[ascct] EPA Chemical Safety Research News & Highlights: December 2012

  • From: Kristie Sullivan <KSullivan@xxxxxxxx>
  • To: "ascct@xxxxxxxxxxxxx" <ascct@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
  • Date: Wed, 12 Dec 2012 14:29:44 -0500

Some of you may already receive this, but just in case you don't, here it is. 
Lots of interesting research and tools.

Kristie Sullivan
Secretary, ASCCT
www.ascctox.org<http://www.ascctox.org>


Begin forwarded message:

From: 
"Linnenbrink.Monica@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx<mailto:Linnenbrink.Monica@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>" 
<Linnenbrink.Monica@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx<mailto:Linnenbrink.Monica@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>>
Subject: EPA Chemical Safety Research News & Highlights: December 2012
Date: December 12, 2012 9:57:35 AM PST
To: 
"Linnenbrink.Monica@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx<mailto:Linnenbrink.Monica@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>" 
<Linnenbrink.Monica@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx<mailto:Linnenbrink.Monica@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>>

EPA Chemical Safety Research News & Highlights

December 2012

EPA’s non-monotonic dose response curve research web 
page<http://epa.gov/ncct/edr/non-monotonic.html> is now available. Results from 
epidemiological studies suggest an association between environmental ("low 
dose") concentrations of endocrine active chemicals and reproductive or 
developmental health outcomes. These effects have been examined and reported 
with mixed results. EPA has formed a work group that is developing a state of 
the science paper investigating the implications of non-monotonic dose response 
curves to EPA testing and risk assessment. The EPA web 
page<http://epa.gov/ncct/edr/non-monotonic.html> describes the effort and will 
be updated regularly.

EPA & Consumer Product Safety Commission Collaborate to Research Health Impacts 
of Nanomaterials. The two federal agencies are collaborating in a research 
effort to assess the potential impacts of nanomaterials on public health and 
the environment. One collaborative study is evaluating the potential effects 
from exposure to copper nanomaterials, an ingredient in wood treatment products 
used on wood for building decks and fences. EPA issued a news 
release<http://yosemite.epa.gov/opa/admpress.nsf/79c090e81f0578738525781f0043619b/b3bdde177a3e570985257ad1006309d2!OpenDocument>
 announcing the collaboration and recently updated EPA nanomaterials research 
web page<http://www.epa.gov/nanoscience/>. Help EPA  share the good news about 
this collaborative research, on Twitter-@EPAresearch and @OnSafety and on 
Facebook-www.facebook.com/EPA<https://www.facebook.com/EPA> .

 EPA CSS Scientist at Work. Meet Dr Tom 
Knudsen<http://blog.epa.gov/science/2012/10/scientist-at-work-interview-with-thomas-knudsen/>,
 he is a developmental biologist. His research focuses on developing predictive 
models for developmental toxicity and testing sophisticated models such as 
Virtual Embryo models<http://www.epa.gov/ncct/v-Embryo/>

EPA Highlights Chemical Safety Research FY2012 Achievements. EPA’s Chemical 
Safety for Sustainability Research Program anticipates the future needs of 
chemical safety research while also providing the research needed to make 
immediate decisions about high profile chemicals. EPA’s chemical safety 
scientists conducted research in fiscal year 2012 to begin fulfilling 
commitments and addressing the chemical safety research priorities identified 
in the CSS Strategic Research Action 
Plan<http://epa.gov/research/docs/css-strap.pdf>. EPA’s chemical safety 
research falls within the following large research areas and when integrated 
together provide scientific solutions that advance chemical safety research and 
inform effective decision-making. The following are examples of FY2012 
achievements organized by the large areas of research.

 *   Determining common characteristics of chemicals (or chemical properties) 
that can impact toxicity and exposure potential. In FY2012, CSS researchers 
improved chemical fate and transport 
models<http://www.rtord.epa.gov/eparesearchproducts/chemicalsafety/index.cfm?fuseaction=home.Search&View=S&ID=1>
 for determining chemical ionization, tautomerization and hydration.
 *   Integrating a diversity of scientific disciplines to develop innovative 
prioritization and predictive methods to strengthen the understanding of the 
hazard and exposure potential for environmental chemicals and to advance the 
management of chemical risks. In FY2012, CSS researchers generated high 
throughput toxicity screening 
data<http://www.rtord.epa.gov/eparesearchproducts/chemicalsafety/index.cfm?fuseaction=home.Search&View=S&ID=5>
 on 1,000 chemicals of interest to the Endocrine Disruption Screening Program 
and those existing chemicals regulated under the Toxic Substance Control Act. 
In addition, CSS researchers developed a framework for high throughput exposure 
predictions<http://www.rtord.epa.gov/eparesearchproducts/chemicalsafety/index.cfm?fuseaction=home.Search&View=S&ID=6,7>
 and improved web-based tools used to estimate exposure concentrations.
 *   Evaluating the entire life cycle of chemicals (from production to 
disposal) to determine potential risks to human health and the environment. In 
FY2012, CSS researchers developed methods for characterizing the physical and 
chemical 
properties<http://www.rtord.epa.gov/eparesearchproducts/chemicalsafety/index.cfm?fuseaction=home.Search&View=S&ID=2>
 that influence bioavailability of nano silver.
 *   Developing databases and online tools that synthesize data to ensure 
chemical safety information is transparent and accessible. In FY2012, CSS 
researchers worked with EPA Program Office partners to develop online prototype 
"Dashboards<http://www.rtord.epa.gov/eparesearchproducts/chemicalsafety/index.cfm?fuseaction=home.Search&View=S&ID=21,22,23,19>"
 that compile all available chemical information to inform policy decisions 
made about potential endocrine disrupting chemicals, existing and new chemicals 
regulated under the Toxic Substance Control Act, contaminant candidate list for 
drinking water and to help assess potential ecological risks.
 *   Studying high profile chemicals related issues in order to address an 
immediate need. In FY2012, CSS researchers completed 
studies<http://www.rtord.epa.gov/eparesearchproducts/chemicalsafety/index.cfm?fuseaction=home.Search&View=S&ID=10,11>
 to better understand the sources and exposures to PCBs in schools and to 
evaluate different mitigation methods.

In 2013, CSS research will continue to be anticipatory, that is, conducting 
research that will inform solutions to future environmental problems which will 
ensure better protection of human health and the environment.

We welcome everyone to share any of EPA’s chemical safety research news and 
highlights using your organization’s communication mechanisms. EPA research is 
on Twitter-@EPAresearch and EPA is on 
Facebook-www.facebook.com/EPA<http://Facebook-www.facebook.com/EPA>.

If you want to be added to or deleted from the EPA Chemical Safety research 
highlights distribution list, please contact me. Visit 
www.epa.gov/research/chemicalscience/<http://www.epa.gov/research/chemicalscience/>
 for more information.

Please see attached for a PDF version of the EPA Chemical Safety Research News 
& Highlights: December 2012.

Monica Linnenbrink
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Office of Research and Development Communications
Chemical Safety for Sustainability Research Program
Phone: 919-541-1522
Mobile: 919-360-5344
Email: Linnenbrink.Monica@xxxxxxx<mailto:Linnenbrink.Monica@xxxxxxx>

Attachment: EPA Chemical Safety Research Highlights External December 2012.pdf
Description: EPA Chemical Safety Research Highlights External December 2012.pdf

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