DATA TRUST
COMPREHENSIVE DATA UNDERPINS SAFER CHEMISTRY.
TOXIC IS EASY, SAFE IS HARD
Why Chemical Hazard Assessments (CHAs)?
“It takes a lot more information to prove that a chemical is inherently safe than to prove that it is toxic. Just one negative health impact is enough to rule it out. But to be sure that it is safe for its intended use means that nearly two dozen human and environmental endpoints need to be considered, data gaps must be filled, and hazards should be moderate to low. Toxic is easy, safe is hard.”
Lauren Heine, Ph.D.
Co-Author GreenScreen for Safer Chemicals and
Co-Founder and Strategic Advisor ChemFORWARD
COMPREHENSIVE DATA UNDERPINS SAFER CHEMISTRY
As a first step toward accelerating and measuring the transition to safer chemistry, the Safer Chemistry Impact (SCI) Fund has invested in the Chemical Hazard Data Trust managed by ChemFORWARD, a science-based non-profit organization.
The Data Trust centralizes and creates broad access to comprehensive, verified chemical hazard data that is accessible with a unique cost-sharing, data-sharing model and governed by a multi-stakeholder steering committee.
Centralizing chemical hazard data accelerates the transition to safer chemistry by providing a "Single Source of Truth" for companies, policy makers, and advocates alike.
Safer alternatives are those that meet functional requirements, for which comprehensive human health and environmental toxicity and fate data are available, and for which the human and environmental health hazards are moderate to low. Further, the hazard profile of the alternative should be captured within a chemical hazard assessment (CHA).
WHAT IS SAFER
DEVELOPING A COMMON LANGUAGE
As a means of harmonizing results from different chemical hazard assessment systems, ChemFORWARD created a simple scale of color-coded hazard bands to facilitate comparison of results across CHA methods and demonstrate equivalency.
Hazard bands can be used as a common language for chemical management programs, policies, and standards, with A, B, and C hazard bands being considered safer chemistry, while Ds and Fs are prioritized for elimination; Us and ?s need more information before a determination can be made.
LEVERAGING DATA ANALYTICS
The harmonized rating system and the centralized data trust enable characterization of the substances being used in specific industry sectors, high-priority applications, and individual products. Early analytics conducted by ChemFORWARD served as a proof of concept and revealed tangible progress in the use of verified safer chemistry supported by comprehensive chemical hazard assessments. Simultaneously, these reports uncovered priorities for immediate action on high hazards and filling strategic data gaps where a targeted investment in chemical hazard assessments would have an impact across brands.
Large datasets, data analytics, data visualization, and expert interpretation are used to provide clear, comparable data for baseline reporting. The same process can be used for industry, company, and supplier level insights.