Emma is a desk-based mammalian toxicologist with almost 25 years of hands-on experience undertaking chemical hazard and risk assessment. She is experienced in finding and critically evaluating toxicological literature for all endpoints relevant to mammals, often in relation to safety-in-use and/or regulatory acceptability. Her broad experience has spanned (in recent years) agrochemicals, industrial chemicals (REACH), food safety and consumer products. Emma frequently reviews and evaluates information from myriad sources, including peer-reviewed primary scientific literature, grey literature and expert group reviews, ECHA robust study summaries (RSSs) and full laboratory study reports.

Her most recent projects have included toxicological study monitoring on behalf of a number of clients for compliance with REACH regulations, food enzyme dossier updating (in response to EFSA) and data gap analysis for a plant protection product formulation. Past projects have included active involvement in the preparation of systematic (toxicology) reviews, the production of Literature Review Reports (LRRs) for active substances in plant protection products (PPPs) (under EU Regulation 1107/2009) and generating weight-of-evidence evaluations on endocrine disruption potential (under EU/EC Regulations 2018/605, 1107/2009 and 528/2012). She has also recently delivered relevant toxicology training to colleagues, and externally to PhD students.

Emma joined CEA in 2023 as a member of the toxicology team, after 10 years of running her own freelance toxicological consultancy business, ArCaTo Consulting Ltd. Previously to this, she worked for a number of small, toxicology-focussed multi-sector consultancy businesses.

Emma has a 1st Class Honours Degree in pure chemistry from the University of Strathclyde, and is an active member of the British Toxicology Society. She has been a UK Registered Toxicologist and European (EUROTOX) Registered Toxicologist since 2010.

When not at her desk, Emma is often found in the air – dangling from, balancing on or tangled in a trapeze or an aerial rope (corde lisse). She soothes the resultant bruises with regular dunking in Scotland’s abundant reservoirs, and distracts herself with running and cycling. At home, she slacklines in the garden, spends a lot of time handstanding and fearlessly (often, sadly, unsuccessfully) defends her home-grown produce from slugs and other wildlife.