Weight-of-evidence evaluation in environmental assessment: review of qualitative and quantitative approaches

Empirical analysis of lead neurotoxicity mode of action and its application in health risk assessment

The mode of action (MOA) framework is proposed to inform a biological link between chemical exposures and adverse health effects. Despite a significant increase in knowledge and awareness, the application of MOA in human health risk assessment (RA) remains limited. This study aims to discuss the adoption of MOA for health RA within a regulatory context, taking our previously proposed but not yet validated MOA for lead neurotoxicity as an example. We first conducted a quantitative weight of evidence (qWOE) assessment, which revealed that the MOA has a moderate confidence. Then, targeted bioassays were performed within an in vitro blood-brain barrier (BBB) model to quantitatively validate the scientific validity of key events (KEs) in terms of essentiality and concordance of empirical support (dose/temporal concordance), which increases confidence in utilizing the MOA for RA. Building upon the quantitative validation data, we further conducted benchmark dose (BMD) analysis to map dose-response relationships for the critical toxicity pathways, and the lower limit of BMD at a 5% response (BMDL5) was identified as the point of departure (POD) value for adverse health effects. Notably, perturbation of the Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor (AHR) signaling pathway exhibited the lowest POD value, measured at 0.0062 μM. Considering bioavailability, we further calculated a provisional health-based guidance value (HBGV) for children's lead intake, determining it to be 2.56 μg/day. Finally, the health risk associated with the HBGV was assessed using the hazard quotient (HQ) approach, which indicated that the HBGV established in this study is a relative safe reference value for lead intake. In summary, our study described the procedure for utilizing MOA in health RA and set an example for MOA-based human health risk regulation.

Adopting Mechanistic Molecular Biology Approaches in Exposome Research for Causal Understanding

Through investigating the combined impact of the environmental exposures experienced by an individual throughout their lifetime, exposome research provides opportunities to understand and mitigate negative health outcomes. While current exposome research is driven by epidemiological studies that identify associations between exposures and effects, new frameworks integrating more substantial population-level metadata, including electronic health and administrative records, will shed further light on characterizing environmental exposure risks. Molecular biology offers methods and concepts to study the biological and health impacts of exposomes in experimental and computational systems. Of particular importance is the growing use of omics readouts in epidemiological and clinical studies. This paper calls for the adoption of mechanistic molecular biology approaches in exposome research as an essential step in understanding the genotype and exposure interactions underlying human phenotypes. A series of recommendations are presented to make the necessary and appropriate steps to move from exposure association to causation, with a huge potential to inform precision medicine and population health. This includes establishing hypothesis-driven laboratory testing within the exposome field, supported by appropriate methods to read across from model systems research to human.

The science and practice of current environmental risk assessment for gene therapy: a review

Gene therapy is a fast-growing field showing great potential to treat genetic diseases and cancer. With accelerating gene therapy development and approval, their environment risk assessment (ERA) becomes increasingly important. An ERA is an assessment of the risks to human health and the environment upon exposure to a medicinal product as the result of its release during clinical development or after entering the market. Because ERA is an important component of regulatory submission, drug developers must perform a robust assessment to ensure the safety of unintended persons, animal, plants, microorganisms and environment at large. Global regulations on gene therapy ERA continue to evolve. Gene therapy ERAs are carried out according to general principles as provided in regulatory guidelines for application of clinical trials and marketing authorizations. The current review intends to summarize regulations and content requirements on gene therapy ERA in European Union, the USA and Japan. The approved gene therapy products by EMA and US Food and Drug Administration are analyzed for the critical aspects of their ERAs to provide the current status and practice of gene therapy ERAs by drug developers. For this purpose, the main contents of these gene therapy ERAs are summarized. Critical safety factors of gene therapy ERAs are described. With more experience and knowledge to be accumulated, gene therapy ERAs are expected to be less challenging with commonly used viral vectors.

A plausibility database summarizing the level of evidence regarding the hazards induced by the exposome on children health

