Hazard Assessment for Chemists

The development of green and sustainable chemistry technologies requires a systems-based approach that addresses the design of chemicals for circularity, function and minimal hazard as well as development of efficient and environmentally-benign chemical processes. The design of safer functional chemicals is a particular challenge for chemists and engineers, given that they typically receive no training in this area. This workshop will provide chemists fundamental theory and practical tools that can be applied early in the design of chemicals and materials. In this three-part workshop, we shall provide a brief overview of the toxicology fundamentals that underpin chemists’ ability to consider chemical toxicity. Subsequently, we shall consider design guidelines based on physicochemical properties and reactivity indices that identify chemicals most likely to meet a threshold of safety, and lastly, discuss the use of next-generation in silico tools for prediction of chemical hazard. Opportunities for collaboration between chemists and toxicologists will further allow for progress in the design of functional and safe chemicals. The latter will be contextualized with examples from research in academia, government labs and industry.

Organizer

Prof. Jakob Kostal, George Washington University
Dr. Hans Plugge, Safer Chemical Analytics, LLC

Abstract Submission

Invited Only (Workshop)