- Mapping existing data resources relevant to environmental exposure to chemicals and evaluating the current landscape, primarily at European and national levels, including assessing the level of FAIRness (Findability, Accessibility, Interoperability, and Reusability) of priority resources.
- Developing solutions to access and reuse both existing and newly created data resources.
- Cooperating with and supporting other PARC projects in generating and managing environmental data following FAIR principles and the Open Data approach, ultimately advancing the concept of “One substance, one assessment.”
Overview
Over the years, various tools and database platforms have been created to store, analyse, and visualise data and trends on the presence of chemicals and trends in their exposure in the environment. However, each tool or platform was developed for different user groups, offering various services and addressing different topics. The available data is often organised by type of environmental sample (such as water, air, or soil), and these datasets vary in content, structure, and development, including differences in data standardisation, classification systems, and available tools.
The environmental monitoring and exposure component of the Partnership for the Assessment of Risks from Chemicals (PARC) focuses on studying how chemicals move and accumulate in multiple parts of the environment. It also examines how humans are exposed to these chemicals when they originate from different sources and travel through various pathways.
This research promotes a “one health” approach to chemical risk assessment, which considers the interconnected health of people, animals, and ecosystems. Researchers will evaluate combined exposures by analysing the presence of chemicals, their breakdown products, and their interactions across different environmental samples.
Members of the research and innovation teams in PARC are seeking better ways to access and connect existing data resources, such as monitoring programs, databases, and scientific libraries. These solutions will help map and access the diverse information already available. By gathering and combining information on chemicals in the environment, researchers aim to improve how risks to human health and ecosystems are assessed.