ZeroPM

Live from SETAC Europe 2023 - Raoul Wolf hosts a series of ZeroPM podcasts. In this episode he interviews Dagny Aurich and Emma Schymanski from the Univesity of Luxembourg about how the "climate stripes" data visualisation approach for climate change was adapted to "chemical stripes" to show the increasing ubiquity of persistent compounds in society and the enviornment. The number of chemicals threatening global health is rising rapidly, with increasing numbers of persistent compounds accumulating in our environment. There are alarming signals that elimination of existing and prevention of further contamination can no longer be delayed. Communicating this need for action to the scientific and non-scientific community in an understandable way poses a challenge for many researchers. This work shows the possibility to use chemical stripes to help communicate this message, modifying the existing graphics of the climate stripes - showing the trend of global warming - and applying it to the chemical space. Specific persistent organic pollutants (POPs) including per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), triazines and triazoles were selected based on their presence in regulatory lists, such as the Stockholm Convention. With the use of patent data for those compounds coming from the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) and the comparison to the rise of overall chemical numbers registered in databases like the Chemical Abstract Service (CAS) registry, a definite trend can be seen: Patent and overall chemical numbers are on the rise and regulations do not stop this trend. Often the drafting, discussion, and adoption of legislation takes decades, even when there is need for quick action. The minimalistic but intuitive visualization of the chemical stripes helps communicate this information by indicating the evolving chemical numbers in traffic-light colours. The chemical and historical data presented, using the model of stripes, will be accompanied with open-source code (in progress) for others to generate their own stripes for a given set of chemicals. The colour scheme raises awareness of the "red" state we face today, with environmental pollution impacting our health and the ecosystems we live in. All substance classes investigated so far revealed the same pattern. Overall, the aim of these graphics is to emphasize the urgent need for elimination and prevention of persistent chemicals by illustrating the exponential growth of patent and chemical numbers over time, in the hope that this will help with the identification and prioritization of harmful substance classes and to help stimulate further action, without decades of delay. See Dagny and Emma's presentation at SETAC here: https://zenodo.org/record/7885032 And the original publication showing the chemical stripes here: https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acs.est.3c01735 To follow more of the work of ZeroPM, follow our ⁠⁠Zenodo Community⁠⁠ , ⁠youtube channel ⁠and our webpage to find all our resources  ⁠⁠ZeroPM.eu⁠⁠.

Live from SETAC Europe 2023 - Raoul Wolf hosts a series of ZeroPM podcasts. In this episode he interviews Emma Palm (Univesity of Luxembourg) about an app she developed to curate transformation product results, shiny TPs! An important consideration for understanding the hazards posed from different compounds is the transformation products (TPs) they form once they enter the environment. Unfortunately, there is much less information available for TPs than their parent compounds, while most of the information is text based in journal articles and databases. This makes it difficult to access and include into identification workflows based on high resolution mass spectrometry (HR-MS) and other analyses. One such database with text-based TP information is PubChem, which contains a lot of TP information, especially in the “Metabolism and Metabolites” section. In addition, PubChem runs a text mining software (LeadMine), which identifies chemical names in the text-based sections of the database. To better utilize this information, we have built a shiny app which will allow users to go through the text mined information in the Hazardous substance databank (HSDB) dataset to identify which of the extracted chemical names are TPs. After downloading the entire HSDB dataset and filtering based on the precursor compounds of interest, the app will display the structure of the precursor and the potential TP extracted via text mining, together with the HSDB text snippets to allow the user to identify whether the extracted structure is indeed a TP of the precursor. The information can then be saved in a table and downloaded for further analysis, or central upload as formal transformation reactions. In addition, the user has the option of saving the chemical names of TPs not identified by the text mining software together with their SMILES, to fill database gaps. The app has so far been applied to compounds from several datasets (28 from the NORMAN-SLE and 8 from the PubChem PFAS Tree, as well as 33 PBT compounds on the SIN-list). Of the 366 chemicals identified by the text mining software, 60 were new reactions that were not already available in the transformation products dataset in PubChem, the majority of which were found among the NORMAN and PBT compounds. Among these reactions were transformation products of azo dyes such as benzidine which has carcinogenic properties. In addition, some persistent substructures were identified in the TPs. This shows promise for expanding the current TP datasets available in databases such as PubChem as well as for improving TP suspect lists and furthering the understanding of the fate of environmental contaminants. See Emma's presentation at SETAC here: https://zenodo.org/record/7885830 To follow more of the work of ZeroPM, follow our ⁠Zenodo Community⁠ , youtube channel and our webpage to find all our resources  ⁠ZeroPM.eu⁠.

