In this episode, I speak with Dr. Watze de Wolf. 

Watze has had a long and accomplished career working as a scientist and manager in both industry and regulatory settings, including 15 years working at the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA). 

We have a wide-ranging discussion about his experiences and observations of how chemicals management has evolved over recent decades, and attempt to provide a diagnosis for the current situation and outlook for the years ahead. 

This includes:

• Watze’s background, career journey and people he worked with
• The tension between the uncertainty and complexity of science vs the need for clear and predictable regulation
• The importance of communication and meeting your audience where they are
• Contrasting sensitivities and drivers of behaviour in different industries
• The shift away from risk-based approaches, and the rise of persistence
• The importance of dialogue and the value of organisations like the Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry (SETAC)
• Understanding EU regulations as complex systems 
• Experiences with REACH dossiers, from both industry and regulator perspectives
• What it’s like for early career scientists at ECHA
• Discussions and experiences from the ECHA Member State Committee
• Thoughts on the Biocidal Products Regulation (BPR)
• What a new harmonised classification of ethanol means for its ongoing use as a disinfectant
• The essential use concept and how it could re-define chemicals management in Europe
• Importance of EU Member State participation, and the impact of Brexit on regulatory discussions
• Regrettable restrictions and thoughts on the ongoing group-wide restriction of PFAS
• Thoughts on the overall direction of travel, broader technological and societal shifts, and the impact on science

Watze's website: rMSC.fi – rMSC

Member State Committee - ECHA

Trifluoroacetic Acid in the Environment: Consensus, Gaps, and Next Steps | Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry | Oxford Academic

Persistence Science Interest Group Pushes Forward with Global Collaboration and New Initiatives

Literature review on micro‐ and nanoplastic release from food contact materials during their use | EFSA

Reflecting on 40 years of regulatory developments in Europe – Peter Fisk — Embark Chemical Consulting

Visit my website for more content and insights www.embarkchemical.com

In this episode I speak with Dr. Steven Brennan, co-founder and CEO of Foresight.

Foresight is a software platform that helps organizations to make sense of complex and fast moving chemical regulations, so they can always be ready for what's coming next.

Steven and I have a nice conversation that shows how he turned his years of regulatory experience into a software solution that solves a key challenge - how to get access to key insights faster to understand and manage regulatory change. 

Listen to this conversation if you want to get a look into the world of startups and software as a solution (SaaS) from a chemical regulatory point of view. We also talk about aspects of building and growing a business, and some reflections on life as founders and keeping everything in balance. 

Our conversation covers:

• Steven's background and career journey
• The story behind Foresight - identifying an industry need, and developing a solution
• Features of Foresight - how the tool delivers advanced regulatory insights
• Applications and limitations of AI in chemicals regulation
• REACH Article 129 - Member State safeguard clause
• What kinds of customers are using Foresight?
• What process and considerations go into developing new features?
• Building the company - from startup to commercialisation
• The customer buyer journey
• Steven's work as a co-opted member of the ECHA Socio-Economic Analysis Committee (SEAC)
• Steven and Chris swap stories about life as founders

Follow the link to find out more about Foresight and start your free trial: Foresight | The future of chemical policy monitoring

Visit my website for more content and insights www.embarkchemical.com

In this episode I share an article discussing the new hazard classes under the EU CLP regulation, and what this might mean for chemicals management more broadly. 

As a reminder, the new CLP hazard classes are:

• Endocrine disruptors (ED) for human health and the environment;
• Persistent, bioaccumulative and toxic (PBT); very persistent and very bioaccumulative (vPvB); and
• Persistent, mobile and toxic (PMT); very persistent and very mobile (vPvM).

I also share some insights on what has been happening since the article was published.