Childhood diseases correspond to major public health issues. A large number of studies using different approaches provide evidence regarding effects of environmental exposures, encompassed in the exposome, on children's health. We aimed to summarize the overall level of evidence (LoE) from all streams of evidence regarding exposome effects on child health. For 88 selected chemical and urban factors, we retrieved the conclusions of agency reports or literature reviews published between 2015 and 2021 regarding effects on child health, including cardiovascular, metabolic, neurodevelopmental, respiratory and other health outcomes. Adapted versions of PRISMA flowchart and AMSTAR-2 tool were used to select and assess the quality of the systematic reviews retrieved from PubMed and SCOPUS databases. For each factor-outcome pair, conclusions in three streams of evidence (epidemiological, toxicological and mechanistic, the latter corresponding to in vitro and in silico approaches) were translated into stream-specific LoEs and then combined into an overall LoE ranging from "very unlikely" to "very likely". The 88 environmental factors were implied in 611 factor-outcome pairs. Forty-four pairs (7%), corresponding to 16 factors, had a very likely overall LoE (≥80%); 127 pairs (21%), corresponding to 49 factors, had a likely or more overall LoE (≥60%). For 81 pairs (13%), no evidence was available in agency reports or published reviews, while for 275 pairs (45%), corresponding to 68 factors, the overall LoE was very unlikely (<20%). Exposure factors with the greatest number of associated health outcomes with a high overall LoE were HCB, PCBs, temperature (8 outcomes), PFOA (7 outcomes), PFOS, cotinine (6 outcomes), arsenic, lead (5 outcomes), bisphenols A and S, PFNA and PM2.5 (4 outcomes), DDT, DDE and DDD, PFHxA, PFDA, green space, UV radiation (3 outcomes). We developed an approach to extract and summarize the existing evidence about effects of environmental factors on health. The plausibility database built for children's health can be used to identify research gaps, conduct quantitative risk assessment studies. It could be expanded to consider a larger fraction of the exposome and other age groups and should be updated on a regular basis.

The EPA Ecosystem Services Tool Selection Portal

The dynamics of an environmental decision-making context can be complicated. The use of decision support tools can help better facilitate restoring and maintaining ecosystems that provide environmental benefits (ecosystem services) to people. Although an ecosystem services assessment tool is designed for specific purposes, having access to a comprehensive suite of tools offers the user additional insight and resources to help in decision making. A range of approaches exist to connect ecosystem services to a given decision context ranging from less to more complex: using the best professional judgment; applying examples from other efforts; testing individual tool applications; and using a systematic, decision-tree approach to navigate among relevant tools and frameworks. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency developed a decision-tree approach for a user to navigate the question of how to choose among a suite of ecosystem services assessment tools for three decision contexts: (1) ecological risk assessments; (2) cleanup of contaminated sites; (3) and generic structured decision-making processes. This tool selection navigator was developed with/for the intended user, including developing crosswalks between tool functionality and the user's language for what they require in a tool. To navigate the tool, the user first chooses one of three decision contexts. Second, the user selects among the different phases of the decision process. Third, the user selects among a few ecosystem-services related tasks relevant to the decision context chosen to identify potential tools. The tool uses simple language to navigate the decision pathways and provides the user with a suite of potential ES resources and tools for their given decision context.

An innovative index to incorporate transcriptomic data into weight of evidence approaches for environmental risk assessment

The sharp decrease in the cost of RNA-sequencing and the rapid improvement in computational analysis of eco-toxicogenomic data have brought new insights into the adverse effects of chemicals on aquatic organisms. Yet, transcriptomics is generally applied qualitatively in environmental risk assessments, hampering more effective exploitation of this evidence through multidisciplinary studies. In view of this limitation, a methodology is here presented to quantitatively elaborate transcriptional data in support to environmental risk assessment. The proposed methodology makes use of results from the application of Gene Set Enrichment Analysis to recent studies investigating the response of Mytilus galloprovincialis and Ruditapes philippinarum exposed to contaminants of emerging concern. The degree of changes in gene sets and the relevance of physiological reactions are integrated in the calculation of a hazard index. The outcome is then classified according to five hazard classes (from absent to severe), providing an evaluation of whole-transcriptome effects of chemical exposure. The application to experimental and simulated datasets proved that the method can effectively discriminate different levels of altered transcriptomic responses when compared to expert judgement (Spearman correlation coefficient of 0.96). A further application to data collected in two independent studies of Salmo trutta and Xenopus tropicalis exposed to contaminants confirmed the potential extension of the methodology to other aquatic species. This methodology can serve as a proof of concept for the integration of "genomic tools" in environmental risk assessment based on multidisciplinary investigations. To this end, the proposed transcriptomic hazard index can now be incorporated into quantitative Weight of Evidence approaches and weighed, with results from other types of analysis, to elucidate the role of chemicals in adverse ecological effects.

Lessons Learned from the Grouping of Chemicals to Assess Risks to Human Health

In analogy to the periodic system that groups elements by their similarity in structure and chemical properties, the hazard of chemicals can be assessed in groups having similar structures and similar toxicological properties. Here we review case studies of chemical grouping strategies that supported the assessment of hazard, exposure, and risk to human health. By the EU-REACH and the US-TSCA New Chemicals Program, structural similarity is commonly used as the basis for grouping, but that criterion is not always adequate and sufficient. Based on the lessons learned, we derive ten principles for grouping, including: transparency of the purpose, criteria, and boundaries of the group; adequacy of methods used to justify the group; and inclusion or exclusion of substances in the group by toxicological properties. These principles apply to initial grouping to prioritize further actions as well as to definitive grouping to generate data for risk assessment. Both can expedite effective risk management.

