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Projects in the area of pesticides

Researchprojects in the area of plant protection products

The aim of the research projects of the Department Pesticides Safety is to further develop the methodological and conceptual basis for risk assessment in the fields of toxicology and exposure estimation. Research work is implemented to a large extent within the framework of collaborative projects with national and international partners. Some of the current research projects are listed below:

EU - funded projects

Partnership for the Assessment of Risk from Chemicals (PARC)

The European Partnership for the Assessment of Risks from Chemicals (PARC) is a partnership funded by the European Commission with over 200 partners from 28 countries and European authorities. PARC aims to develop new ways of assessing the risks of chemicals in order to protect both human health and the environment. The Department Pesticides Safety, together with the French institute ANSES, shares the leadership of the work package “Hazard Assessment”. This work package aims to improve consumer health protection by filling data gaps and to develop or improve innovative and predictive methods that directly contribute to the identification of chemical hazards, risk assessment and regulation of these substances.

Further information: BfR website, project website

RISK assessment of chemicals integrating HUman centric Next generation Testing strategies promoting the 3Rs (RISK-HUNT3R)

RISK-HUNT3R is a European research project aiming to develop a new modular framework for next generation non-animal risk assessment (NGRA). The project will develop, validate and implement integrated approaches. The innovative mechanism-based new approach methods (NAMs) will be applied exclusively in vitro and in silico and will be relevant to human health. Through a systematic and iterative evaluation of the NAM toolbox, the project will optimise a strategy for chemical exposure assessment, toxicokinetics and toxicodynamics. The unit “Testing and Assessment Strategies Pesticides” is a partner in the Regulation and Modelling work packages. RISKHUNT3R is part of the ASPIS Cluster. Within the ASPIS Cluster, the unit participates in the Regulation, AOP and IATA and Modelling work groups.

Further information: BfR website, project website

EDCmet

In EDCmet, methods are being developed to detect substances that influence metabolism and can contribute to the development of steatosis or obesity. The unit “Testing and Assessment Strategies Pesticides” supports the project as member of the project's Scientific Advisory Board. EDCmet is part of the EURION Cluster.

Further information: project website

EFSA - funded projects

Artificial intelligence for searching, extracting and integrating toxicological data for risk assessment (AI4NAM)

This project investigates options to support the implementation of Next Generation Risk Assessment (NGRA) in regulatory practice through Artificial Intelligence (AI) methods. The focus is on the search, review, extraction, harmonisation and integration of data from so-called New Approach Methods (NAM), including the development of "Adverse Outcome Pathway like networks" to support the risk assessment of chemicals. For this purpose, an overview of currently available AI tools and methods was compiled and case studies with structured and unstructured NAM data on different chemical groups and toxicological endpoints were conducted. Currently, recommendations for further developments and the implementation of the SPIDO NAMs and AI roadmaps are being formulated based on the findings.

Further information: BfR website, Review AI Tools and Methods in EFSA Journal

Implementation of the EFSA NAMs Roadmap by enhancing toxicokinetic knowledge in chemical risk assessment (ADME4NGRA)

The project will develop in vitro and in silico methods to study toxicokinetics and their applicability for risk assessment. The aim of the project is to improve the risk assessment of chemical substances that fall under the remit of EFSA.

The RUEDIS database as a tool for data management of residue and processing studies on plant protection products (RUEDIS)

The pesticide residue database RUEDIS was developed for plant protection product evaluation at BfR and contains detailed information on residue and processing studies for plant protection products. As part of the project, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) will get access to the RUEDIS database. The long-term goal is to create access to RUEDIS for the evaluation authorities of the EU Member States as well and to examine the suitability of this database for managing residue data on plant protection products at EU level.

Further information: BfR website

Update of the EU database for processing factors of pesticide residues

In this project, the existing EU database for processing factors of pesticide residues will be updated and extended again. Current studies, newly submitted or evaluated at EU level, processing studies evaluated by the JMPR and studies available to EU Member States from national/zonal authorisation procedures for plant protection products will be included in the database. All studies and data are evaluated according to the quality criteria already used in the development of the first version of the database.

 Further information: BfR website

Selected finalised projects:

MetaPath

Within the framework of this EFSA-funded project, the MetaPath database was significantly expanded. MetaPath allows the assignment of metabolites to pesticide active substances. The database is available to the (technical) public as part of the OECD Toolbox. The Unit “Testing and Assessment Strategies Pesticides” coordinated this project.

Further information: EFSA website

EUROMIX

The EuroMix project was funded by the European Commission and aimed to develop novel testing and assessment strategies for chemical mixtures and the associated tests and models. The focus was on human exposure and health. An innovative approach to risk modelling was developed to meet future needs in Europe and beyond. 

Furthermore, with further developed test methods as well as a harmonised risk assessment on European and international level, the risk assessment should be improved in the future. In this context, the Department Pesticides Safety led Work Package 9 "International Harmonisation and Implementation" and undertook the analysis of the current legal basis for the risk assessment of mixtures of substances and their methods¹. Deficits were identified and, based on this, recommendations were developed for a new testing strategy to be developed².

Further information: BfR website, project website

Publications:

• 1) Overview on legislation and scientific approaches for risk assessment of combined exposure to multiple chemicals: the potential EuroMix contribution.
  https://doi.org/10.1080/10408444.2018.1541964 
• 2) Recommendations for international harmonisation, implementation and further development of suitable scientific approaches regarding the assessment of mixture effects.
  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fct.2020.111388

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