Our work
Safety benchmarks are an essential part of assessing the risk chemicals pose to human health. At bibra, we specialise in identifying and deriving these benchmarks. They represent the estimated maximum exposure, generally qualified by route (through skin contact, inhalation, or ingestion), that will pose no significant threat. Our approach involves extensively analysing evidence from occupational and epidemiological studies and laboratory animal assays. When available, we also incorporate data on the chemical’s absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion (ADME). By combining these data sources, bibra ensures accurate and scientifically robust safety benchmarks that meet our clients’ needs.
Existing Safety Benchmarks
Expert Groups both independent and industry-led, will often establish these safe limits as part of their reviews of chemical substances. They use various terminologies like Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI), Reference Dose (RfD), and Maximum Residue Limit (MRL) and more surprisingly, different quantitative views on how to account for uncertainty. Where a benchmark is set by the authoritative body in a particular industry sector, this becomes an important influence on a bibra risk assessment for clients in that same business area. With bibra's expertise, companies can confidently align their products and practices with the highest safety standards.
Bibra’s Role in Identifying Safety Benchmarks
Our in-house database, TRACE, is ideal for the speedy identification of existing safety benchmarks, and provides a reliable and efficient method of data searching and retrieval. Our scientists have extensive experience of assessing and recording safety benchmarks from a range of sources, comparing the values, and discussing the approach taken in their derivation. This is particularly beneficial to our clients when existing benchmarks from Expert Groups need further clarification or supplementation.
Deriving a new Safety Benchmark
There may be instances where no appropriate Expert Group assessments can be identified, or existing benchmarks don't fit specific scenarios. In such cases, bibra steps in to derive and develop safety benchmarks tailored to the client’s needs. This process will usually involve identifying a critical data point from a laboratory animal experiment, and adjusting to account for the likely differences in how humans and other species (usually a rodent) respond to chemicals in general or (much more rarely) to that specific test chemical. This adjustment is made in line with sector-specific guidance to ensure the most accurate and applicable benchmark for our clients.
Bibra’s Expertise Across Industries
Our team has an unrivalled level of expertise in deriving safety benchmarks in chemical risk assessments. Our work spans various sectors – from pharmaceuticals to consumer goods. We are particularly skilled in addressing complex challenges in industries like medical devices, chemicals (particularly toxicity issues generated by REACH), electronic cigarettes, food additives and materials in contact with food.
Our comprehensive approach ensures that businesses across these sectors meet safety standards and regulatory requirements effectively. For more information on how bibra can help you with safety benchmarks, contact us today.
Some of our case studies in this area
Making sense of skin sensitisation
Blog articles
From cosmetics to cleaning products, skin allergy (sensitisation) is a prominent feature of our modern chemical-centric world. Put simply, this hazard is an abnormal reaction of the immune system which makes certain individuals overly sensitive to particular chemicals. Read more in our blog, to help you make sense of sensitisation.
Knowledge is key. Part 2: The bibra TRACE database (and supporting databank)
Blog articles
In Part 1, Peter Watts gave a potted history of his personal early experience in literature searching and toxicity data identification. Along with our colleagues of the same 'fine vintage', he weathered the storms of change, progressing from a time of back-strain (from carrying huge texts around) and index finger wear (turning pages) to dial-up and then to web-based searching. With your indulgence, Pete would now like to expand a little regarding TRACE and its value to clients and the bibra toxicologists.
Knowledge is key. Part 1: Toxicity literature searching, a personal history
Blog articles
Our Toxicology Director, Peter Watts, has written a very interesting article focussing on toxicity literature searching, from his own perspective (having been at bibra for 40+ years)
