EUchemicals 204d ago

This ECHA science seminar features Dr. Sabrina Tait (Italian National Institute of Health), and Dr. Antonio De la Vieja (National Institute of Health, Spain) - experts in toxicology and endocrine disruption. They present preliminary findings from the PARC Work Package 5 project on endocrine-disrupting activity of selected bisphenol A (BPA) alternatives. The session covers the regulatory and scientific challenges posed by BPA substitutes, examining their potential hazards to human health. With BPA’s use increasingly restricted across the EU, the emergence of alternative bisphenols has raised urgent questions about their safety, data gaps, and the risk of regrettable substitution. First, Dr. Kiara Aiello Holden, the coordinator of the Work Package 5, introduces the project’s scope: a collaborative effort involving 14 EU institutions across eight countries, prioritising BPA alternatives not covered by industry due to low tonnage but likely to see future use. The selection of substances was based on the ECHA’s assessment of regulatory needs (ARN) report on bisphenols. The project aims to generate comprehensive hazard data for at least four of eight prioritised BPA alternatives, using OECD test guidelines and a combination of in vitro and in silico assays. Key topics and regulatory challenges addressed: • What is known about the endocrine-disrupting activity of BPA alternatives, and how do they compare to BPA itself? • How are endpoints such as developmental neurotoxicity, immunotoxicity, carcinogenicity, and metabolism assessed for these substances? • What are the limitations of current data, and how does the project address gaps in hazard characterisation? • How can systematic testing and literature review prevent regrettable substitutions and inform regulatory action? Dr. Tait presents detailed results from in vitro assays investigating the effects of BPA alternatives on steroidogenesis, including their impact on estradiol and testosterone synthesis. The findings reveal that some alternatives are more potent than BPA in inducing estradiol synthesis, while others show significant inhibition of testosterone. Analytical methods, including ELISA and HPLC-MS/MS, are used to validate and refine these results. Dr. De la Vieja explores the effects of BPA alternatives on thyroid hormone metabolism, employing innovative cell-based assays to assess inhibition of key transporters and gene expression changes. The research highlights the potential of investigated BPA analogues to inhibit thyroid hormone and iodine transport and to disrupt endocrine pathways at concentrations relevant to occupational and environmental exposure. Case studies and data visualisations illustrate the complexity of assessing endocrine disruption, the importance of robust test systems, and the need for harmonised regulatory approaches across Europe. This video is essential viewing for professionals in chemical regulation, toxicology, risk assessment, and policy development, as well as researchers seeking to advance the science of endocrine disruptors and protect public health. Our science seminars cover a wide range of topics related to chemical safety, regulatory science, and innovative research in chemicals management, focusing on human health and the environment. They aim to establish the regulatory relevance and uptake of research for ECHA’s scientific work. Our science seminars cover a wide range of topics related to chemical safety, regulatory science, and innovative research in chemicals management, focusing on human health and the environment. They aim to establish the regulatory relevance and uptake of research for ECHA’s scientific work. More: https://echa.europa.eu/science ************** Subscribe to our channel: https://bit.ly/321VQgE Subscribe to our Safer Chemicals Podcast: https://echa.europa.eu/podcasts Subscribe to our news: https://echa.europa.eu/subscribe Follow us on: *LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/european-chemicals-agency *X: https://x.com/EU_ECHA *BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/echa.europa.eu *Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EUECHA/ *Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/onehealth_eu/ Visit our website: https://echa.europa.eu/ Disclaimer: Subtitles are generated by YouTube automatically. The subtitles are made available “as is” without any additional check by ECHA or a third party as to their accuracy or linguistic correctness. ECHA does not guarantee that the subtitles correctly reflect what is being said in the video. The subtitles may be subject to inaccuracies or misrepresentation due to the inherent limitations of the algorithms used. ECHA accepts no liability in connection with the use of the subtitles. You agree to use the subtitles at your own risk and shall not hold ECHA responsible for damage you or any third party may suffer in connection to their use.