Challenges with the current methodology for conducting Endangered Species Act risk assessments for pesticides in the United States

The US Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA or the Agency) is responsible for administering the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA). The Agency is also required to assess the potential risks of pesticides undergoing registration or re-registration to threatened and endangered (i.e., listed) species to ensure compliance with the Endangered Species Act. To assess potential risks to listed species, a screening-level risk assessment in the form of a biological evaluation (BE) is undertaken by the Agency for each pesticide. Given the large number of registration actions handled by the USEPA annually, efficient tools for conducting BEs are desirable. However, the "Revised Method" that is the basis for the USEPA's BE process has been ineffective at filtering out listed species and critical habitats that are at de minimis risk to pesticides. In the USEPA's BEs, the Magnitude of Effect Tool (MAGtool) has been used to determine potential risks to listed species that potentially co-occur with pesticide footprints. The MAGtool is a highly prescriptive, high-throughput compilation of existing FIFRA screening-level models with a geospatial interface. The tool has been a significant contributor to risk inflation and ultimately process inefficiency. The ineffectiveness of the tool stems from compounding conservatism, unrealistic and unreasonable assumptions regarding usage, limited application of species-specific data, lack of consideration of multiple lines of evidence, and inability to integrate higher-tier data. Here, we briefly describe the MAGtool and the critical deficiencies that impair its effectiveness, thus undermining its intention. Case studies are presented to highlight the deficiencies and solutions are recommended for improving listed species assessments in the future. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2023;19:817-829. © 2022 The Authors. Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of Society of Environmental Toxicology & Chemistry (SETAC).

Main Challenges of Incorporating Environmental Impacts in the Economic Evaluation of Health Technology Assessment: A Scoping Review

Health technology assessment (HTA) provides evidence-based information on healthcare technology to support decision making in many countries. Environmental impact is a relevant dimension of a health technology's value, but it has been poorly addressed in HTA processes in spite of the commitment that the health sector must have to contribute to mitigating the effects of climate change. This study aims to identify the state of the art and challenges for quantifying environmental impacts that could be incorporated into the economic evaluation (EE) of HTA. We performed a scoping review that included 22 articles grouped into four types of contribution: (1) concepts to draw up a theoretical framework, (2) HTA reports, (3) parameter designs or suitable indicators, and (4) economic or budgetary impact assessments. This review shows that evaluation of the environmental impact of HTAs is still very incipient. Small steps are being taken in EE, such as carbon footprint estimations from a life-cycle approach of technologies and the entire care pathway.

Toxicological effects of cigarette butts for marine organisms

Cigarette butts (CBs), one of the most common litter items found on beaches, represent a still unexplored environmental hazard. This study aimed at a multidisciplinary characterization of their toxicological risks on marine organisms integrating chemical analyses of released compounds with a wide panel of biological responses, such as ecotoxicological bioassays on species of different trophic positions, molecular responses in an ex vivo model (Precision-Cut Tissue Slices, PCTS of mussels digestive glands), bioavailability and cellular biomarkers in mussels exposed to CBs in laboratory experiments. Trace metals, aliphatic and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, nicotine and cotinine were released in artificial seawater after 24 h which determined a significant inhibition of bacterial bioluminescence, oyster embryo development and growth in different algal species. Modulation of peroxisomal proliferation and antioxidant gene expression was observed in mussels PCTS, while the in vivo exposure determined accumulation of chemicals and significant alterations of immune system, antioxidant and neurotoxic responses, peroxisomal proliferation and genotoxic damage. Using a quantitative Weight of Evidence model, the risks of CBs to the marine environment were summarized, highlighting the importance of integrating chemical analyses, batteries of ecotoxicological bioassays, molecular and cellular biomarkers to assess the impact of these hazardous materials on marine environment.

