine disrupting property information for four phthalate chemicals. Here we present a brief review of endocrine disruptors and discuss the addition…
On July 16, 2019, the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) expanded its Candidate List by adding four substances of very high concern (SVHCs): This addition brings the total number of substances on the list to 201. The use of SVHCs within the European Union has been…
In June 2019, the Council of the European Union (EU) adopted a number of significant new conclusions. Highlighting several needs in relation to the EU’s overall chemical policy strategy, these focus on a wide range of chemical topic areas. Among these areas are pharmaceuticals, REACH,…
The Member State Committee (MSC) of the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) recently agreed to identify GenX chemicals as substances of very high concern (SVHCs). This decision represents a significant development as it is the first time that proposed SVHC status has been based on a…
As part of a combined action plan and effort between the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) and the European Commission (EC), the ECHA recently announced its intention to raise the number of REACH registration dossiers that it reviews. With a focus on increasing overall compliance, the…
In June 2019, the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) published the 8th edition of the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals (GHS). Here we review several of the key changes that accompany the latest revision. Revision of the GHS typically…
On July 1, 2019, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the availability of draft risk evaluations for two substances that are among the initial chemicals for which risk evaluations are being conducted under the amended Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). With its amending via…
On June 21, 2019, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published a new rule to decrease exposure to several persistent, bioaccumulative, and toxic (PBT) chemicals. Designed to restrict their manufacture, importing, processing, and distribution, the proposed ruling focuses on the chemicals decaBDE, PIP (3:1), 2,4,6-TTBP,…
An important focus of occupational exposure banding (OEB) is to successfully characterize chemical hazards so that appropriate risk management decisions can be made quickly and consistently. This process is vitally important in cases where chemical substances do not yet have established occupational exposure limits (OELs).
For professionals with a focus on chemicals and their biological and environmental effects, having access to reputable content is essential to inform decisions and support their efforts. Here we review a few key reasons why authoritative information is important for chemical safety professionals. Some of…
In conducting occupational risk assessments for chemicals or other dangerous substances, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) employs a wide range of information including data gathered via a fundamental multistep process. Here we review the steps of this process and discuss the…
Chemical safety professionals of all types require the right data to make the best possible informed decisions. This often means having to synthesize important information from multiple sources and content producers, including ones originating from outside the United States. Here we look at a few…
In May 2019, Israel published its implementation of the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS). Scheduled to go into force in August 2019, it will be followed by a 3-year transition period. The GHS is an internationally recognized means for standardizing…
The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) has reported that it plans to quadruple the number of reviews it performs on registrations for thousands of chemicals used in the European Union (EU). This decision comes in response to findings that a relatively small percentage of dossiers contain…
Eurasian countries are proceeding with their efforts to implement the REACH-like chemical regulation, Eurasia REACH. This represents a significant chemical regulatory development for these countries. We present a brief review of the regulation and discuss some of its key provisions and implications. In 2010, Russia,…
The European Centre for Ecotoxicology and Toxicology of Chemicals (ECETOC) has announced the development of a new risk assessment framework for polymers. Presented in the technical report entitled “The ECETOC Conceptual Framework for Polymer Risk Assessment (CF4Polymers)”, it includes a central multistep process. CF4Polymers represents…
A new methodology has been developed by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) for the classification of chemical contaminant-related notifications from the Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF), a tool for reporting food safety issues and related risks detected in the food chain.
