SETAC Europe 34th Annual Meeting 2024
Our team, Oliver Warwick, Ros Wildey, Jackie Edwards, Sharanda Francis, Emma Jack, Joanne Vasallo, and Silke Fiebig recently attended the SETAC Europe 34th Annual Meeting in Seville. This event brought together industry researchers, policymakers and regulators, to discuss environmental issues and delved into the theme of ‘Science-Based Solutions in Times of Crisis: Integrating Science and Policy for Environmental Challenges’.
Principal Scientist, Silke Fiebig, presented her poster that discussed “Biodegradable or not? Developing a standardized international approach to assessing the biodegradability of cosmetic formulations” in the session titled “New Perspectives and Developments in Chemical (Bio)Degradation and Persistence Assessment”. Download Silke's poster here: https://www.vitisregulatory.com/vitis-news/setac-eu-2024-developing-approach-to-assess-biodegradability-of-cosmetics-formulations.
Additionally, Environmental Scientist Joanne Vassallo, shared her insights during the session titled “Nano and Advanced Materials Safety: Research Progress, Industrial Applications and Regulation” where she displayed her poster on “Global RNA Sequencing of Escherichia coli from Exposure to Nanodiamonds and Carbon Nanotubes with Surface Coatings”. Download Joanne’s poster here: https://www.vitisregulatory.com/vitis-news/setac-eu-2024-global-rna-sequencing-of-escherichia-coli.
Sharanda Francis shares her key takeaways from this event which included:
Beyond Persistent (Micro-)Plastics Training Session: This full-day session explored the difficulties of measuring polymer biodegradability using OECD Test Guidelines. The session provided a sizable amount of literature for further review, making it a valuable resource for understanding regulatory implications on polymers.
QSAR Assessment Framework Talk by Doris Hirmann (ECHA): This presentation introduced new insights into model development for specific endpoints and the evaluation of structural analogues by ECHA.
Networking Opportunities: SETAC provided abundant networking opportunities, especially during the poster presentation sessions. Sharanda volunteered as a judge for PhD student presentations which facilitated numerous professional interactions and an exchange of ideas.
The SETAC Annual Meeting 2024 offered Vitis Regulatory valuable insights into the latest in environmental chemistry and ecotoxicological research. The event showcased innovative approaches to the assessment of substances and their use in the management of chemical safety, underscoring the significance of SETAC in advancing the field of sustainable production and use of chemicals.