The American Chemistry Council has formed a new group to promote the adoption of policies and practices that encourage the development and use of the latest scientific methods in the risk assessment of chemicals.
ACC created the newly formed Center for Advancing Risk Assessment Science and Policy out of concern over an increasing number of state and federal chemical and product bans and proposed bans that have not been based on what the industry feels is a firm scientific foundation.
The new group will be self-funded within ACC's chemical products and technology division, Arlington, Va.-based ACC said April 15. Richard Becker, chief toxicologist at ACC, will be an active participant at the center.
ACC did not elaborate on how the group will be self-funded.
In a statement, ACC said there are many challenges to implementing up-to-date risk-assessment methods that look at how chemicals act at the molecular, cellular and organic levels. But it said that Americans “need and deserve” a regulatory system that is “built upon a firm scientific foundation that supports risk-based product stewardship” and regulatory decisions that enhance human health and the environment.
“There is a pressing need to accelerate the use of advanced methods and up-to-date scientific knowledge in chemical risk assessments,” said Todd Abel, manager of the center.