Read the original article: How should we expect the new hazards under EU CLP to play out in practice? — Embark Chemical Consulting

Events I attended in May:

SETAC Europe 35th Annual Meeting

Designing for Circularity in Biodegradable Chemicals and Polymers | Sustainable Chemicals and Materials Manufacturing Hub

CHEMUK 2025 EXPO

Latest developments on the new CLP hazard classes:

ECHA clarification on deadlines - New hazard classes 2023 - ECHA

ECHA guidance on the new CLP hazards - Guidance on the Application of the CLP Criteria - Part 4/5: Environmental hazards and additional hazards

Persistence Assessment Tool (PAT) preprint - Developing a weight-of-evidence methodology for persistence assessment of substances in the environment | Earth, Space, and Environmental Chemistry | ChemRxiv | Cambridge Open Engage

ECHA webinar and Q&A - Events - ECHA

New hazard classes added to IUCLID - All news - ECHA

C&L Inventory moves over to ECHA CHEM - All news - ECHA

View the latest proposals for harmonised CLP classifications - Registry of CLH intentions until outcome - ECHA

CLH proposal for trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) - Registry of CLH intentions until outcome - ECHA

Visit my website for more content and insights www.embarkchemical.com

I speak with Gabriel Sigmund, Assistant Professor at Wageningen University and Research, and board member of the International Panel on Chemical Pollution (IPCP).

We discuss:

• Gabriel’s background and research interests
• How the fate of charged organic compounds differs from neutral compounds
• The issue of mobility in the environment and the concern around persistent, mobile and toxic (PMT) substances
• Complex interactions controlling sorption and other fate processes in soil
• The ongoing importance of laboratory experiments in the age of AI
• Data availability and data quality challenges for persistence and mobility assessments
• Implications of the new PMT/vPvM hazard classes under the EU CLP regulation
• Simplification and essential use concepts for chemicals management
• The issue of extreme persistence and the concern around trifluoroacetic acid (TFA)
• Pesticides as a potential source of TFA to the environment
• How differences in worldviews influences the debate on chemicals
• Activities of the SETAC Persistence Science Interest Group

Apologies for some sound issues on this one. 

Correction: During the discussion on TFA I commented that I had seen evidence in a presentation by Freeling that concentrations in plant samples had apparently increased four-fold between 2010 and 2020. Having revisited the published work (link below), the approximately four-fold increase was reported over the observation period 1989-2020. 

Sorption and Mobility of Charged Organic Compounds: How to Confront and Overcome Limitations in Their Assessment | Environmental Science & Technology

The Global Threat from the Irreversible Accumulation of Trifluoroacetic Acid (TFA) | Environmental Science & Technology

Pesticides can be a substantial source of trifluoroacetate (TFA) to water resources - ScienceDirect

‘Alarming’ increase in levels of forever chemical TFA found in European wines | Pfas | The Guardian

Levels and Temporal Trends of Trifluoroacetate (TFA) in Archived Plants: Evidence for Increasing Emissions of Gaseous TFA Precursors over the Last Decades | Environmental Science & Technology Letters

Pollution is Colonialism - book by Max Liboiron (2021)

SETAC Persistence Science Interest Group

Webinar recording: Addressing Extreme Persistence – Identification, Behavior and Management of “Forever Chemicals” Beyond PFAS

Upcoming webinar: How to increase understanding of microbial inocula in biodegradation testing? 

SETAC Europe 35th Annual Meeting

In Memoriam: John Parsons

 Themed collection: Transformation Products and Mixtures – Environmental Science: Processes & Impacts

Visit my website for more content and insights www.embarkchemical.com

Ahead of the Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry (SETAC) annual European conference in Vienna (11-15th May), I caught up with Sabine Apitz, SETAC Europe President and Editor-in-Chief of the academic journal Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management (IEAM). 

Sabine and I had a fascinating discussion about environmental science, the scientific community, and the emergence and application of scientific knowledge. We discussed some of the pressing issues and challenges facing the SETAC community, and society at large. Sabine also shared some of what we could look forward to at the upcoming Vienna conference and the 9th SETAC World Congress (and first to be held in Africa) later this year. 

Our conversation covers: 

• Sabine’s background and career journey
• The emergence and application of scientific knowledge
• Using tools and models to inform environmental policy, and appreciating their limitations
• Sabine’s experience working as an independent consultant
• The role of scientists from different backgrounds in science and policy discussions
• Public representation at SETAC and in broader environmental discourse
• Reflections on the current political environment for science and society at large
• Dealing with complexity in trying to understand ecosystems
• Sabine’s own experience with podcasting
• An unexpected finding from an investigation into hygiene products
• Upcoming SETAC events – Vienna and Johannesburg 

This is a great one for anyone interested in learning more about SETAC, the organisation that brings together scientists from across disciplines to study the issue of chemicals in the environment and to inform science-based environmental decisions. 

