Gradient Presenting at SESHA’s 48th Annual Symposium

Talk Overview:  “To assess chemical risks, information on exposure and hazards (toxicity) is needed. Traditionally, hazard data has often come in part from animal testing. A new paradigm is to rely on New Approach Methods (also called New Approach Methodologies or NAMs) to try to minimize animal-based toxicity testing. NAMs can include read-across, computational methods, in vitro testing, and exposure-based refinements of the chemical risk assessment. Regulatory risk assessments for chemicals used in the semiconductor industry in the United States (US) may include new chemical assessments under the US Environmental Protection Agency’s (US EPA’s) Pre-Manufacture Notice (PMN) process and US EPA’s existing chemical risk evaluations under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). Regulators and scientists alike are advocating for a greater reliance on NAMs in these risk assessments to reduce the burden of animal testing. At the same time, there is a desire for confidence that NAMs can adequately address the “reasonable risk” standard under TSCA. This talk will review the available NAMs and frameworks for selecting appropriate NAMs. We will highlight how NAMs might be used to complement or replace more traditional toxicity testing with a case study from the Onium Photoacid Generator (PAG) Consortium.”

Dr. Jessie Kneeland is an environmental consultant with a diverse scientific background, including expertise in environmental chemistry, oceanography, and climate science. At Gradient, she interprets chemical signatures to discern different sources of chemicals in the environment. She also helps companies understand potential environmental impacts of new chemicals. Her scientific interests focus on using chemical signatures to trace biological, chemical, and physical processes in the environment.

Ms. Chase Butler is a chemist with experience in designing sampling plans and testing protocols, assessing data quality, and interpreting data to support the fulfillment of various regulatory obligations. At Gradient, she has provided technical support for chemical registration and compliance in multiple geographic regions and countries and advises on the use of appropriate chemicals for read-across of toxicological data. Prior to joining Gradient, Ms. Butler conducted research at Yale’s Center for Conservation and Preservation, studying the compounds generated during the oxidation of contemporary materials used in art and art conservation.