Wouter Fransman

Research area

In everyday life we come into contact with chemicals in the products we use, most of which we desperately need (for example in the energy transition). Unfortunately, these (new) chemicals pose potential risks, such as health problems and environmental impact, that are only discovered late in the product development process or even after market introduction, sometimes with serious consequences for society and the environment (e.g. PFAS), and financial burdens for the companies involved and for society.

The current legislation (REACH) does not guarantee safe and sustainable products. At the moment we only have a view of the tip of the iceberg of the risks of chemical substances. The European Commission introduced the Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability to achieve a safer, healthier and more sustainable future according to the principles of Safe and Sustainable by Design (SSbD).

In anticipation of new legislation, my research within TNO develops a proactive Decision Support approach that allows companies to identify possible risks in the early stages of their design process and to take measures to prevent reputational damage and high costs. With this integrated approach, which considers functionality in relation to health and environmental impact early in the development process, adverse consequences can be prevented and/or minimized as much as possible in a timely manner.

Top publications

• Neeraj Shandilya, Lia de Simon, Bernice Scholten, Tom Ligthart, Susan Dekkers, Eugene van Someren, Wouter Fransman (2024). Application of tiered human health and environmental risk assessment to develop safe and sustainable by design perovskite-based devices. Journal of Cleaner Production 457 (2024) https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2024.142315
• Neeraj Shandilya, Marie-Sophie Barreau, Blanca Suarez, Andrea Porcari, Daniela Pimponi, Keld Alstrup Jensen, Wouter Fransman, Remy Franken (2023). TRAAC framework to improve regulatory acceptance and wider usability of tools and methods for safe innovation and sustainability of manufactured nanomaterials. NanoImpact; 30: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.impact.2023.100461
• Schlüter Urs, Meyer Jessica, Ahrens Andreas, Borghi Francesca, Clerc Frederic, Delmaar Christiaan, Di Guardo Antonio, Dudzina Tatsiana, Fantke Peter, Fransman Wouter, Hahn Stefan, Heussen Henri, Jung Christian, Koivisto Joonas, von Goetz Natalie (2022). Exposure modelling in Europe: How to pave the road for the future as part of the European Exposure Science Strategy 2020−2030. Journal of Exposure Science & Environmental Epidemiology 32:499–512; https://doi.org/10.1038/s41370-022-00455-4.
• Neeraj Shandilya, Effie Marcoulaki, Leire Barruetabeña, Isabel Rodríguez Llopis, Cornelle Noorlander, Araceli Sánchez Jiménez, Yohan Oudart, Raquel C. Puelles, Marta Pérez-Fernández, Andreas Falk, Susanne Resch, Adrienne Sips, Wouter Fransman (2020). Perspective on a risk-based roadmap towards the implementation of the safe innovation approach for industry. Nanoimpact;20: 100258. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.impact.2020.100258.
• Penny Nymark, Martine Bakker, Susan Dekkers, Remy Franken, Wouter Fransman, Amaia García-Bilbao, Dario Greco, Mary Gulumian, Niels Hadrup, Sabina Halappanavar, Vesa Hongisto, Karin Sørig Hougaard, Keld Alstrup Jensen, Pekka Kohonen, Antti Joonas Koivisto, Miikka Dal Maso, Thies Oosterwijk, Mikko Poikkimäki, Isabel Rodriguez-Llopis, Rob Stierum, Jorid Birkelund Sørli, and Roland Grafström. (2020) Toward Rigorous Materials Production: New Approach Methodologies Have Extensive Potential to Improve Current Safety Assessment Practices. SMALL;16(6): 1904749. https://doi.org/10.1002/smll.201904749.
• Remy Franken, Tomi Kanerva, Helene Stockmann-Juvala, Wouter Fransman, Minne Heringa, Arto Saamanen, Biase Liguori, Mikko Poikkimäki, Blanca Suarez, Keld Alstrup Jensen, Rob Stierum, Isabel Rodríguez, Thies Oosterwijk, Miikka Dal Maso, Sara Sørensen. (2020) Ranking of human risk assessment models for manufactured nanomaterials along the Cooper stage-gate innovation funnel using stakeholder criteria. NanoImpact 17: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.impact.2019.100191.