Links from the discussion:

SETAC website: SETAC

Vienna conference: SETAC Europe 35th Annual Meeting

World Congress event: SETAC 9th World Congress

IEAM academic journal: Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management | Oxford Academic

Sabine's editorial (published in 2017): Science, antiscience, and environmental decision making: A call to action | Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management | Oxford Academic

(co-authors: Thomas Backhaus, Peter M Chapman, Wayne Landis, Glenn Suter)

Sabine's podcast: Join the Dots | jointhedots

(co-hosts: Ece Ozdemiroglu and Jill Duggan)

Visit my website for more content and insights www.embarkchemical.com

In this episode I speak with Delina Lyon, Science Executive for Environment at Concawe. 

Del and I dive deep into the regulatory assessment of complex substances. This issue still presents a wicked challenge for industry and regulators alike, and Concawe's work is right at the forefront of this. 

Our conversation covers:

• What is Concawe?
• Del's role at Concawe
• Environmental assessment of petroleum substances under REACH
• Del's early career and switch from academia to industry
• Reflections on the science-policy interface
• Developments in regulatory testing and assessment
• Conflicts of interest and the role of industry scientists
• The wicked problem of complex substances (UVCBs)
• Challenges with biodegradation testing
• Weight of evidence and the Persistence Assessment Tool (PAT)
• The hydrocarbon block method and related tools PETROTOX and PETRORISK
• Persistence, bioaccumulation and toxicity (PBT) assessments and the new PMT concept

Concawe website

Persistence Assessment Tool (PAT)

PETROTOX tool - Concawe

PETRORISK tool - Concawe

Visit my website for more content and insights www.embarkchemical.com

In this episode I speak with Jason Snape. Jason is a Research Professor in sustainable healthcare and environmental sustainability at the University of York, and prior to that was Global Head of Environment at AstraZeneca. 

Our discussion covers:

• Jason's career journey to date
• His move into academia and future research goals
• Sustainable healthcare in developing economies
• Reflections on regulatory persistence assessments
• Environmental safety within the pharmaceutical sector
• The threat of antimicrobial resistance (AMR)
• Extended producer responsibility and the EU Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive
• The water industry, the state of UK waterways, and public attitudes to drinking water

Jason has a huge amount of knowledge to share about some of the most pressing challenges in society. Join us to explore potential solutions!

Jason's 2018 keynote on AMR at SETAC Europe

ECOSOLUTIONS PhD training programme

Visit my website for more content and insights www.embarkchemical.com

In this episode I am joined by Libby Sommer, an independent consultant working on sustainability in the apparel industry. 

Libby and I discuss:

• Libby’s background and early career
• Her work on sustainability and life cycle assessments in the apparel industry
• Working with start-ups
• Drivers of innovation
• How sustainability focus areas have evolved over the years
• The environmental and human costs of textile waste
• Biodegradation and recycling of textiles
• Reducing and mitigating environmental emissions
• The Association for the Advancement of Alternatives Assessment (A4)
• A4’s links with SETAC and the Safe and Sustainable by Design (SSbD) initiative

Libby’s website: Libby Sommer

Biomimicry Institute Design4Transformation initiative: Resources

Association for the Advancement of Alternatives Assessment (A4) website: Home — Safer Alternatives

Visit my website for more content and insights www.embarkchemical.com

In this episode I share an article discussing the issue of environmental persistence, and why this is fast becoming a top priority that producers of chemical products need to address. I also share some insights on what has been happening since the article was published.

