CADASTER - CAse studies on the Development and Application of in-Silico Techniques for Environmental hazard and Risk assessment

The REACH regulation advocates the use of non-animal testing methods, but guidance is needed on how these methods should be used. The procedures include alternative methods such as chemical and biological read-across, in vitro results, in vivo information on analogues, (Q)SARs, and exposure-based waiving. The concept of Intelligent Testing Strategies for regulatory endpoints has been outlined to facilitate the assessments. Intensive efforts are needed to translate the concept into a workable, consensually acceptable, and scientifically sound strategy.

CADASTER aims at providing the practical guidance to integrated risk assessment by carrying out a full hazard and risk assessment for chemicals belonging to four compound classes. A Decision Support System (DSS) will be developed that will be updated on a regular basis in order to accommodate and integrate the alternative methods mentioned above. Operational procedures will be developed, tested, and disseminated that guide a transparent evaluation of four classes of emerging chemicals, explicitly taking account of variability and uncertainty in data and in models.

The main goal is to exemplify the integration of information, models and strategies for carrying out safety-, hazard- and risk assessments for large numbers of substances. Real risk estimates will be delivered according to the basic philosophy of REACH of minimizing animal testing, costs, and time. CADASTER will show how to increase the use of non-testing information for regulatory decision whilst meeting the main challenge of quantifying and reducing uncertainty.

Participation from universities and research institutes in Belgium, Bulgaria, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Slovenia, and Sweden.

For more information, please visit the CADASTER web page.