RIFM Scientists Showcase Environmental Safety Assessment Process at SETAC 2025
11.12.25
Three scientists from the Research Institute for Fragrance Materials (RIFM) will highlight the Institute’s step-by-step process for evaluating the environmental safety of fragrance materials at the Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry (SETAC) North America 2025 Annual Meeting, taking place next week in Portland, Oregon.
Associate Scientist Samantha Crotty; Safety Assessment Team Researcher Marissa Guttenberg, PhD; and Principal Scientist and Lead of RIFM’s Environmental Program, Aurelia Lapczynski, will co-present a poster titled “Exposure Driven Environmental Risk Assessment – a Case Study on Fragrance Materials” (Poster 5.16.P-Th-067).
The poster demonstrates how RIFM evaluates environmental safety through a process that integrates exposure modeling, hazard assessment, and risk characterization. Using real-world data from Asia, Europe, and North and South America, the researchers show how RIFM incorporates measurements of biodegradation, ecotoxicity, and regional water usage to estimate environmental exposure. The process also applies modern, animal-alternative methods and predictive models to ensure a robust safety assessment while minimizing the need for animal testing.
“This poster demonstrates how our comprehensive safety assessment process, from modeling environmental exposure to evaluating hazard and risk, ensures fragrance materials are used safely worldwide,” explained Crotty, the lead author of the case study.
“By combining exposure modeling, hazard evaluation, and risk characterization, we can deliver a thorough safety assessment that protects both the environment and public health,” Dr. Guttenberg added.
RIFM’s participation at SETAC underscores its commitment to advancing science-based environmental safety evaluations and supporting global efforts toward sustainable chemical management. “RIFM’s environmental program is built on rigorous science and collaboration,” Lapczynski concluded. “Sharing our work at SETAC allows us to advance understanding, improve safety assessments, and contribute to global efforts in sustainable chemical management.”