Pete Watts

Pete Watts

Toxicology Director

UKRT/ERT

Pete, one of our two Toxicology Directors, is a RSB/BTS and European Registered Toxicologist (ERT), with an impressive 42 years of experience as a desk-based, bibra toxicologist and hazard/risk assessor. As a Toxicology Director, his primary goal is to ensure that clients receive a service in chemical hazard and risk assessment that is robust, transparent, independent, scientifically defensible, and delivered in a cost-effective and timely manner. His special interest is in the pragmatic application of risk assessment methodology to toxicity data sets, in order to derive robust conclusions on toxicological acceptability of exposures and on health risks to exposed populations.

Much of Pete’s workday is focused on hazard and risk assessment relating to extractables and leachables (e.g. for pharmaceutical, medical device and e-cigarette applications) and other pharmaceutical issues (e.g. DNA-reactive impurities, Qualification Thresholds). He is also routinely involved in REACH and the medical device, cosmetic, food, drink, agrochemical, biocide, consumer product and food-contact sectors, on a daily basis. Pete regularly gives presentations on health risk assessment at scientific meetings in Europe and the US.

Pete has worked as a Temporary Adviser to the WHO (in the CICADs programme) and has reviewed numerous documents for OECD SIAM/CoCAM meetings, as well as drafting a number of reviews under the Environment Agency’s CLEA and EAL projects. He co-authored an IRSST update report on TCE carcinogenicity and has published book chapters on carcinogen classification schemes and operator exposure to plant protection products.

Pete still relishes the opportunity to greet the working day. For him, the most rewarding aspect of working at bibra (aside for working with such great colleagues) is the opportunity to contribute to solving a client’s issue. He can then go home a happy bunny. When not juggling toxicity data sets, exposure scenarios and (bio)chemical reactions, Pete can often be found in a gym, on a squash court (he gets slower every year) or getting lost in the Surrey countryside. He likes salads, sunshine and Chelsea FC. At the top of his dislikes list are winter mornings and warm cider.

Pete's case studies and blog posts

Biocompatibility evaluation of a series of autoinjector medical devices

Case study

The company manufactures a range of parts for use as components in a variety of medical devices.

Bisphenol A (BPA) Controversy

Blog articles

It is a truth not always recognised that toxicological hazard and risk assessment as currently practiced is a ball-park science, and a health criteria value – a Tolerable Daily Intake (TDI), a Permitted Daily Exposure (PDE) or similar – quoted to 2 significant figures is probably one significant figure more than the data really can confidently support. Occasionally practitioners will let the mask slip...

Health risk assessments relating to the excipient components of the Voke® formulation

Case study

A novel nicotine replacement device was designed to deliver a pressurised nicotine formulation via a breath operated valve in a cigarette sized medical device. Kind Consumer received a Marketing Authorisation for its lead product, Voke®, in September 2014.

Want to read more case studies and blog posts that Pete has been involved in? Click below to read more.

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