Incorporating environmental and sustainability considerations into health technology assessment and clinical and public health guidelines: a scoping review

Healthcare systems account for a substantial proportion of global carbon emissions and contribute to wider environmental degradation. This scoping review aimed to summarize the evidence currently available on incorporation of environmental and sustainability considerations into health technology assessments (HTAs) and guidelines to support the National In stitute for Health and Care Excellence and analogous bodies in other jurisdictions developing theirown methods and processes. Overall, 7,653 articles were identified, of which 24 were included in this review and split into three key areas - HTA (10 studies), healthcare guidelines (4 studies), and food and dietary guidelines (10 studies). Methodological reviews discussed the pros and cons of different approaches to integrate environmental considerations into HTAs, including adjustments to conventional cost-utility analysis (CUA), cost-benefit analysis, and multicriteria decision analysis. The case studies illustrated the challenges of putting this into practice, such as lack of disaggregated data to evaluate the impact of single technologies and difficulty in conducting thorough life cycle assessments that consider the full environmental effects. Evidence was scant on the incorporation of environmental impacts in clinical practice and public health guidelines. Food and dietary guidelines used adapted CUA based on life cycle assessments, simulation modeling, and qualitative judgments made by expert panels. There is uncertainty on how HTA and guideline committees will handle trade-offs between health and environment, especially when balancing environmental harms that fall largely on society with health benefits for individuals. Further research is warranted to enable integration of environmental considerations into HTA and clinical and public health guidelines.

Advancing chemical hazard assessment with decision analysis: A case study on lithium-ion and redox flow batteries used for energy storage

Batteries are important for promoting renewable energy, but, like most engineered products, they contain multiple hazardous materials. The purpose of this study is to evaluate industrial-scale batteries using GreenScreen® for Safer Chemicals, an established chemical hazard assessment (CHA) framework, and to develop a systematic, transparent methodology to quantify the CHA results, harmonize them, and aggregate them into single-value hazard scores, which can facilitate quantitative comparison and a robust evaluation of data gaps, inconsistencies, and uncertainty through the implementation of carefully selected scenarios and stochastic multicriteria acceptability analysis (SMAA). Using multiple authoritative toxicity data sources, six battery products are evaluated: three lithium-ion batteries (lithium iron phosphate, lithium nickel cobalt manganese hydroxide, and lithium manganese oxide), and three redox flow batteries (vanadium redox, zinc-bromine, and all-iron). The CHA results indicate that many materials in these batteries, including reagents and intermediates, inherently exhibit high hazard; therefore, safer materials should be identified and considered in future designs. The scenario analysis and SMAA, combined, provide a quantitative evaluation framework to support the decision-making needed to compare alternative technologies. Thus, this study highlights specific strategies to reduce the use of hazardous materials in complex engineered products before they are widely used in this rapidly-expanding industry sector.

Effect-directed analysis of toxic organics in PM2.5 exposure to the cellular bioassays in vitro: Application in Shanxi of China

To optimize the effect-directed analysis (EDA) approach to identify the fine particulate matter (PM_2.5) bound organic toxicants, Jinzhong city, in the Shanxi Province of China, was selected as the object of our study. First, PM_2.5 samples were collected and their organic extracts were separated out in 9 fractions (F1-F9) using reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatography after purification using gel permeation chromatography. Second, the toxicity effects of each fraction were measured by human bronchial epithelial cells (BEAS-2B) in vitro. And toxicity effects included antioxidant stress (ROS, LDH, and CAT) and an inflammatory response (IL-6, IL-1β, and TNF-α). The results showed that the scores of the toxicity effects on multiple lines of evidence were the highest in the F3 and F4 fractions compared with those of the control. Subsequently, the main poisons, o-cymene, p-cymene, benzene, ethylbenzene, xylene, and styrene, were identified using GC×GC-TOF/MS. Finally, to confirm the above possible candidates, (1) the levels of o-cymene, p-cymene and BTEXS in daily PM_2.5 were measured using GC-MS in November 2020, and the rates of detection of these pollutants were 100% in PM_2.5. Among them, o-cymene and p-cymene were first reported as the key toxic substances of PM_2.5, and their average concentration values were 0.16 ± 0.11 and 0.18 ± 0.15 ng‧m^-3, respectively. (2) the toxicity of p-cymene may be no less than that of other benzene derivatives according to their LC50 in Daphnia magna. (3) based on canonical correlation analysis, the exposure to p-cymene, benzene, and styrene in PM_2.5 was most likely associated with the toxicity effects (CAT, IL-6, and TNF-α), which in turn caused the observed toxicity. In conclusion, p-cymene, benzene, and styrene were found to be the key toxic organics in PM_2.5 for cells in vitro. EDA technology avoids the limitations of chemical analysis and uncertainty of the biological testing and adds new toxicants to the control list of PM_2.5, contributing to this study field. However, the application of EDA to PM_2.5 still faces challenges such as the selection of biological effects, loss of toxicity with the separation process, influence of the dosing method, and identification of the unknown effects of pollutants.

