Could Qsar modelling be used for some data gaps in REACH registration of polymers?

Polymers have been used in many industrial sectors including consumer goods, construction materials, the electrical industry, packaging, food contact materials, coatings, medical equipment and agriculture. They have many functions, for example as thickeners, surfactants, emulsifiers and foam stabilisers. The EU generally regards them as safe and therefore exempt from REACH registration or evaluation.

Dr Andrzej Szymoszek, expert in chemistry and Qsars at knoell Germany, looks at the available qualitative or quantitative structure-activity relationships, and considers their suitability if the European Commission commits to publishing a polymer proposal by 2022.