A businessman from Vero Beach, Florida, Ken Wessel has held various leadership roles in companies and industry associations. In 2008, Ken Wessel received a plaque of recognition for serving on the board of the Research Institute for Fragrance Materials (RIFM) for 33 years.
RIFM has released a paper that outlines the strategies for fragrance ingredient clustering and “read-across.” The groundbreaking paper will facilitate the production of safe products without the need to test the products on animals.
Clustering is the process of organizing and grouping chemicals into structurally similar groups. Clustering compares each fragrance compound to understand how its chemicals behave in different routes of exposure, such as inhalation and skin absorption.
“Read-across” is a process in which scientists use clustering data to predict how similar ingredients may affect humans and the environment. Read-across is an innovative approach to evaluate materials with limited data, effectively bypassing tests on animals. It is noteworthy that some regions, particularly in the European Union, have prohibited animal testing for cosmetics and household products.
Ken Wessel 