Multi-Strategy Assessment of Different Uses of QSAR under REACH Analysis of Alternatives to Advance Information Transparency

Under the Registration, Evaluation, Authorization, and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) analysis of alternatives (AoA) process, quantitative structure–activity relationship (QSAR) models play an important role in expanding information gathering and organizing frameworks. Increasingly recognized as an alternative to testing under registration. QSARs have become a relevant tool in bridging data gaps and supporting weight of evidence (WoE) when assessing alternative substances. Additionally, QSARs are growing in importance in integrated testing strategies (ITS). For example, the REACH ITS framework for specific endpoints directs registrants to consider non-testing results, including QSAR predictions, when deciding if further animal testing is needed. Despite the raised profile of QSARs in these frameworks, a gap exists in the evaluation of QSAR use and QSAR documentation under authorization. An assessment of the different uses (e.g., WoE and ITS) in which QSAR predictions play a role in evidence gathering and organizing remains unaddressed for AoA. This study approached the disparity in information for QSAR predictions by conducting a substantive review of 24 AoA through May 2017, which contained higher-tier endpoints under REACH. Understanding the manner in which applicants manage QSAR prediction information in AoA and assessing their potential within ITS will be valuable in promoting regulatory use of QSARs and building out future platforms in the face of rapidly evolving technology while advancing information transparency.

Scientific Opinion of the Scientific Panel on Plant Protection Products and their Residues (PPR Panel) on testing and interpretation of comparative in vitro metabolism studies

EFSA asked the Panel on Plant Protection Products and their residues to deliver a Scientific Opinion on testing and interpretation of comparative in vitro metabolism studies for both new active substances and existing ones. The main aim of comparative in vitro metabolism studies of pesticide active substances is to evaluate whether all significant metabolites formed in the human in vitro test system, as a surrogate of the in vivo situation, are also present at comparable level in animal species tested in toxicological studies and, therefore, if their potential toxicity has been appropriately covered by animal studies. The studies may also help to decide which animal model, with regard to a particular compound, is the most relevant for humans. In the experimental strategy, primary hepatocytes in suspension or culture are recommended since hepatocytes are considered the most representative in vitro system for prediction of in vivo metabolites. The experimental design of 3 × 3 × 3 (concentrations, time points, technical replicates, on pooled hepatocytes) will maximise the chance to identify unique (UHM) and disproportionate (DHM) human metabolites. When DHM and UHM are being assessed, test item-related radioactivity recovery and metabolite profile are the most important parameters. Subsequently, structural characterisation of the assigned metabolites is performed with appropriate analytical techniques. In toxicological assessment of metabolites, the uncertainty factor approach is the first alternative to testing option, followed by new approach methodologies (QSAR, read-across, in vitro methods), and only if these fail, in vivo animal toxicity studies may be performed. Knowledge of in vitro metabolites in human and animal hepatocytes would enable toxicological evaluation of all metabolites of concern, and, furthermore, add useful pieces of information for detection and evaluation of metabolites in different matrices (crops, livestock, environment), improve biomonitoring efforts via better toxicokinetic understanding, and ultimately, develop regulatory schemes employing physiologically based or physiology-mimicking in silico and/or in vitro test systems to anticipate the exposure of humans to potentially hazardous substances in plant protection products.

Guidance Document on Scientific criteria for grouping chemicals into assessment groups for human risk assessment of combined exposure to multiple chemicals

This guidance document provides harmonised and flexible methodologies to apply scientific criteria and prioritisation methods for grouping chemicals into assessment groups for human risk assessment of combined exposure to multiple chemicals. In the context of EFSA's risk assessments, the problem formulation step defines the chemicals to be assessed in the terms of reference usually through regulatory criteria often set by risk managers based on legislative requirements. Scientific criteria such as hazard-driven criteria can be used to group these chemicals into assessment groups. In this guidance document, a framework is proposed to apply hazard-driven criteria for grouping of chemicals into assessment groups using mechanistic information on toxicity as the gold standard where available (i.e. common mode of action or adverse outcome pathway) through a structured weight of evidence approach. However, when such mechanistic data are not available, grouping may be performed using a common adverse outcome. Toxicokinetic data can also be useful for grouping, particularly when metabolism information is available for a class of compounds and common toxicologically relevant metabolites are shared. In addition, prioritisation methods provide means to identify low-priority chemicals and reduce the number of chemicals in an assessment group. Prioritisation methods include combined risk-based approaches, risk-based approaches for single chemicals and exposure-driven approaches. Case studies have been provided to illustrate the practical application of hazard-driven criteria and the use of prioritisation methods for grouping of chemicals in assessment groups. Recommendations for future work are discussed.

