ChemFORWARD Enhances Chemical Hazard Data Trust with "Impurities of High Concern" Flag
Driving Supply Chain Transparency and Risk Mitigation using Chemical Hazard Assessments
DURHAM, NC – Today, ChemFORWARD announced a significant enhancement to the Chemical Hazard Data Trust with the introduction of the "Impurities of High Concern" flag to Chemical Hazard Assessments (CHAs). This new feature is designed to provide greater visibility into the hidden risks associated with common process-related or other known impurities, enabling users to make more informed decisions when selecting safer alternatives.
Addressing the Challenge of Impurities
While standard CHA methodologies assume a CAS-level substance is theoretically pure, real-world manufacturing often introduces unintended constituents. These impurities, which can originate from feedstocks, incomplete chemical reactions, or a variety of other sources, often vary by manufacturer and can significantly impact the hazard profile of a material. Many impurities are subject to regulatory requirements which vary based on chemical use and application.
ChemFORWARD has bridged this gap by adding the capability to flag chemicals that contain Impurities of High Concern, defined as any impurity known to be associated with the target chemical as identified by expert assessors that carries a ChemFORWARD Hazard Band of D or F. Chemicals in the D and F Hazard Bands are unlikely to meet definitions for safer chemistry. The impurities flag may indicate form-specific concerns as well, such as chemicals for which nanoform particles are possible.
Example of a flag in the Chemical Hazard Data Trust web-based application for Glycerin, a chemical for which two impurities of high concern, Diethylene Glycol and Ethylene Glycol, are present. The hazards associated with these impurities drive USP testing standards for Glycerin. Profile courtesy of ToxServices.
Why It Matters
The addition of this flag provides two critical advantages for technical and procurement teams:
Targeted Information Requests: A clear signal for users to request specific impurity data from supply chain partners that may have been previously overlooked.
Risk Mitigation: By identifying high-hazard impurities early, companies can proactively transition toward functional alternatives that do not carry the same level of impurity-driven supply chain risk.
Integration Across the Platform
The "Impurities of High Concern" flag will be integrated across ChemFORWARD’s suite of tools:
Chemical Hazard Data Trust: A visible flag will appear on the Chemical Summary page for any substance meeting the criteria.
API: API users will be informed of a potential Impurity of High Concern flag by way of a generic hazard flag, which can be integrated directly into internal systems and platforms.
To learn more or to request a demo of the Chemical Hazard Data Trust, please contact info@chemforward.org.
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ChemFORWARD is a nonprofit, science-based organization dedicated to ending toxic chemical exposure by making hazard data broadly accessible and illuminating safer alternatives. As managers of the Chemical Hazard Data Trust, ChemFORWARD provides transparent, toxicologist-created, peer-reviewed information that helps brands, suppliers, and scientists create safer, more sustainable products across industries such as beauty, electronics, apparel, and packaging.
