News Release

New spin-out company offers solution for chemicals industry problem

Business Announcement

Newcastle University

A new company is helping to solve a 20-year problem in the chemicals industry.

Enviresearch, a 'spin-out' from the University of Newcastle, UK, uses computer models to determine whether chemicals are environmentally friendly.

The British Government demands that chemicals undergo a rigorous testing programme, including an 'environmental risk assessment', before it is satisfied a substance is safe. Only then will it grant a sales licence for the UK and Europe.

Due to these strict regulations, however, which date back to 1981, there is a massive backlog of tens of thousands of chemicals which need checking.

Risk assessments can be based on laboratory tests, or performed using the cheaper, quicker method offered by Enviresearch. Computer modelling provides results in several days, as opposed to the several weeks needed for laboratory tests to be completed.

Company director James Garratt has been working on environmental modelling and research for the last decade.

He said: "We are currently able to test a wide range of chemicals, including pesticides, paints, detergents and wood preservatives for our clients using a wide range of mathematical models."

"The models – sophisticated computer programmes - carry out a detailed analysis of information we have about particular chemicals and predicts what would happen if they enter the environment. The worst case scenario is that a harmful chemical could kill birds and fish and damage the ecosystem."

Dr Garratt, a researcher with Newcastle University's School of Biology, is targeting the international chemicals industry with this technology. One recent project involved helping a company to predict how the acidity of soil would affect the risk that a pesticide would contaminate drinking water.

"There is certainly plenty of work out there, with the backlog of chemicals needing to be environmentally risk assessed," he added.

###

Notes to editors: Company website: http://www.enviresearch.com/ Newcastle University School of Biology: http://www.ncl.ac.uk/biol/


Disclaimer: AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert system.