An Intelligent Rockburst Prediction Model Based on Scorecard Methodology

Rockburst is a serious hazard in underground engineering, and accurate prediction of rockburst risk is challenging. To construct an intelligent prediction model of rockburst risk with interpretability and high accuracy, three binary scorecards predicting different risk levels of rockburst were constructed using ChiMerge, evidence weight theory, and the logistic regression algorithm. An intelligent rockburst prediction model based on scorecard methodology (IRPSC) was obtained by integrating the three scorecards. The effects of hazard sample category weights on the missed alarm rate, false alarm rate, and accuracy of the IRPSC were analyzed. Results show that the accuracy, false alarm rate, and missed alarm rate of the IRPSC for rockburst prediction in riverside hydropower stations are 75%, 12.5%, and 12.5%, respectively. Setting higher hazard sample category weights can reduce the missed alarm rate of IRPSC, but it will lead to a higher false alarm rate. The IRPSC can adaptively adjust the threshold and weight value of the indicator and convert the abstract machine learning model into a tabular form, which overcomes the commonly black box problems of machine learning model, as well as is of great significance to the application of machine learning in rockburst risk prediction.

A look beyond the priority: A systematic review of the genotoxic, mutagenic, and carcinogenic endpoints of non-priority PAHs

Knowledge of the toxic potential of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) has increased over time. Much of this knowledge is about the 16 United States - Environmental Protection Agency (US - EPA) priority PAHs; however, there are other US - EPA non-priority PAHs in the environment, whose toxic potential is underestimated. We conducted a systematic review of in vitro, in vivo, and in silico studies to assess the genotoxicity, mutagenicity, and carcinogenicity of 13 US - EPA non-priority parental PAHs present in the environment. Electronic databases, such as Science Direct, PubMed, Scopus, Google Scholar, and Web of Science, were used to search for research with selected terms without time restrictions. After analysis, following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) protocol, 249 articles, published between 1946 and 2020, were selected and the quality assessment of these studies was performed. The results showed that 5-methylchrysene (5-MC), 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (7,12-DMBA), cyclopenta[cd]pyrene (CPP), and dibenzo[al]pyrene (Db[al]P) were the most studied PAHs. Moreover, 5-MC, 7,12-DMBA, benz[j]aceanthrylene (B[j]A), CPP, anthanthrene (ANT), dibenzo[ae]pyrene (Db[ae]P), and Db[al]P have been reported to cause mutagenic effects and have been being associated with a risk of carcinogenicity. Retene (RET) and benzo[c]fluorene (B[c]F), the least studied compounds, showed evidence of a strong influence on the mutagenicity and carcinogenicity endpoints. Overall, this systematic review provided evidence of the genotoxic, mutagenic, and carcinogenic endpoints of US - EPA non-priority PAHs. However, further studies are needed to improve the future protocols of environmental analysis and risk assessment in severely exposed populations.

M-Triad: An improvement of the sediment quality triad

The traditional sediment quality triad generally uses three lines of evidence (LOE) in the assessment, integrating environmental chemistry, ecology and ecotoxicology. However the assessment is performed without considering the multivariate structure within LOE. In order to improve the sediment quality assessment, the M-Triad is proposed. Instead of averaging the values within a LOE, the new approach is based on the Euclidean distance between each sampling station and the reference station (s) for each LOE. These distances are then plotted in a radar-chart to obtain the area of the triangle and the quality assessment is subsequently obtained from the difference between the triangle areas of the impacted and the reference station. Three studies were selected to test the applicability of the M-Triad. In two cases, the M-Triad returned a more realistic ranking of the stations as observed in the principal component analysis (PCA) from each LOE By including the Euclidean distance, the use of M-Triad is advantageous when multiple variables with negative or uncorrelated patterns within a LOE are analyzed simultaneously. The combination of the M-Triad and the results of the PCA allows one to identify multiple contamination gradients and how biota and bioassays respond to each of these gradients. In comparison to the traditional method, the M-Triad reduces the uncertainty of the final analysis, permitting a more comprehensive ecological assessment.

Causal Analysis of Ecological Impairment in Land Ecosystem on a Regional Scale: Applied to a Mining City Daye, China

We adopted a weight of evidence approach to establish a causal analysis of an impaired land ecosystem on a regional scale; namely, Daye, a traditional mining city in China. Working processes, including problem statements, a list of candidate causes, and a conceptual model were developed to represent a causal hypothesis for describing land degradation. Causal criteria were applied to integrate multiple lines of evidence. Then, various pieces of evidence were scored to either strengthen or weaken our causal assumptions. Results showed that habitat alteration, heavy metal accumulation, organic pollutants, water eutrophication, and nutrient runoff were the probable causes of land ecosystem impairment in Daye. Meanwhile, noxious gas, toxicants, altered underground runoff, atmospheric deposition, and acid rain were identified as possible causes. The most unlikely causes were altered hydrology, altered earth surface runoff, and soil erosion. Soil salinization, soluble inorganic salts, biological species invasion, and pathogens were deferred as delayed causes due to lack of adequate information. The causal analysis approach was applied to identify the primary causes of land degradation and implement accurate protective measures in an impaired land ecosystem.

