Implications of the new European Chemicals Regulation (REACH) for Poison Centres
2009
Heinemeyer,G. | Heiland A | Tempowski,J.
German. To compare and analyse existing product classifications used by poisons centres and by risk assessors. This study was carried out as part of Subcomponent 3 of the DeNaMiC project. Cooperation between poison centres and the chemical industry is predominantly performed by exchanging information about product composition (manufacturers . PC) and about cases where persons had contacts with chemical products (PC . manufacturers). The new European chemical legislation (REACH) requires industry to take over responsibility for testing and assessing the safety of chemical substances, and the respective chemical products. The question arises whether poison centres can assist manufacturers in fulfilling their obligations under REACH by providing them with information about accidental exposures to their products. Such an exchange of information requires a standardized product classification system that can be used by both poison centres and industry.1 Methods: The classification schemes for chemical products used in the poison centres of London, Lille and Göttingen, the German EVA categories and IPCS-INTOX, were compared with systems used in exposure assessments (e.g. ECETOC TRA, ConsExpo, REACH TGD, EU TGD for existing chemicals, EIS-Chemrisks), and in product registers. Results: There was a degree of comparability at the top levels of the product classifications, permitting some merging of data. At the more specific levels, however, there were many differences between PC documentation systems, as well as between PC systems and others. Conclusion: Information about chemical products in PCs, regulatory technical guidance documents, and product registers is not harmonised. Although this analysis involved a small number of poisons centres the same is likely to be true across Europe. REACH gives PCs an opportunity to improve cooperation with industry. Such cooperation could be facilitated by the use of a common product classification scheme. Before such a scheme can be developed, however, the aims and needs of both poison centres and regulators / industry need to be clarified. Without harmonisation there will be no functioning system of exchanging data.References: 1. Heinemeyer G, Hahn A. Use of product databases for risk assessment purposes. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol 2005; 207:636-644
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