Consumer Products and Therapeutics Research Program

National Institute Of Environmental Health Sciences

Investigators

Linked publications & trials

Abstract

The Consumer Products and Therapeutics Program has a number of ongoing human health or toxicity evaluations, including (1) flame retardant assessments, (2) personal care products and potential impacts on fetal growth, (3) development of best practices associated with structural and functional substance classes, and (4) studies to understand long-term health implications of HIV combination therapies: 1. Halogenated flame-retardant chemicals (HFRs) encompass a large group of chemicals that all share a similar function (fire retardation). Current scoping activities are focused on class-based approaches in partnership with CPSC. The resulting evidence map will support evidence-based decisions for conducting health hazard assessment of one or more HFR subclasses for both non-cancer and cancer effects and targeted research on mechanisms that can be used consider extending the class-based health effects implications. 2. Personal care product (PCP) use includes a number of product types, product use categories, and results in exposure to range of chemicals that may impact human health. Two health effects, impaired fetal growth and altered timing of puberty were selected for investigation by chemical class and use categories. A set of scoping reviews are being developed on exposure to chemicals commonly found in PCPs and endpoints related to puberty or fetal growth to develop evidence maps to support decision making on puberty and fetal growth hazard assessments for PCPs as well as research into mechanisms that may be shared across chemical classes. 3. To address the CPT Program goal of developing and applying define approaches to infer hazard across specific structural and functional substance classes, a workshop is scheduled this October to discuss Clustering and Classification Methods and related cheminformatic tools as part of New Approach Methodologies (NAM)s and their applications to facilitate toxicology research and provide information for risk assessment. This discussion will help to identify best practices and guidelines for the application of these approaches and inform the HFR and PCP evaluations. 4. The overarching goal of the HIV projects is to understand the potential long-term health effects of various combination therapies, including when exposures occur during adulthood, pregnancy and early life-stages. The overall-objective of this initiative is to generate information on the potential side effects of these therapeutics to provide clinicians with an evidence-based framework for identifying later-life health risks, which can aid in the implementation of strategies to address patient needs. An overarching goal of the CPT Program for each of these projects is to communicate the pertinent information to stakeholders, regulatory agencies, etc., as well as strengthen and build new partnerships across federal (NIH, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), FDA, CPSC, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Division (NIOSH)) and other non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to contribute value added research and facilitate a broader dissemination of information to guide public health decisions.