Read the original article: Why environmental persistence should be a top priority for safe and sustainable products — Embark Chemical Consulting

On the latest developments:

ECHA guidance on the new CLP hazards: Guidance on the Application of the CLP Criteria - Part 4/5: Environmental hazards and additional hazards

Recording of SETAC topical discussion on extreme persistence: Addressing Extreme Persistence – Identification, Behavior and Management of “Forever Chemicals” Beyond PFAS on Vimeo

ECETOC workshop on OECD 309 surface water biodegradation test: Overcoming challenges and advancing (bio)degradation guidelines: OECD TG309 revisited - ECETOC

SETAC Vienna conference (11 – 15 May 2025): SETAC Europe 35th Annual Meeting

Further information:

Download the Persistence Assessment Tool: Persistence Assessment Tool (PAT) | Industry insights | News and insights | Ricardo

Read the Cefic-LRI ECO52 project reports: ECO52 – Bioavailability, complex substances and overall persistence (BCOP): three themes to deliver a step-change in persistence assessments – Cefic-Lri

Learn about the SETAC Persistence Science Interest Group: Announcing the New Persistence Science Interest Group

Visit my website for more content and insights www.embarkchemical.com

In this episode I am joined by Peter Fisk, founder of Green Chemical Design Ltd, and formerly of Peter Fisk Associates (now Vitis Regulatory). 

Peter talks about his extensive career journey, and gives an honest appraisal of the evolution and current state of chemicals management in Europe. 

Our discussion covers a lot of ground, including:

• Peter's early career and interests as a scientist
• Making the switch to consultancy and starting a business
• The advent of the REACH regulation and the transformation of chemicals management in Europe
• How interactions between regulators and industry have changed over time
• Unifying qualities of regulatory scientists
• Challenges with the implementation of REACH: on read-across, QSARs, testing costs, bureaucracy, and the speed of regulatory processes
• Hazard assessment vs risk assessment
• REACH for polymers
• Safe and Sustainable by Design (SSbD)
• The challenge of assessing complex substances (UVCBs) and the progress made by the oil industry 
• Opportunities and challenges with green chemistry and chemical substitution
• The potential of Hansen Solubility Parameters as a tool to evaluate chemical hazards
• Remembering Steve Robertson
• Ethical concerns with fish testing and regulatory box-ticking
• Praise for the REACH registered substances database
• The extreme persistence of PFAS and their impact on other chemistries

Peter has accrued a huge amount of knowledge and wisdom during his career. If you're interested in learning from his experience, this one is not to be missed!

Green Chemical Design - Together we can do even better chemistry

In Memoriam: Stephen (Steve) Michael Robertson (1949–2023)

Visit my website for more content and insights www.embarkchemical.com

In this episode I am joined by Jen Novakovic from The Eco Well. Jen is as an influencer and podcaster in the cosmetics space. She focuses in particular on issues of science communication and misinformation. 

Our conversation covers:

• Jen's journey and work on science communication in the cosmetics sector
• What is misinformation, and why is it a problem?
• The role of social media and human biases
• The need for effective science communication 
• Misinformation on UV filters, coral bleaching and climate change
• Potential barriers to effective science communication
• The problem with 'Free From' claims, and other perverse incentives
• Experiences on different social media platforms
• Trust in science, institutional defensiveness, and taking responsibility
• The cost of conferences, and Jen's work on e-summits

Find out more about Jen's work on the Eco Well website: The Eco Well

My conversation with Jen on the Eco Well podcast: Biodegradation and Persistence with Chris Hughes — The Eco Well

The Sustainable Beauty E-Summit (23rd February) event page: Sustainable Beauty E-Summit — The Eco Well

Visit my website for more content and insights www.embarkchemical.com

In this episode I speak with Jen Vanderhoven, Chief Operating Officer of the Bio-based and Biodegradable Industry Association (BBIA) in the UK. The BBIA is in place to champion the industrial bioeconomy in the UK, and to reduce our reliance on fossil resources to create a sustainable circular economy. 

Jen has been making real waves in her role at the BBIA. We have a fascinating conversation covering:

• What is the bio-economy? Why is it needed?
• The history of the BBIA, Jen’s role, and the evolution of the organisation
• The importance of certifications, standards and life cycle assessments
• The case for plastic as a material
• Bringing together different sectors and stakeholders under one roof
• The benefits of collaboration and the challenges of scaling-up 
• How the bio-economy could transform supply chains and regional economies
• The UK vision for engineering biology
• Policy barriers and creating a supportive environment for the sector
• The REACH regulation and the implications of Brexit
• The BBIA’s new regulatory network (BB-REG-NET)

BBIA website: Home - BBIA

BB-REG-NET website: BB-REG-NET - Sustainable Chemicals and Materials

Visit my website for more content and insights www.embarkchemical.com

What happens to the chemicals we use in everyday life once they enter the environment?