Environmental Risk Assessment of Recombinant Viral Vector Vaccines against SARS-Cov-2

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is the causative agent of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Over the past months, considerable efforts have been put into developing effective and safe drugs and vaccines against SARS-CoV-2. Various platforms are being used for the development of COVID-19 vaccine candidates: recombinant viral vectors, protein-based vaccines, nucleic acid-based vaccines, and inactivated/attenuated virus. Recombinant viral vector vaccine candidates represent a significant part of those vaccine candidates in clinical development, with two already authorised for use in the European Union and one currently under rolling review by the European Medicines Agency (EMA). Since recombinant viral vector vaccine candidates are considered as genetically modified organisms (GMOs), their regulatory oversight includes besides an assessment of their quality, safety and efficacy, also an environmental risk assessment (ERA). The present article highlights the main characteristics of recombinant viral vector vaccine (candidates) against SARS-CoV-2 in the pipeline and discusses their features from an environmental risk point of view.

Developing Bayesian networks in managing the risk of Legionella colonisation of groundwater aeration systems

An Australian water utility has developed a Legionella High Level Risk Assessment (LHLRA) which provides a semi-qualitative assessment of the risk of Legionella proliferation and human exposure in engineered water systems using a combination of empirical observation and expert knowledge. Expanding on this LHLRA, we propose two iterative Bayesian network (BN) models to reduce uncertainty and allow for a probabilistic representation of the mechanistic interaction of the variables, built using data from 25 groundwater treatment plants. The risk of Legionella exposure in groundwater aeration units was quantified as a function of five critical areas including hydraulic conditions, nutrient availability and growth, water quality, system design (and maintenance), and location and access. First, the mechanistic relationship of the variables was conceptually mapped into a fishbone diagram, parameterised deterministically using an expert elicited weighted scoring system and translated into BN. The "sensitivity to findings" analysis of the BN indicated that system design was the most influential variable while elemental accumulation thresholds were the least influential variable for Legionella exposure. The diagnostic inference was used in high and low-risk scenarios to demonstrate the capabilities of the BNs to examine probable causes for diverse conditions. Subsequently, the causal relationship of Legionella growth and human exposure were improved through a conceptual bowtie representation. Finally, an improved model developed the predictors of Legionella growth and the risk of human exposure through the interaction of operational, water quality monitoring, operational parameters, and asset conditions. The use of BNs modelling based on risk estimation and improved functional decision outputs offer a complementary and more transparent alternative approach to quantitative analysis of uncertainties than the current LHLRA.

Systematic Review and Weight of Evidence Are Integral to Ecological and Human Health Assessments: They Need an Integrated Framework

Scientific assessments synthesize the various results of scientific research for policy and decision making. Synthesizing evidence in environmental assessments can involve either or both of 2 systems: systematic review (SR) and weight of evidence (WoE). Systematic review was developed to systematically assemble results of clinical trials to be combined by meta-analysis. Weight-of-evidence approaches have evolved from jurisprudence to make inferences from diverse bodies of evidence in various fields. Our objectives are to describe the similarities and differences between SR and WoE and to suggest how their best practices can be combined into a general framework that is applicable to human health and ecological assessments. Integrating SR and WoE is based on the recognition that 2 processes are required, assembling evidence and making an inference. Systematic review is characterized by methodical literature searching, screening, and data extraction, originally for meta-analysis but now for various inferential methods. Weight of evidence is characterized by systematically relating heterogeneous evidence to considerations appropriate to the inference and making the inference by weighing the evidence. Systematic review enables the unbiased assembly of evidence from literature, but methods for assembling other information must be considered as well. If only 1 type of quantitative study estimates the assessment endpoint, meta-analysis is appropriate for inference. Otherwise, the heterogeneous evidence must be weighed. A framework is presented that integrates best practices into a methodical assembly and weighing of evidence. A glossary of terms for the combined practice and a history of the origins of SR and WoE are provided in Supplemental Data. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2020;16:718-728. Published 2020. This article is a US Government work and is in the public domain in the USA.

