Toxicity Aspects in Safe and Sustainable by Design Framework: An Assessment of Tools

Abstract The assessment of toxicity-related aspects in the Safe and Sustainable by Design (SSbD) framework relies on several tools and methods. Each tool and method has specific goals and scopes, requiring knowledge of the underpinning characteristics for sound application and results interpretation. This study evaluates some of these tools and methods. A case study on plasticizers in food contact materials was developed by the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre (JRC) to test the applicability of the European Commission’s SSbD framework. The case study is used here to evaluate tools and methods that were used with respect to receptors relevant for SSbD (workers, consumers, the environment, and the population exposed via the environment). The tools and methods assessed were developed in the context of Risk Assessment (Chesar v.3.7.2, ConsExpo v.3, and Vermeer v.3.4) and Life Cycle Assessment (USEtox 3.0beta 6c and ProScale 1.5). Overall, common ground was identified within the characteristics of those tools, which enabled undertaking alignment adaptations to the tools to improve the consistency of the results. However, the analysis shows limited consistency among outcomes, especially for workers and consumers, mainly driven by methodological differences across the application contexts of the various tools. Slightly higher consistency was found for tools analyzing environmental aspects. This work may guide applications of the SSbD framework toward identifying those elements of highest relevance when considering choosing tools and methods that best address the assessment of toxicity-related aspects.