In this episode, I am joined by Dr. Irene Bramke, Senior Environmental Risk Assessor at AstraZeneca. 

Irene and I have a detailed discussion about persistence (how long it takes for chemicals to break down in the environment). With recent concerns around plastic pollution, PFAS 'forever chemicals', and broader sustainability goals, the persistence of chemicals in the environment has become one of the most urgent and pressing issues for policymakers and society.

Irene and I discuss the science behind persistence, and how it relates to the risks chemicals might pose to people and the environment. We also talk about recent regulatory developments in Europe, and how these are reshaping the future of chemicals management. 

Our conversation covers:

• Irene's background and career journey
• Grappling with complexity - insights from studying soils in an agrochemicals company
• Industry's participation in regulatory science - then vs now
• Issues of environmental relevance in laboratory biodegradation testing
• The evolving policy landscape for persistence
• Non-degradable chemicals and the legacy P/vP criteria
• In the eye of the beholder - the meaning of word 'persistent'
• Implications of new policies - the PMT/vPvM hazard classes
• A troubling outlook - data gaps, transformation products, and questionable impact assessments?
• Reflections on OECD simulation tests as tools for persistence assessments
• Insights from AstraZeneca's Ecopharmacovigilance programme
• The importance of data quality in monitoring efforts - the CREED approach
• Shifting regulatory paradigms - hazard assessment vs risk assessment, and the need for continuing dialogue
• Can we get better at assessing persistence? High-throughput and predictive methods

PBT/PMT assessment of active pharmaceutical ingredients - ScienceDirect

Environmental fate and effects assessment of human pharmaceuticals: lessons learnt from regulatory data | Environmental Sciences Europe

Overcoming challenges and advancing (bio)degradation guidelines: OECD TG309 revisited - ECETOC

AstraZeneca - EcoPharmacoVigilance Dashboard

Using environmental concentration exposure datasets in environmental assessments: The development of Criteria for Reporting and Evaluating Exposure Datasets (CREED): Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management

HOMEPAGE - imi-premier

Modernizing assessment of persistence and transformation products of chemicals – from new tools to implementation (23-October 24, 2025): Overview · HIFIS and Helmholtz Events (Indico)

Visit my website for more content and insights www.embarkchemical.com

In this episode I am joined by Paul Thomas, founder of Kreatis, a company that specialises in developing in silico tools for predicting chemical properties and hazard endpoints. 

Join us for an interesting conversation covering: 

• Paul’s early career and experiences with building a company
• Quantitative structure activity relationship (QSAR) models for predicting chemical properties
• The role of QSARs for reducing animal testing
• The role of QSARs in the new approach methodologies (NAMs) discussion
• The new QSAR Assessment Framework (QAF) and validating predictions for regulatory use
• Publicly available chemical databases and their importance for QSAR development
• Innovation in QSARs, and balancing protecting commercial interests with the need for transparency

More information about Kreatis: KREATiS - Experts in Computational (Eco)Toxicology

The QSAR Assessment Framework: (Q)SAR Assessment Framework: Guidance for the regulatory assessment of (Quantitative) Structure Activity Relationship models and predictions | OECD

Correction:

In this episode, Paul and I discussed the concept of FAIR data, in which I identify the ‘F’ term as ‘freely available’. The correct term is 'findable' (FAIR stands for Findable, Accessible, Interoperable and Reusable). More information on the FAIR principles can be found here: https://www.go-fair.org/fair-principles/

Visit my website for more content and insights www.embarkchemical.com

In this episode I am joined by Claire Walker, Head of Global Regulations and Product Safety at bio-economy startup Holiferm. We discuss Clare’s career journey and her role at Holiferm, where the process of fermentation is being harnessed to produce biosurfactants to replace fossil-derived ingredients across a wide range of products.

We also discuss Clare’s work in mammalian toxicology and regulatory compliance, the contrast between working in a startup vs a multinational corporation, the regulatory challenges facing start-ups in the bioeconomy, animal testing and the friction between the EU cosmetic products and REACH regulations, the new hazards under EU CLP, evolving regulatory processes and the need for dialogue, and other topics.

