Category Research project
  • Expositionsschätzung

Integrating VEGA, toxRead, MERLIN-Expo, and ERICA into a single platform for risk assessment and substitution of risky substances (LIFE VERMEER)

Project status
Completed
Project start
Sept 2017
Project end
Apr 2022
Department
Exposition
Website
https://www.life-vermeer.eu/

Description and Objective

The project aims the development of software which integrates hazard evaluation with exposureExposureTo glossary assessment for human and environment. The developed tools are focused on the real case application, providing innovative solutions for specific industrial sectors and offering a detailed investigation of six case studies, chosen for their growing concern for the human health and the environment.

Result

A model for modelling the dispersion and distribution of oil and oil components in the marine environment was developed at BfRshort forGerman Federal Institute for Risk Assessment and implemented in the MERLIN-Expo software.The main objectives of the LIFE VERMEER project are the substitution of risky chemicals with potential safer alternatives and the integration of hazard and exposure assessment for human and environmental risks. They were achieved through the development and the implementation of a series of new software packages. Firstly, we have developed five VERMEER tools. These tools were developed for the risk assessment of cosmetics, food contact materials, solvents, rodenticides and dispersants/oils. These tools are based on the existing VEGA platform (for the hazard identification and characterization), and MERLIN-Expo platform (for the exposure assessment). VEGA allows estimating several (eco) toxicological and physico-chemical properties using in-silico models. MERLIN-Expo contains a set of models for simulating the fate of chemicals in the environment and in the human body. For substitution we developed three software, called ToxEraser (for cosmetics, food contact materials and solvents). Once a risky chemical is identified, ToxEraser provides a list of safer substitutes, considering the level of safety, the similarity index, the adverse effect identified by specific structural alerts and the functional use (only for cosmetics). The new software packages were developed considering six case studies: food contact materials, biocides (rodenticides), petroleum and oil fraction, greener solvents, dispersants, and cosmetics. During the project, we have organized 10 workshops and several other training courses and dissemination activities to disseminate the results and to create a network with possible interested stakeholders.
Type of project

Third-party funded project

Research focus

Harmonisierung und Standardisierung von Expositionsschätzungen / Gesundheit von Mensch, Tier und Umwelt (One Health)

Organisational units and partners

Lead specialist group: Chemikalienexposition und Transport gefährlicher Güter (31)
Contact persons: Dr. Matthias Grote
External partner: Mario Negri Institute for Pharmacological Research, Angel Consulting, Électricité de France SA, Facilia AB, SC Sviluppo chimica S.p.A.

Funding body and grant number

Europäische Union
Förderkennzeichen der EU: LIFE16 ENV/IT/000167

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