Translation of environmental risk science into practice
Projects within this theme are exploring how cutting-edge pollution science can be most effectively incorporated into the design, assessment and management of chemical products and will develop new frameworks for chemical prioritisation and risk assessment.
Ola Dosunmu - Lancaster University
Project: Analysis of how the regulatory landscape can support the transition to safer and sustainable chemical alternatives
Partner: WSP
Chemicals plays an important role in our daily lives, but the increase in use of chemicals has also heightened concerns regarding hazardous substances such as Substances of Very High Concern (SVHCs), Persistent, Bioaccumulative, Toxic (PBT) and Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs).
There is a pressing need to replace or substitute these harmful chemicals with safer alternatives, aiming to mitigate risks to human health and the environment. There is however evidence of what is called ‘regrettable substitution’ when one bad chemical is replaced with another chemical that is equally as bad or even worse off.
My PhD therefore aims to explore the role that chemical regulation played in decision making during alternatives assessments and how regulation can help cement the principles of green chemistry and sustainable chemicals into mainstream use. The study employs both quantitative methods, such as online surveys, and qualitative approaches, including personal interviews, to gather comprehensive insights.
Currently, preliminary findings from the online survey are undergoing analysis and review. These findings will provide a basis for further exploration during the personal interviews.
Contact: o.a.dosunmu@lancaster.ac.uk
Lowenna Jones - University of Sheffield
Project: Environmental Risk Assessment Post Brexit: Science, policy and regulation
Partner: Defra
Lowenna’s research primarily focuses on the regulation of chemical risk, particularly within the United Kingdom (UK) following the UK’s departure from the European Union (EU) (i.e. Brexit). Lowenna is particularly interested in understanding how science and evidence is used in chemical risk assessment, and utilises her cross disciplinary training in the natural and social sciences to explore governance and regulatory processes within Europe.
Lowenna’s research has three distinct objectives: (i) Offer an early stage analysis of the implications of Brexit on UK chemical regulation, using the REACH regulation as a case study for divergence; (ii) Identify, organise and systematically map existing evidence on the (eco)toxicological effects of Flame Retardant substances across ecologically relevant endpoints; and (iii) Explore the system level factors that limit and/or support the uptake and use of academic research in chemical assessment, to aid the promotion and development of evidence (science) based decision making across regulatory toxicology.
Contact: lbjones3@sheffield.ac.uk
ECORISC CDT
Department of Environment and Geography
University of York
York
United Kingdom
Tel: +44 (0)1903 322999
ecorisc-cdt@york.ac.uk