Holiferm website: holiferm.com

Visit my website for more content and insights www.embarkchemical.com

Welcome to the first episode of the Chemical Journeys podcast.

The issue of chemicals in the environment is a story.

A story that brings together both the natural and social sciences. A story about Earth, humanity, and individual journeys.

Hear about scientific and policy developments around chemicals in the environment and their impact on the chemicals sector and society as a whole, and look to what the future might hold.

Sign up to the Embark newsletter at www.embarkchemical.com

References:
Building Trust and Momentum on the Road to a Safe and Sustainable Chemicals Sector

In this episode I speak with Dr Katherine Santizo, Programme Manager of Cefic's Long-range Research Initiative (LRI). 

Since 1999, Cefic-LRI has funded over 250 projects (totaling approximately €90 million) to advance the scientific assessment of the safety of chemicals, and to improve understanding of potential health and environmental risks.

Tune in to hear first-hand from Katherine about the exciting work that Cefic-LRI does, and how this is helping to deliver progress in chemicals assessment science.

Our conversation covers:

• What is Cefic-LRI? The LRI mission, and what makes it different
• How it works - the LRI process from ideation to publications
• Tools and solutions to address key regulatory challenges
• Katherine's background and career journey
• Working across disciplines - integrating environmental science with human health
• Reflecting on the 25 year anniversary of Cefic-LRI
• Upcoming research projects: new approach methodologies (NAMs), mobility and biodegradation
• Other hot topics in chemicals safety research
• Cefic-LRI's contribution to persistence assessment science

Cefic-Lri – Long-Range Research Initiative

Determining the water solubility of difficult-to-test substances: A tutorial review - ScienceDirect

Cefic-LRI workshop highlights advances in chemical assessments aligned with evolving regulations – Cefic-Lri

LRI Marks 25 Years of Advancing Chemical Safety Assessments – Cefic-Lri

Cefic-LRI 25th Anniversary Commemorative Book

New funding opportunities for research on NAMs, biodegradation testing and mobility assessment – Cefic-Lri

ECO52 – Bioavailability, complex substances and overall persistence (BCOP): three themes to deliver a step-change in persistence assessments – Cefic-Lri

Developing a weight-of-evidence methodology for persistence assessment of substances in the environment | Earth, Space, and Environmental Chemistry | ChemRxiv | Cambridge Open Engage

Visit my website for more content and insights www.embarkchemical.com

In this episode I speak with Dr Anna Zhenova of Green Rose Chemistry.

Green Rose Chemistry are a mission-driven consultancy applying the principles of green chemistry to help organisations to develop more sustainable products and processes.

Our conversation covers:

• What does Green Rose Chemistry do?
• Green chemistry as a grass roots movement - the need for education and champions within organisations
• How different sectors are at varying stages on the green chemistry journey
• The importance of language in communicating sustainability
• Examples of green chemistry solutions - chemical substitution vs functional substitution
• Reflections on connecting chemical safety with product development and other disciplines
• Avoiding tunnel vision and uncovering win-wins - a case with safer solvents
• What is green chemistry? 12 principles, 3 pillars
• On externalities - economic vs moral questions
• Chemicals in the environment, persistence, transformation products, and mixtures
• Dealing with overwhelm and working within your sphere of influence
• How do green chemists differ from traditional chemists

Green Rose Chemistry | Sustainable Chemistry Consultants

Beyond Benign

Green Rose Chemistry | Training

Advancing Safer Alternatives Through Functional Substitution | Environmental Science & Technology

12 Principles of Green Chemistry - American Chemical Society

Visit my website for more content and insights www.embarkchemical.com

In this episode, I speak with Janet Greenwood of TT Environmental. 

Janet has been working for many years in chemicals safety and regulatory compliance, and runs a community of regulatory professionals (the Chemical Regulations Self Help Group) here in the UK, and a regular newsletter (Chemicals Coffee Time) with over 4000 subscribers across the globe. 

Janet therefore brings an important perspective from regulatory professionals and small and medium enterprises (SMEs) working 'on the ground' to address regulatory compliance within the chemicals industry.

