Automated Chemical Prioritization for Health

Summary#

Health Canada published a science approach document that explains a new computer workflow, the Health Canada Automated Workflow for Prioritization (HAWPr), to help prioritize about 25,200 substances on the Domestic Substances List for potential human-health risk under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999. The notice says this approach may be used for future prioritization and asks for public comments within 60 days (deadline October 16, 2024).

What it does#

• Describes the HAWPr, a computerized tool that pulls together chemical data from many sources and runs analyses to rank substances for human-health concern.
• Automates four main steps: data collection; data gap filling and predictive modelling; evidence evaluation and confidence scoring; and hazard-and-exposure based prioritization.
• Applies the method to the Domestic Substances List (DSL) (roughly 25,200 substances) and offers preliminary results as a supporting document on Canada.ca.
• Says the approach can be used to identify substances that the government may consider for more detailed assessment under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999.
• Invites public comment for 60 days (deadline October 16, 2024) to the Minister of the Environment by mail, by email (substances@ec.gc.ca) or through Environment and Climate Change Canada’s online system. The notice also notes that respondents can request confidentiality for submitted information.

Who's affected#

• Businesses that make, import, sell or use chemicals and products that contain chemicals in Canada (manufacturers, distributors, consumer-product companies).
• Laboratories, consultants and researchers who provide chemical data or models.
• Public-health, environmental and consumer groups that follow chemical safety work.
• General public — because prioritization can lead to assessments that may result in new safety guidance, testing requirements, or restrictions on certain chemicals.
• It is not yet clear which specific substances will be moved to formal assessment; the tool is for prioritizing candidates and preliminary results are available.

Why it matters#

• The tool aims to make it faster and more consistent to spot chemicals that might harm people’s health.
• Prioritization can lead to follow-up assessments and, if risks are found, to regulatory action that can change product formulations, labelling, availability, or safe-use rules.
• The workflow increases transparency and reproducibility by drawing on large data sets (including access to over a million records) and by documenting how decisions are made.
• The approach has limits and uncertainties; the government is asking for public feedback now to help shape how the tool will be used.