PROJECT DESCRIPTION
BACKGROUND
To identify a ‘safe chemical’ or a ‘safe use of chemicals’ is challenging. An assessment of the risks must evaluate the impacts on human health and environment, which are separate disciplines. The indicators for distinguishing between safe and unsafe chemicals must incorporate multiple criteria related to both exposure and hazard. The determination of safe chemicals then requires a single index, integrating the multiple dimensions of the exposure and hazard factors. Quantitative Structure–Activity Relationship (QSAR) models facilitate the management and effective use of such multidimensional information, by integrating the data into a single decision-making index for the systematic screening of risky chemicals and their potential alternatives.
OBJECTIVES
The objective of the LIFE VERMEER project was to deliver flexible and user-friendly software tools, called SPHERA and ToxEraser, for the substitution of harmful chemicals. SPHERA would be a diagnostic tool for identifying the adverse effects related to chemicals, and ToxEraser would provide the remedy by suggesting suitable alternative chemicals. Together, these QSAR software modelling tools were expected to enable multiple assessments to be conducted to determine risks and hazards towards human health or to other species, and the persistence or bioaccumulation of chemicals taking into account different exposure scenarios. The tools would have broad application, which would be demonstrated through a series of heterogeneous studies. Both tools would be validated within six case studies (food contact materials, biocides, petroleum and oil fraction, greener solvents, dispersants and cosmetics), so that they can become part of the VEGA (Virtual models for property Evaluation of chemicals within a Global Architecture) platform for QSAR models.
The project aimed to provide great benefits throughout Europe by integrating exposure and hazard into a single advanced tool for risk assessment and for the harmonisation of human and environmental approaches, in particular, for the implementation of the REACH regulation.
RESULTS
The LIFE VERMEER project achieved its technical objectives and was able to develop flexible and user-friendly software tools to support the identification and substitution of harmful chemicals. The software tools were applied to real-life case studies and tested by stakeholders from different industrial sectors.
Specifically, the project team:
- Developed two QSAR software modelling tools: LIFE VERMEER (formerly SPHERA) for the quantification of the hazards and environmental behaviour of chemicals in terms of exposure, and ToxEraser for suggesting suitable alternative chemicals for the substitution of harmful substances.
- Screened more than 6 000 compounds for different sectors.
- Developed a database which includes more than 5 000 compounds for cosmetics, more than 300 compounds for solvents, and more than 500 compounds for food contact materials. The software tools interact with the database to acquire the physical/chemical features of the substances under assessment.
- Tested the software tools on candidate chemicals with the involvement of relevant stakeholders for the following six case studies: food contact materials, biocides, petroleum and oil fractions, solvents, dispersants, and cosmetics. Some of French cosmetics companies involved in the testing of the tools have already developed their own versions of the LIFE VERMEER tool to be used internally by their R&D departments.
- Indirectly reduced the medium-to-long term environmental impacts of the chemicals produced by the industrial sectors involved in project activities. The companies have used the LIFE VERMEER tools to design new products according to the “safe and sustainable by design” principle.
- Assessed the economic impacts of selected in silico methods. The study carried out during the project demonstrated how an EU company can benefit from the use of the software tools to reduce costs for the development of safer products.
- Supported the implementation of the REACH Regulation and the Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability. The project team also involved regulators to support the development of the software tools.