Live from SETAC Europe 2023 - Raoul Wolf hosts a series of ZeroPM podcasts. In this episode he interviews Sivani Baskaran (Norwegian Geotechnical Institute) about the how to assess mobility in relation to the new chemical hazard classes PMT and vPvM. Chemical hazard and risk assessments often use physical-chemical properties to categorize and identify chemicals of concerns. Recently, the European Commission introduced a draft revision of the classification, labelling and packaging (CLP) legislation that contained new chemical hazard categories, including persistent, mobile, and toxic (PMT) and very persistent and very mobile (vPvM) substances. Persistence is derived from the simulated half-life of a chemical in different systems (aquatic, soil, and sedimentary), depending on the compartment and degree of persistence evaluated, while mobility is determined based on the logarithmic organic carbon–water partition ratios (log Koc). But what is to be done when the log Koc data is either variable or uncertain? Sivani presents a way forward using a Bayesian approach. See Sivani's poster here: https://zenodo.org/record/7907080#.ZHiDSXZBz-g To follow more of the work of ZeroPM, follow our Zenodo Community and of  ZeroPM.eu. Recorded during the SETAC Europe Dublin Conference, May 1st, 2023. ZeroPM is a research and innovation project funded by the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 101036756.

Live from SETAC 2023 - Raoul Wolf hosts a series of ZeroPM podcasts. In this episode he interviews Romain Figuière (Stockholm University) about the implementation of the Essential-Use concept in the REACH regulation. With ZeroPM colleagues, they approach this using "intentionally added microplastics" as a case study, by considering whether in products that #microplastics were essentially added to were essential for their uses, according to the current definition of the Essential-Use concept. To follow more of the work of ZeroPM, follow our Zenodo Community and of  ZeroPM.eu. Recorded during the SETAC Europe Dublin Conference, May 1st, 2023.   ZeroPM is a research and innovation project funded by the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 101036756.

Live from SETAC 2023 - Raoul Wolf hosts a series of ZeroPM podcasts. In this episode he interviews Joanke van Dijk (University of Amsterdam) about her involvement with SETAC in relation to the establishment of an international Science-Policy Panel to contribute further to the sound management of chemicals and waste and to prevent pollution. The mandate for this panel is currently being negotiated under OEWG1.2 of UNEP. Joanke discusses her hopes for the panel, and in particular what the role is of young scientists. To follow more of the work of the WP5 Substance Grouping team, follow our Zenodo Community and of  ZeroPM.eu. Recorded during the SETAC Europe Dublin Conference, May 1st, 2023.   ZeroPM is a research and innovation project funded by the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 101036756. Episodesegmenter

Live from SETAC 2023 - Raoul Wolf hosts a series of ZeroPM podcasts. In this episode he interviews Hans Peter Arp about his poster " Risk should not be made complicated when the hazards and exposure are clear", which can be found here. Different stakeholders will approach scientific uncertainty differently. Scientists are often driven to reduce uncertainty; regulators are driven to act on uncertainty (e.g. by invoking the precautionary principle), and those that are responsible for causing the environmental stress often seek to use scientific uncertainty as basis for inaction or deniability. To cut through these different viewpoints, the tool developed by William of Ockham (1287-1347), referred to as Ockham's razor, can be useful for governance. Ockham's razor states that "Entities are not to be multiplied without necessity", meaning in practice for this context that if adding new variables/complexities does not lower the overall uncertainty or picture of a sustainability assessment, then they should not be added, as they will only make governance more complex, and less transparent. When it preventing harmful chemicals from entering the environment, this has an impact on the role of risk perception and communication. In many cases, the hazards and risk of exposure are clear enough, from the perspective of some stakeholders, to prevent a substance from allowing a harmful chemical to be produced for a certain use. However, those who can profit from such substances, either as a producer or a consumer, may be drawn into the discussion of uncertainty to keep questioning the risk models, as a strategy to keep allowing the harmful substances in the environment.  To resolve diverse attitudes towards uncertainty, different stakeholders should be guided towards focusing on simple solutions with few variables, clear targets, that lay frank the societal winners and losers. Transparency is a key aspect here, as simple models and open data make it easier to engage in this dialogue. There should also be a focus on benefits of simple, sustainable solutions. Society should use  carrots (not just  sticks) to innovate towards beneficial, simple solutions to prevent environmental stressors, rather than argue about where the complicated impact thresholds are. To follow more of the work of the WP5 Substance Grouping team, follow our Zenodo Community and of  ZeroPM.eu. Recorded during the SETAC Europe Dublin Conferencen, May 1st, 2023.   ZeroPM is a research and innovation project funded by the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 101036756.