Our conversation covers:

• Janet's background and the origins of her community and newsletter
• Chemicals Coffee Time - during lockdown and beyond
• Janet's journey to becoming an environmental consultant
• Environmental permits, sustainability and ISO 14001
• Top-down procedures vs individual vigilance
• Safety Data Sheets (SDS), CLP labels, and the need to keep the end user in the focus
• Dealing with the deluge of regulatory changes in the EU and UK
• The impact of new substances of very high concern (SVHCs) 
• Reflections on the evolution and broader impacts of REACH
• The shifting chemicals marketplace and shared responsibility
• Views on environmental challenges, and the concept of stewardship

TT Environmental Consultancy Yorkshire | EP, IPPC, REACH, COMAH, ADMS & Environmental modeling

The Chemical Regulations Self Help Group – Peer support for REACH, CLP and other chemical regulations

Sign up to Chemicals Coffee Time weekly - Chemicals Coffee Time

Chemicals Coffee Time Monthly newsletter - LinkedIn

Visit my website for more content and insights www.embarkchemical.com

In this episode I speak with Professor Thomas Hartung. 

Prof Hartung is Doerenkamp-Zbinden Chair of Evidence-based Toxicology at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, and Professor of Pharmacology and Toxicology at the University of Konstanz. He also holds positions as Director of the Center for Alternatives to Animal Testing (CAAT) and Field Chief Editor of the academic journal Frontiers in AI, and was the 2025 recipient of the prestigious Peter Singer Prize. 

We have a fascinating discussion about the breathtaking developments in AI and animal-free toxicology, and what this means for areas like drug development, chemical regulation, public health, animal testing, research ethics, the exposome, and the future of our society.

Our conversation covers:

• New Approach Methodologies (NAMs): the new automobile?
• Technological advances in microphysiological systems (MPS) and artificial intelligence (AI)
• The problems with animal models
• Challenges with validation and regulatory acceptance of NAMs
• The importance of education for uptake of NAMs
• Recent developments on US animal testing policy
• What is happening in the EU? Differences between regions and regulatory systems
• How AI is transforming research, and using it in day-to-day work 
• Implications of AI for quality of scientific publications and risk of bias
• The Human Exposome Project: what is it, and how can AI help deliver it?
• Environmental persistence, the exposome, and the public discourse on chemicals

NAMazing: Déjà Vu at the lab bench - Why animal-free science is the new automobile - ScienceDirect

NIH stops funding new projects which focus only on animal testing | Cruelty Free International

The turning point: April 2025 marks historic shift in US animal testing policy | ALTEX - Alternatives to animal experimentation

REACH out-numbered! The future of REACH and animal numbers | ALTEX - Alternatives to animal experimentation

A systematic analysis of read-across adaptations in testing proposal evaluations by the European Chemicals Agency | ALTEX - Alternatives to animal experimentation

Guidance for Good In Vitro Reporting Standards (GIVReSt) – A draft for stakeholder discussion and background documentation | ALTEX - Alternatives to animal experimentation

Top 10 Emerging Technologies of 2024 | World Economic Forum

Assessing risk of bias in toxicological studies in the era of artificial intelligence | Archives of Toxicology

Is regulatory science ready for artificial intelligence? | npj Digital Medicine

How AI can deliver the Human Exposome Project | Nature Medicine

Stockholm Declaration on Chemistry for the Future

Visit my website for more content and insights www.embarkchemical.com

In this episode I speak with Dr. Blanca Serrano Ramón, Secretary General of the European Centre for Ecotoxicology and Toxicology of Chemicals (ECETOC). 

ECETOC is a scientific organisation that brings together experts from industry, academia and regulatory bodies to tackle challenges and deliver solutions for chemical safety.

Through its range of task forces, events and coordination activities, ECETOC is working across the full spectrum of chemical hazard and risk assessment topics, including endocrine disruption, new approach methodologies (NAMs), biodiversity, microplastics, persistence, and mobility (to name a few). They also develop and maintain a number of advanced risk assessment tools.

