•This publication is designed to update the RIFM safety assessment process, which follows a series of decision trees.•This process incorporates advances in approaches in risk assessment used by RIFM ...over the past ten years.•A framework for choosing structural analogs and consideration of the Threshold of Toxicological Concern (TTC) are included.•Quantitative Risk Assessment (QRA) for dermal sensitization and aggregate exposure assessment methodologies are included.•The latest alternatives to animal testing methodology and environmental risk assessment are included.
The Research Institute for Fragrance Materials, Inc. (RIFM) has been engaged in the generation and evaluation of safety data for fragrance materials since its inception over 45 years ago. Over time, RIFM's approach to gathering data, estimating exposure and assessing safety has evolved as the tools for risk assessment evolved. This publication is designed to update the RIFM safety assessment process, which follows a series of decision trees, reflecting advances in approaches in risk assessment and new and classical toxicological methodologies employed by RIFM over the past ten years. These changes include incorporating 1) new scientific information including a framework for choosing structural analogs, 2) consideration of the Threshold of Toxicological Concern (TTC), 3) the Quantitative Risk Assessment (QRA) for dermal sensitization, 4) the respiratory route of exposure, 5) aggregate exposure assessment methodology, 6) the latest methodology and approaches to risk assessments, 7) the latest alternatives to animal testing methodology and 8) environmental risk assessment. The assessment begins with a thorough analysis of existing data followed by in silico analysis, identification of ‘read across’ analogs, generation of additional data through in vitro testing as well as consideration of the TTC approach. If necessary, risk management may be considered.
Developing high-safety Li-metal anodes (LMAs) is extremely important for the application of high-energy Li-metal batteries (LMBs), especially Li-S and Li-O
2
battery systems. However, the notorious ...Li-dendrite growth problem results in serious safety concerns for any energy storage application. Through a recent combination of interface-based science, nanotechnology-based solutions and characterization methods, the LMA is now primed for a technological boom. In this review, the recent emerging strategies and perspectives on LMAs are summarized, following which the current huge evolution in interfacial chemistry regulation, optimizing electrolyte components, designing a rational 'host' for lithium metal, optimizing "solid-state electrolytes" and other emerging strategies for developing high-safety LMAs is highlighted. Furthermore, several state-of-the-art
in situ
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operando
synchrotron-based X-ray techniques for high safety LMB research are introduced. With the further development of LMAs in the future, subsequent application in high energy LMBs is to be expected.
Developing high-safety Li-metal anodes (LMAs) are extremely important for the application of high-energy Li-metal batteries. The recently state-of-the-art technologies, strategies and perspectives for developing LMAs are comprehensively summarized in this review.
The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) convened a Chronic Hazard Advisory Panel (CHAP) on Phthalates found in children's toys, and childcare products, and in products used by women of ...childbearing age. The CHAP conducted a risk assessment on phthalates and phthalate substitutes, and made recommendations to either ban, impose an interim ban, or allow the continued use of phthalates and phthalate substitutes in the above products. After a review of the literature, the evaluation included toxic end points of primary concern, biomonitoring results, extant exposure reconstruction, and epidemiological results. The health end points chosen were associated with the rat phthalate syndrome, which is characterized by malformations of the epididymis, vas deferens, seminal vesicles, prostate, external genitalia (hypospadias), and by cryptorchidism (undescended testes), retention of nipples/areolae, and demasculinization (~incomplete masculinization) of the perineum, resulting in reduced anogenital distance. Risk assessment demonstrated that some phthalates should be permanently banned, removed from the banned list, or remain interim banned. Biomonitoring and toxicology data provided the strongest basis for a mixture risk assessment. In contrast, external exposure data were the weakest and need to be upgraded for epidemiological studies and risk assessments. Such studies would focus on routes and sources. The review presents recommendations and uncertainties.
Over 27 Western Australian children die each year from preventable injuries, while a further 7000 are hospitalised. A large proportion of these injuries involve consumer products. The Western ...Australian Consumer Product Advocacy Network (WA CPAN) was established by Kidsafe WA with the support of the WA Department of Health. The network was formed to provide leadership in identifying unsafe products and exploring solutions to reduce childhood injuries related to products. The network consists of representatives from organisations involved in the regulation, safe use, injury prevention, treatment and sale of products. Key objectives of WA CPAN include: advocate for the removal of and/or modifications to products that pose an injury risk to children; increase the knowledge of key child injury prevention stakeholders about products available on the market that pose injury risks through their use/misuse; increase knowledge among parents and carers of the importance of choosing and using products that are designed to assist with reducing the risk of serious childhood injuries; and raise awareness of the importance of safer product design as identified through evidence and research.WA CPAN plays an important role in identifying and addressing these safety issues to reduce the injury risk to children in our state. Since the establishment of WA CPAN, several product safety issues have been identified, discussed and acted upon. The strength of this collaboration comes from the varying skill sets, regulatory powers, communication channels, data access and clinical knowledge within the group. These attributes have enabled members of the network to discuss safety issues and take appropriate actions in a timely manner, to reduce the risk of childhood injuries related to products.This presentation will provide an overview of the groups’ formation, some of the product safety issues identified and the actions taken by WA CPAN in dealing with the safety issues.
