The Scivera toxicology team is continually working to expand our knowledge and approaches to toxicology information and data and how we can incorporate these concepts into our database, SciveraLENS®. On April 16, 2020, members of our team attended a webinar sponsored by the Society of Toxicology – Risk Assessment and Computational Toxicology Specialty Sections entitled “Computational Methods in Next-Generation Risk Assessment of Consumer Products”, presented by Steve Gutsell, PhD, Unilever.

Risk assessment entails consideration of both toxicity (hazard) and potential for exposure. Toxicity data on chemicals is initially used to determine classification and labeling as well as to screen groups of chemicals in support of product development so efforts are focused on the safest alternatives. In this screening phase, data modeling for toxicity as well as some exposure and risk assessment tools may be considered (e.g., Threshold of Toxicological Concern (TTC) and Dermal Sensitization Threshold (DST)).

Toxicology is changing – away from traditional animal testing due to scientific and ethical questions regarding test species and endpoints and use of arbitrary uncertainty factors (to name a few), as well as current regulations restricting the use of experimental animals. Additionally, there are limited toxicology test data on chemicals in commerce. For example, according to the Carcinogenicity Potency Database, only approximately 1,600 chemicals have been tested in standard rodent carcinogenicity tests (out of 90,000 chemicals registered in the US under TSCA and 140,000 preregistered under the EU REACH regulation). In vitro and in silico (data modeling) approaches are gaining in acceptance and accuracy. Data models look at structure-activity relationships as well as mechanistic data to predict potential adverse outcomes.

At Scivera, we compile all available animal test data on chemicals, but then take advantage of these data modeling tools and read-across approaches from similar chemicals, to fill data gaps and provide you with an accurate and comprehensive collection of hazard information. For customers that wish to apply this hazard data to potential exposure considerations and risk assessment, we have built additional on-line tools to assist with these efforts as well.

As toxicology is evolving from a “science based on observation to one on informed prediction”, Scivera is adeptly aligned to support this transition and provide you with the latest knowledge on the chemicals of interest to you.

Contact Scivera’s Toxicology Team on info@scivera.com to learn more and discuss how we can support your safer chemicals selection, sustainable chemistry, and product stewardship work.