Our conversation covers

• What is ECETOC? What do they do?
• Why it's important to have dialogue between industry, academia and regulatory bodies
• Face-to-face vs online interactions
• Blanca’s background and journey to ECETOC
• Reflections on working at ECETOC
• ECETOC’s work on polymers
• The need to improve awareness and education in regulatory science
• Risk perception, trust in science, and science communication
• Two years on: the debate on conflicts of interest
• ECETOC associate membership

Home - ECETOC

ECETOC Workshop Report Highlights Advances and Challenges in Biodegradation Testing Guidelines - ECETOC

ECETOC task force proposes three-tiered approach to targeted information requirements for polymers - ECETOC

Visit my website for more content and insights www.embarkchemical.com

In this episode I speak with Andrew Johnson, Environmental Research Scientist at the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology and Visiting Professor at Brunel University.

Andrew and I have a fascinating discussion about the current state of scientific research and public discourse on chemicals, and how a different approach might ultimately lead to better outcomes for wildlife. 

Our conversation covers:

• Andrew's background and research interests
• What's wrong with the way we do research on chemicals?
• Endocrine disruption and uncovering population-relevant effects
• Insights from 30 years of monitoring data on macroinvertebrate diversity in English rivers
• The issue of combined sewer overflows
• Why monitoring data is so valuable, and so underappreciated
• Problems with the Water Framework Directive 
• Risk assessment of chemicals and the mixture assessment factor (MAF)
• Are we prioritising the wrong things?
• Perverse incentives in research 
• Science in the media and improving public discourse
• Advice for early career scientists

Zinc and Copper Have the Greatest Relative Importance for River Macroinvertebrate Richness at a National Scale | Environmental Science & Technology

Review of the Classification Framework for Ecological Status/Potential under the Water Environment (Water Framework Directive) England and Wales Regulations - WT15168

Are we going about chemical risk assessment for the aquatic environment the wrong way? | Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry | Oxford Academic

How to be a Better Scientist | Andrew Johnson, John Sumpter | Taylor & Francis

Visit my website for more content and insights www.embarkchemical.com

In this episode I am joined by Todd Gouin of TG Environmental Research. Todd and I have a far-reaching discussion about the science and policy of chemicals in the environment. 

Our conversation covers:

• Todd's career journey and the role of Don Mackay
• The concept of environmental persistence
• Tools for chemicals management and the evolving policy landscape
• Exposure assessment and risk assessment - the importance of considering exposure in addressing chemical risks
• How sustainability is changing the way we look at chemicals
• How science is produced, and communicated in the media
• How well do our tools fit what is happening in the environment?
• Biodiversity and the roles of chemical and non-chemical stressors
• Changes to policy around persistence - storing up problems for the future?
• Why biodegradability is important for consumer-facing sectors
• Persistence in the discussion on product circularity and innovation
• What's at stake? Balancing costs to society
• The need for multidisciplinary expertise and the role of industry

Recorded on 12th March 2025

Environmental Fate and Exposure - TG Environmental Research

In Memoriam: Don Mackay

Zinc and Copper Have the Greatest Relative Importance for River Macroinvertebrate Richness at a National Scale | Environmental Science & Technology

A review of DEB theory in assessing toxic effects of mixtures - ScienceDirect

Why environmental persistence should be a top priority for safe and sustainable products

The Wizard and the Prophet: Two Remarkable Scientists and Their Dueling Visions to Shape Tomorrow's World

Visit my website for more content and insights www.embarkchemical.com

Happy 2026, and welcome to Chemical Journeys Season 2!

In this episode, I speak with Dr. Afolarin Ogungbemi, Senior Expert in Product Compliance at Currenta.

Fola and I talk about his career journey so far, from student in ecotoxicology to senior regulatory consultant. We discuss experiences of early career scientists finding their next steps after completing a PhD, adapting to working in different sectors, the importance of staying open for continuous growth and learning, and the value of mentorship and support along the way. 

Fola also shares some of his personal experiences of relocating to multiple cities, finding friends and community, and his adventures as a DJ. We talk about Fola's journey with the Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry (SETAC), and that part that the organisation has played in his development. Fola also reflects on his Christian Faith and how this shapes his outlook and approach to life.

Fola Ogungbemi, PhD | LinkedIn

DJ with a PhD (@djfolaflo) • Instagram photos and videos

SETAC Europe 36th Annual Meeting