A new kind of Al-ion battery with carbon paper as the cathode, high-purity Al foil as the anode and ionic liquid as the electrolyte is proposed in this work. The significance of the presented battery ...is going to be an extremely high average voltage plateau of ca. 1.8 V vs. Al(3+)/Al.
•5-Methyl-5-phenyl-3-hexanone; a safety assessment based on RIFM's criteria.•A safety assessment based on 7 human health endpoints plus environmental.•All endpoints were cleared using target data, ...read-across, and/or TTC.
Aqueous electrolytes are the leading candidate to meet the surging demand for safe and low-cost storage batteries. Aqueous electrolytes facilitate more sustainable battery technologies due to the ...attributes of being nonflammable, environmentally benign, and cost effective. Yet, water’s narrow electrochemical stability window remains the primary bottleneck for the development of high-energy aqueous batteries with long cycle life and infallible safety. Water’s electrolysis leads to either hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) or oxygen evolution reaction (OER), which causes a series of dire consequences, including poor Coulombic efficiency, short device longevity, and safety issues. These are often showstoppers of a new aqueous battery technology besides the low energy density. Prolific progress has been made in the understanding of HER and OER from both catalysis and battery fields. Unfortunately, a systematic review on these advances from a battery chemistry standpoint is lacking. This review provides in-depth discussions on the mechanisms of water electrolysis on electrodes, where we summarize the critical influencing factors applicable for a broad spectrum of aqueous battery systems. Recent progress and existing challenges on suppressing water electrolysis are discussed, and our perspectives on the future development of this field are provided.
Tremendous efforts are being made to develop electrode materials, electrolytes, and separators for energy storage devices to meet the needs of emerging technologies such as electric vehicles, ...decarbonized electricity, and electrochemical energy storage. However, the sustainability concerns of lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) and next-generation rechargeable batteries have received little attention. Recycling plays an important role in the overall sustainability of future batteries and is affected by battery attributes including environmental hazards and the value of their constituent resources. Therefore, recycling should be considered when developing battery systems. Herein, we provide a systematic overview of rechargeable battery sustainability. With a particular focus on electric vehicles, we analyze the market competitiveness of batteries in terms of economy, environment, and policy. Considering the large volumes of batteries soon to be retired, we comprehensively evaluate battery utilization and recycling from the perspectives of economic feasibility, environmental impact, technology, and safety. Battery sustainability is discussed with respect to life-cycle assessment and analyzed from the perspectives of strategic resources and economic demand. Finally, we propose a 4H strategy for battery recycling with the aims of high efficiency, high economic return, high environmental benefit, and high safety. New challenges and future prospects for battery sustainability are also highlighted.
In a year when UK drug-related deaths and festival drug-related deaths reached their highest on record, a pilot festival drug safety testing service was introduced with the aim of reducing ...drug-related harm. This paper describes the operational and behavioural outcomes of this pilot and explores the relationship between drug use, supply and policing within festival grounds.
Chemists in a temporary laboratory analysed 247 substances submitted by the public to a free, confidential testing service across four days at a UK festival in July 2016. Test results were returned to service users embedded in 230 healthcare consultations delivered to approximately 900 festival-goers (one in five drug using festival-goers) that included harm reduction advice and the opportunity to use a disposal service for further substances of concern. Consultation data were collected at point of care, matched with test results, coded and analysed using SPSS
Test results revealed that one in five substances was not as sold or acquired. One in five service users utilised the disposal service for further substances of concern in their possession and another one in six moderated their consumption. Two thirds of those whose sample was missold disposed of further substances, compared with under one in ten whose sample was as sold. Service users who acquired substances onsite at the festival were more than twice as likely to have been missold them as those acquired offsite, were nearly twice as likely to use the disposal service and were on average two years younger. Women were more likely to be using the drug for the first time and more likely to use the disposal service. Test results were shared with emergency services; alerts issued across site and an unanticipated feedback loop occurred to some drug suppliers.
This pilot suggests that festival-goers engage productively with onsite drug safety testing services when given the opportunity, such services can access harder-to-reach and new user groups and can play a part in reducing drug-related harm by identifying and informing service users, emergency services and offsite drug using communities about substances of concern. Disposals to the testing service for onward police destruction provide an externally corroborated measure of impact, reducing harm to the individual and others by removing such substances from site. Evidence of differential dealing onsite and its potential negative consequences has implications for future research and policing.
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