In this podcast, Prof Sabine Pahl and Dr Ellise Suffill (Environmental Psychology, University of Vienna) discuss the importance of understanding different groups’ ideas about risk, and how social sciences can help us to better understand when and why risky behaviours (including the use of hazardous chemicals) might be deemed essential, or not. If you’d like to learn more about the research discussed in this podcast, please check out the references below: Slovic, P. (1988). Risk perception. Carcinogen risk assessment, 171-181. Kahan, D. M., Braman, D., Gastil, J., Slovic, P., & Mertz, C. K. (2007). Culture and identity‐protective cognition: Explaining the white‐male effect in risk perception. Journal of Empirical Legal Studies, 4(3), 465-505. Richter, I., Sumeldan, J., Avillanosa, A., Gabe-Thomas, E., Creencia, L., & Pahl, S. (2021). Co-created future scenarios as a tool to communicate sustainable development in coastal communities in Palawan, Philippines. Frontiers in Psychology, 5303. Anderson, A. G., Grose, J., Pahl, S., Thompson, R. C. & Wyles, K. J. (2016). Microplastics in personal care products: Exploring perceptions of environmentalists, beauticians and students. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 113(1), 454-460. Rao, N. D., & Min, J. (2018). Decent living standards: material prerequisites for human wellbeing. Social Indicators Research, 138, 225-244.

Wolfgang Deinlein is Managing Director of the IAWR, the International Association of the Waterworks in the Rhine Area. He also plays a key central role in disseminating the European River Memorandum (ERM) and the European Groundwater Memorandum  of the ERM Coalition, which consists of drinking water supply associations representing the interest of 188 million people in the river basins of Rhine (IAWR, AWBR, ARW, RIWA-Rijn) and Ruhr (AWWR), Danube (IAWD), Elbe (AWE), Meuse (RIWA-Meuse) and Scheldt (RIWA-Scheldt).  Both memorandums highlight the needs to protect Europe's drinking water resources and that #PMT / #vPvM and #PFAS substances represent a threat that needs priority. In particular it is discussed why we need action #PMT substances to make and maintain drinking water production in Europe as something that is   - sustainable  - affordable - natural - healthy - non-energy and resource intensive - resilient  - Pure Links #ERM (European River Memorandum) #EGM (European Groundwater Memorandum) IAWR: https://en.iawr.org/    IAWR is a member of ZeroPM's Extended Personal User Group.  For more content like this, subscribe to this channel and visit www.zeropm.eu, where you can also sign up for our newsletter.   ZeroPM has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 101036756 #PFAS #PMT #Zeropollution #watertreatment #drinkingwater

In ZeroPM's first video, Hans Peter Arp sings about some of #PMT and #vPvM substances prioritized by the German Environment Agency. For the full list, see here:  https://zenodo.org/record/6482414#.Y-bIanbMI2x  Details will be published in a forthcoming report: Prioritised PMT/vPvM substances in the REACH registration database, TEXTE 21/2023 The music video of the song can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JAUeKIWIppk     For more info on ZeroPM, please visit our website at zeropm.eu. ZeroPM has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 101036756. #EUGreenDeal #ZeroPollution #ChemicalsStrategy #PFAS #PMT #vPvM #SubsanceGrouping #FAIRdata #riskassessment Piano credit: SASASASASASASASASASASASASASASASASAS who made a karaoke version of the popular song by Tom Lehrer The Elements:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N2S_e-fc770

Sixty years ago, the American writer, scientist, and ecologist Rachel Carson published her book, Silent Spring, exposing the hazards of the pesticide DDT on the environment. For the first time, the need to regulate the industry to protect the environment became widely accepted, and environmentalism was born.  Sarah Hale and Hans Peter Arp lead the EU research and innovation project ZeroPM to tackle pollution from thousands of hazardous PM substances. They ask: What would be different had Rachel Carson discovered PFAS rather than DDT? And what key lesson should be learned to avoid more Silent Springs from happening? For more information about ZeroPM, please visit our website at zeropm.eu. ZeroPM is a research and innovation project funded by the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 101036756.