In 2016, the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) was amended and updated via the Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 21st Century Act. With this law (Lautenberg Act), the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) must determine if a new chemical poses an unreasonable risk…
The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) recently announced that it will soon be releasing several new or updated versions of key resources. These are intended to assist industrial hygienists and other aligned professionals in chemical risk assessment and management efforts. On May…
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently announced that it will start publishing Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) Section 5 notices without the Agency’s own review. This represents a significant development and a prominent change for any individual or entity that submits such notices, and…
Toxicologists need the right data to make critical professional decisions. Of the factors that must be considered when selecting an appropriate toxicology information resource, quantity and quality of content are two of the most significant. Here we review the importance of these factors and look…
Busy chemical hazard professionals require information resources that provide the speed necessary to make important decisions quickly. ToxPlanet delivers solutions that enable fast access to vital information, allowing users to use it immediately. Here we review several ways in which ToxPlanet can help save you…
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing several amendments to the Chemical Data Reporting (CDR) rule, required under Section 8(a) of the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). With these amendments, the EPA aims to better coordinate reporting with the amended TSCA (via the Frank…
Health Canada recently revised its Science Approach Document (SciAD) for Substances with Low Human Health Hazard Potential. This represents an updating of the original approach document, released in December 2017, in response to feedback received on it. With the updated SciAD, the goal is to…
Chemical safety in the workplace is a vitally important issue for all companies, and especially those that manufacture, process, or otherwise use hazardous chemicals. These substances must be managed effectively to help ensure the health and safety of workers, and there are numerous things companies…
The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) has released the first annual report from the Integrated Regulatory Strategy, entitled “Mapping the chemical universe to address substances of concern”. Presenting an overview of the various REACH and CLP processes underway on different chemicals, it discusses efforts to clarify…
Protective clothing is indispensable for safety in any environment where hazardous chemicals are present and handled. Here we review several factors that companies should consider when selecting chemical protective clothing. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) notes that there are several major chemical protective…
Researchers from Rutgers University and other leading academic institutions recently developed a unique algorithm that compares tested chemical compound fragments with those of untested compounds. In doing so, it enables the assessment of their differences and similarities to predict an untested chemical's toxicity. The results…
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will mark a number of significant developments and encounter several important deadlines in 2019, many in relation to the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). Here is a timetable of some of the dates you should be aware of for…
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently signed a rule to establish final significant new use rules (SNURs) for 13 chemical substances under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). This final rule is particularly notable in that the chemical substances, which are the subject of…
The European Union (EU) has amended its Classification, Labelling, and Packaging (CLP) Regulation to align with the changes in the United Nations’ 6th and 7th biannual revision of the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling (GHS). It has done so via publishing the 12th…
Chemical safety professionals require access to the right data to make the best possible informed decisions. Here we review several key things that professionals should look for when selecting an appropriate information solution. We also look at how ToxPlanet measures up in terms of these…
In April 2019, as part of its ongoing efforts to maintain information transparency, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) provided an updated outlook of its Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS) Program activities. This outlook designates assessments that are currently in development, as well as projected…
Inspections are currently in progress in two enforcement projects across the European Union (EU). Focused on identifying hazardous chemicals, these inspections are aimed at increasing safety for citizens of the EU by further protecting against these harmful substances. Although some similar issues exist between the…
ToxPlanet, the world’s leading provider of comprehensive and authoritative toxicology information resources, has released a beta version of its new solution - BotanyEXPERT™. Designed to deliver detailed, essential data on the chemical properties and toxic effects of plants, BotanyEXPERT supports the phytochemical information needs of…
The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) has published an updated version of the Community Rolling Action Plan (CoRAP) for the years 2019 - 2021. With this update, EU Member State authorities will evaluate 100 chemical substances for risk assessment during the scheduled time period. The CoRAP…
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced the release of 24 studies on Pigment Violet 29 (PV29). These studies were used by the EPA to develop draft risk evaluation for the chemical substance. The release of the studies is part of the Agency’s ongoing…
On March 20, 2019, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released a list of 40 chemicals scheduled to undergo prioritization for risk evaluation. This list has been released to allow the public the chance to submit feedback (related to uses, hazards, exposure, etc.) for these…
