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 timing of puberty or 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 literature evaluations using systematic evidence map (SEM) approaches to identify and categorize current research are being developed on exposure to chemicals commonly found in PCPs and endpoints related to puberty or fetal growth to develop interactive 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. We continued our effort to address the CPT Program goal of developing and applying approaches to infer hazard across specific structural and functional substance classes through presentations at scientific meetings and discussions with colleagues and collaborators internally and externally. These conversations were informed by the 2021 workshop with participants across multiple agencies, organizations, and countries on Clustering and Classification Methods and related cheminformatic tools as part of New Approach Methodologies (NAM)s and their applications to both facilitate toxicology research and provide information for risk assessment. This discussion contributed to the 2024 publication on Clustering and Classification and understanding best practices and the importance of case studies applying these approaches such as the HFR and PCP evaluations. 4. The overarching objective 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. This initiative is generating information on 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 overall goal of the CPT Program for each of these projects is to develop and communicate the pertinent information to stakeholders, regulatory agencies, and the public as we 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.