The European Partnership for the Assessment of Risks from Chemicals (PARC) is making significant progress in better understanding how people are exposed to single chemicals and chemical mixtures via different exposure sources including food, water, soil, air, consumer products and workplaces, and exposure routes (ingestion, inhalation, dermal contact). PARC is...

PARC researchers have provided new scientific data to support the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) in its ongoing assessment of Alternaria toxins in food and feed. The work was carried out through PARC’s Rapid Response Mechanism, which helps address urgent regulatory data needs by mobilising scientific expertise across Europe. The...

The European Partnership for the Assessment of Risks from Chemicals (PARC) has launched a new interactive map featuring laboratories across Europe working on the analysis of chemical substances in water. The new tool is designed to support easier access to information on laboratory capacities in this field and to strengthen...

Environmental pollution can affect human health in many ways, but understanding those links requires knowledge that crosses environmental science, exposure assessment, epidemiology and public health. To help strengthen that connection, PARC recently organised a remote training course on Pollution and Public Health: Insights from Chlor-Alkali Emissions and Trihalomethanes in Drinking...

A new Laboratory Network group has been launched on PARCopedia, the collaborative knowledge platform developed within the PARC project, creating a dedicated space for laboratories across Europe to exchange expertise, discuss technical challenges and strengthen collaboration in chemical risk assessment. As a European partnership working to advance next-generation chemical risk...

The field of chemical risk assessment is evolving rapidly with the introduction of innovative approaches like Physiologically-Based Kinetic (PBK) models. These models, which simulate what the body does to a chemical rather than focusing on what the chemical does to the body, play a crucial role in modernising how we...

How can we better protect our brains and hormone systems from chemical risks? PARC group of experts dedicated to Hazard Assessment recently shared preliminary results and key regulatory questions at ECHA Science Seminars, highlighting how chemical hazard assessment can better protect both the developing and adult brain, and help avoid...

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as indomethacin, are widely used but are also a leading cause of gastric ulcers due to their effects on the stomach lining. A recent experimental study in rats shows that carnosic acid, a natural compound found in rosemary, significantly reduced gastric injury caused by NSAIDs...

Three early-career researchers collaborating with PARC have recently been honoured at important scientific meetings in the field of toxicology. Their achievements highlight both the quality of their work and the value of international cooperation in advancing research that protects human health. Sebastian Gutsfeld, a PhD researcher working in the group...

PARC is organising the second edition of the remote training course on “Exercises on results of in silico models and read-across using VEGAHUB – Examples related to cosmetics and ecotoxicological and environmental properties”, continuing its series of hands-on trainings focused on the practical interpretation and application of in silico tools...

The WP6 Workshop 2026, held in Brussels, brought together participants for several days of discussion, exchange and practical work focused on strengthening the regulatory relevance of research within PARC’s integrative risk assessment activities. The meeting opened with strategic presentations that helped frame the key challenges and opportunities ahead. Among them...

PARC and the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre (JRC) met online on 24 February 2026 for their annual meeting, bringing together around 40 PARC representatives and 20 JRC participants. The meeting provided an opportunity to review ongoing joint work, share updates on PARC activities, and identify new areas for collaboration...

Current approaches to neurotoxicity testing rely heavily on animal studies, which are often costly and time-consuming. This limits the ability to assess the growing number of chemicals that may affect the human nervous system. A recent study presents advanced human-derived 3D BrainSphere models, combining neurons and supporting cells, to better...

Adverse Outcome Pathways (AOPs) are central to next-generation chemical hazard assessment. They map how a molecular interaction triggered by a chemical can lead, step by step, to an adverse outcome in a cascading manner. AOPs provide a shared framework through which scientists and regulators identify key biological events, clarify evidence...

PARC has submitted its phasing-out strategy to the European Commission on 20 March 2026, marking an important milestone in ensuring the long-term sustainability of its activities and impact. The European Commission has reviewed the strategy and confirmed that it is in alignment with the provided guidelines and Horizon Europe legal...

Harmful algal blooms are becoming more frequent worldwide, driven by climate change and pollution. These events release potent toxins into water systems, raising concerns for both human and environmental health. A new review suggests that current research may be overlooking a critical part of the problem. While most studies focus...

The Partnership for the Assessment of Risks from Chemicals (PARC) has updated its Work Package 5 (hazard assessment) portfolio following a second prioritisation round, ensuring closer alignment with evolving regulatory needs across the European Union. Four new projects have been launched focusing on developmental and reproductive toxicity, developmental immunotoxicity, sexual...

PARC is launching a new webinar series on Quality assurance (QA) and quality control (QC) in chemical analysis and in vitro toxicity testing, aiming to strengthen the quality, consistency, and regulatory usability of monitoring data generated across environmental, food, and human health domains, and toxicity data generated through laboratory tests...

A new study, led by researchers from University College Dublin (study outputs available here), proposed an adaptable framework of practical steps for implementing sustainable national Human Biomonitoring (HBM) programmes. The study, global in scope and first of its kind, reviewed existing well-established national HBM programmes in 14 countries to identify...

A recently published study highlights how innovative classroom strategies can transform the way students perceive science, showing that curiosity, emotion, and hands-on experimentation may be as important as textbooks in building scientific understanding. Developed by researchers from Inserm and the University of Bordeaux, the research presents an educational model that...