In March 2019, the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) released a report indicating that the U.S Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently had halted health risk assessments for nine chemicals. This report, requested by U.S. Senator Tom Carper (D-Del.), focuses on the extent of the EPA’s…
For any chemical safety professional, having the right data is essential for making the best possible informed decisions. Correspondingly, one of the most critical aspects of any information resource is comprehensiveness. Here we focus on the issue of comprehensive content, review what makes it so…
Replacing hazardous substances with safer alternatives, known as informed substitution, is a key aspect of chemical management. It can be useful for many companies wishing to reduce the health and environmental impact of the chemicals they use. Here we explore the issue of informed substitution,…
Chemical substances can pose significant risks for any business that manufactures, stores, distributes, or otherwise uses them. Being able to identify and manage these risks effectively is essential to help protect it, its workforce, and the environment. Because of this, having well-designed and properly executed…
The Government of Australia recently announced that the introduction of its Industrial Chemicals Law will be pushed back by one year. This latest delay marks the third in a series of postponements for the law. Most recently scheduled for introduction on July 1, 2019, it…
Chemical safety professionals require fast, simple, and direct access to relevant information to make the best possible informed decisions. ToxPlanet and its suite of decision support solutions are designed to help manage, with optimal efficiency, the impact of chemicals in the workplace and on the…
With relevance across virtually every chemical subdiscipline, green chemistry is a philosophy centered on the reduction of hazardous chemical substance creation and use. It is also focused on the development of processes and products to facilitate this reduction. Here we explore the topic of green…
Every year, the results of millions of scientific studies are published throughout the world in tens of thousands of publications. These studies reflect new information and advancements in virtually every scientific discipline. For many years, this has been a universally accepted way of contributing knowledge…
The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has announced the availability of new skin notation profiles for 5 chemical substances - atrazine, catechol, chlorinated camphene, pentachlorophenol, and sodium fluoroacetate. This adds to a steadily…
The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) and the European Commission (EC) recently signed a formal agreement in which ECHA commits to providing recommendations for occupational exposure limits (OELs) for chemical substances on a steady basis. This obligates ECHA to evaluate four to five substances each year,…
For chemical safety professionals and researchers of all types, data gaps are an all-too-common problem. Here we explore the issue of data gaps, review the reasons why they occur, and discuss some of the ways that ToxPlanet can help you manage them quickly and effectively.
By definition, research is systematic investigation designed to obtain information on a given subject area with the aim of answering questions and reaching conclusions. While several different means of categorizing research exist, one key distinction is “primary” vs. “secondary”. Here we take a general look…
On January 7, 2019, the American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA) released its first public policy agenda. This represents a landmark event in AIHA’s ongoing efforts to help prevent unnecessary work-related illnesses and injuries. The agenda covers fifteen key issues: Let’s take a closer look at…
On January 15, 2019, the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) expanded its Candidate List by adding six substances of very high concern (SVHCs). These are 2,2-bis(4'-hydroxyphenyl)-4-methylpentane, benzo[k]fluoranthene, fluoranthene, phenanthrene, pyrene, and 1,7,7-trimethyl-3-(phenylmethylene)bicyclo[2.2.1]heptan-2-one. The addition brings the total number of substances on the list to 197. SVHCs…
It’s the beginning of a new year and with it comes a new set of industry events designed to allow the toxicology and chemical safety community to meet, exchange new information and ideas, present research findings, and advertise its products and services. Here is a…
EPA is announcing the release of the IRIS Program Outlook (December 2018) on the IRIS website. The document describes assessments that are currently in development and their projected public milestones. These assessments have been identified as high priority needs of the Agency for the fiscal…
The European Parliament and the Council have come to an agreement on the Commission's second proposal to broaden the list of recognized cancer-causing chemicals in the workplace. With this agreement, 8 additional cancer-causing chemicals will be covered by the Carcinogens and Mutagens Directive, including diesel…
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is amending its food additive regulations in response to two food additive petitions, to no longer allow for the use of a total of 7 synthetic flavoring substances and flavor enhancers (adjuvants). The FDA determined that the data presented…
The Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) is proposing regulatory changes concerning the averaging of concentrations of reproductive toxicants in food products and determining the average use of a consumer product for purposes of calculating exposures to listed reproductive toxicants. Public comments must be…
On September 28, 2018, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released the general approaches that the Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics (OPPT) may use to identify potential candidate chemicals for prioritization under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). Read More
Despite increasing amounts of nanomaterials in products on the EU market, not enough is known about their hazards to adequately assess and control their risks. To bridge this knowledge gap, the REACH annexes that specify what information is required from companies placing chemicals on the market have been revised, legally obliging industry…