European Test and Risk Assessment Strategies for Mixtures

Every day, we are exposed to a mixture of multiple chemicals via food intake, inhalation and dermal contact. The risk to health that may result from this depends on how the effects of different chemicals in the mixture combine, and whether there is any synergism or antagonism between them.  

Human biomonitoring studies show that people have a considerable number of human-made chemicals in their bodies. European regulations stipulate the need to consider the potential mixture effect in the nearby future. EuroMix has delivered an open web-based data and model platform for exposure, hazard and risk assessment.

EuroMix aimed to establish novel testing and assessment strategies for chemical mixtures, to develop appropriate mixture risk assessment methodology and to implement this in a well-accessible inter-operational data and model platform.

Eleven European Member States tested the EuroMix data and model platform by performing dietary exposure assessments including a large number of chemicals. They also carried out case studies addressing multiple exposure routes of bisphenols and pesticides. These case studies should be seen as a try-out and not as a real risk assessment at this stage. Many different stakeholders were trained on the use of the EuroMix models.  

Risk assessment of chemical mixtures is often hampered by a lack of data. The EuroMix consortium developed a test strategy aiming to be cost-effective and to reduce animal testing. EuroMix tested a large number of chemicals affecting three adverse outcomes; liver steatosis, skeletal malformation and endocrine disruption. The test data will become available via the web-based EuroMix data and model platform and can be used in risk assessment of chemical mixtures.  Read more
 

Consortium

22 partners and 4 affiliated partners participated in the EuroMix consortium.  RIVM was the coordinator of the EuroMix project which started 15 May 2015 and ended 14 May 2019. 

Funding

EuroMix was funded under Horizon2020 EU European Union (European Union ).3.2.