Handling the Combined Exposures to Multiple Chemicals

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Toxicity Assessment of Mixtures in the Future

The JRC has been analysing the available methodologies for chemicals testing. Due to the large number of chemical combinations, it is practically unfeasible to test all possible mixtures experimentally, in particular in animal studies for ethical and practical reasons. Therefore smart strategies are needed to address the data gaps and to assess the potential hazards using new tools that rely less on in vivo testing and incorporate instead alternative experimental and computational tools. Their main strengths lie in their integrated use in smart combinations, allowing a better, mechanistically based prediction of mixture effects.

JRC Activities on Mixtures

The JRC is performing research on the use of alternative (non-animal) methods and new strategies to assess the combination effects of chemicals. Having reviewed current EU regulatory requirements and mixture assessment practices, it is currently exploring links between mixtures and possible subsequent diseases, interaction effects of chemicals, as well as the use of biomonitoring data in exposure assessment. At the same time, chemical monitoring data is becoming more consistently available via the EC Information Platform for Chemical Monitoring Ipchem, hosted by the JRC.

Progress through Collaboration

The JRC collaborates with five European research consortia focusing on chemical mixture assessment for the environment (SOLUTIONS), human health (Euro Mix, HBM 4 EU), endocrine disruption (EDC-MixRisk) and alternatives to animal testing (EU Tox Risk). The JRC also facilitates and provides scientific input to discussions with EU Commission services and regulatory agencies, European Food Safety Authority (Efsa), European Environmental Agency (EEA) and European Chemicals Agency (Echa). Furthermore, the JRC is actively involved in international initiatives under the auspices of the OECD and the WHO.

In a joint effort, the above-mentioned research projects together with representatives from the Commission services and European agencies, organised a joint Horizon 2020 workshop "Advancing the Assessment of Chemical Mixtures and their Risks for Human Health and the Environment”, which was hosted by JRC Ispra, at the end of May 2018. Experts in the field of chemical mixtures gathered to discuss the current state of knowledge as well as further elaborate and prioritise areas for future policy and research needs.

Background

In 2012, the Commission Communication on "Combined effects of chemicals — chemical mixtures" identified several gaps and areas for action. The JRC has gathered information about current regulatory requirements and available guidance and about current practices in assessing mixtures and developed the Information Platform for Chemical Monitoring (Ipchem). Relevant sector-specific developments, EU research projects and activities of international organisations were also taken into account.

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