LIFE COMBASE: COMputational tool for the assessment and substitution of Biocidal Active substanceS of Ecotoxicological concern
Summary
Biocides are used in the treatment of damaging biological growth. However, not only do they kill pathogens, they also kill non-pathogens, meaning they may have undesirable side effects harming human health and/or the environment.
For instance, in the service life phase, when released to the different environmental compartments (soil, surface waters, groundwater and air, depending on the actual use of the biocidal product), the active substances undergo a series of degradation reactions generating metabolites, transformation or reaction products that might significantly differ from the parent compounds in terms of their associated toxicity.
Considering the impact of active substances used in biocidal products and the metabolites, degradation and transformation products released to the environment during the application and service life phases, novel tools are necessary for the identification and substitution of biocides of ecotoxicological concern under an integrated life cycle perspective.
The use of non-animal alternative test methods has been foreseen in the Biocides Product Regulation, Regulation (EU) 258/2012 (BPR). The widespread use of non-testing methods (NTM) would help SMEs identifying, amongst other, the so called metabolites of ecotoxicological concern whereas facilitating the registering of biocidal active substances within the BPR and reducing animal testing.
Objectives:
The main target of the LIFE-COMBASE Project is to promote the sustainable use of biocidal active substances from a life cycle perspective. To this end, an on-line information system based on the combination of evidence based decision support systems (EBDSS) and proven computational toxicology modelling approaches will be implemented.
