The (Quantitative) Structure–Activity Relationship or (Q)SAR database, a new database containing more than 600,000 chemical structures enables companies to quickly get an overview of the harmful effects associated with substances they are considering using.
The database is created by the National Food Institute, Technical University of Denmark, and the Danish Environmental Protection Agency.
“When companies are able to more quickly get an indication as to whether the substances they want to use are harmful, they can save a lot of time and resources and they can avoid investing blindly,” says Danish minister for the environment and food Eva Kjer Hansen.
The (Q)SAR predictions are based on advanced computer models which look at whether the chemical structure resembles other chemical substances that have been tested for example for endocrine disrupting, allergic or carcinogenic effects.
If a new chemical structure is sufficiently similar to that of a known harmful substance it is highly probable that the new substance is also harmful.
Ultimately (Q)SAR could help reduce the number of tests on animals as it will be possible to target animal testing at properties that are already suspected of having harmful effects.
The database is made publically available to companies, universities, research institutions and non-government organizations that want to use the information in their work on chemical safety.