Integrated characterization and risk management of marine sediments: The case study of the industrialized Bagnoli area (Naples, Italy)

The aim of the present work is to demonstrate the practical importance of a multidisciplinary approach and weighted criteria to synthesize and integrate different typologies of data (or lines of evidence, LOEs), including chemical levels in marine sediments, their bioavailability to specific indicator species, ecotoxicological effects measured through subcellular biomarkers and batteries of bioassays, and potential impacts of pollution on local benthic communities. The area of Bagnoli (Gulf of Naples, Southern Italy) was selected as a model case-study, as it is a coastal area chronically impacted by massive industrial contamination (trace metals and hydrocarbons), and dismissed decades ago without any subsequent remediation or habitat restoration. The results of each LOE were elaborated to provide specific hazard indices before their overall integration in a weight of evidence (WOE) evaluation. Levels of some trace metals and PAHs revealed a severe contamination in the entire study area. Bioavailability of hydrocarbons was evident particularly for high molecular weight PAHs, which also caused significant variations of cellular biomarkers, such as cytochrome P450 metabolization in fish, lysosomal membrane destabilization in mussels, genotoxic effects both in fish and molluscs. The results of a battery of bioassays indicated less marked responses compared to those obtained from chemical and biomarkers analyses, with acute toxicity still present in sediments close to the source of contamination. The analysis of benthic assemblages showed limited evidence of impact in the whole area, indicating a good functioning of local ecosystems at chronic contamination. Overall, the results of this study confirm the need of combining chemical and biological data, the quantitative characterization of various typologies of hazard and the importance of assessing an integrated environmental WOE risk, to orientate specific and scientifically-supported management options in industrialized areas.

Mainstreaming health impact assessments in environmental impact statements into planning obligations in post dam construction in Metolong, Lesotho: A qualitative investigation

Health impact assessment (HIA) is internationally identified as a mechanism for ensuring that potential health impacts of project proposals are considered before project implementation. This study examined the inclusion of HIAs in environmental impact statement (EIS) and their translation into planning obligations of a dam project in Lesotho. A framework premised on the general systems theory, and integrating EIS contents, environmental management plans and monitoring obligations in post dam construction was used as the analytic lens. A review of the EIS was conducted to assess HIAs covered during the environmental impact assessment (EIA) of the dam. Data drawn from selected household questionnaire interviews and analysis of related documents was used to assess the extent of HIA mainstreaming into planning and monitoring obligations in post dam construction. Results showed inclusion of HIAs in EIS, including endemic diseases such as sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and HIV/AIDS, acute respiratory infections, pharyngitis, hypertension, influenza and diarrhea. Social, economic and environmental conditions were identified as major determinants of health; while mental and nutritional determinants of health were less discussed. The results also showed that some HIAs included in EIS influenced decision-making in relation to raising awareness of health issues in the community. Deficiencies were however reported by respondents in relation to mainstreaming of several HIA recommendations. HIAs can be useful in promoting community health and mitigating adverse impacts of decisions made by project proponents.

An integrated pathway based on in vitro data for the human hazard assessment of nanomaterials

In line with the 3R concept, nanotoxicology is shifting from a phenomenological to a mechanistic approach based on in vitro and in silico methods, with a consequent reduction in animal testing. Risk Assessment (RA) and Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methodologies, which traditionally rely on in vivo toxicity studies, will not be able to keep up with the pace of development of new nanomaterials unless they adapt to use this new type of data. While tools and models are already available and show a great potential for future use in RA and LCA, currently none is able alone to quantitatively assess human hazards (i.e. calculate chronic NOAEL or ED₅₀ values). By highlighting which models and approaches can be used in a quantitative way with the available knowledge and data, we propose an integrated pathway for the use of in vitro data in RA and LCA. Starting with the characterization of nanoparticles' properties, the pathway then investigates how to select relevant in vitro human data, and how to bridge in vitro dose-response relationships to in vivo effects. If verified, this approach would allow RA and LCA to stir up the development of nanotoxicology by giving indications about the data and quality requirements needed in risk methodologies.

Implications of sample size, rareness, and commonness for derivation of environmental benchmarks and criteria from field and laboratory data

Tabulations of numerical concentration-based environmental benchmarks are commonly used to inform decisions on managing chemical exposures. Benchmarks are usually set at levels below which there is a low likelihood of adverse effects. Given the widespread use of tables of benchmarks, it is reasonable to expect that they are adequately reliable and fit for purpose. The degree to which a derived benchmark reflects an actual effect level or statistical randomness is critically important for the reliability of a numerical benchmark value. These expectations may not be met for commonly-used benchmarks examined in this study. Computer simulations of field sampling and toxicity testing reveal that small sample size and confounding from uncontrolled factors that affect the interpretation of toxic effects contribute to uncertainties that might go unrecognized when deriving benchmarks from data sets. The simulations of field data show that it is possible to derive a benchmark even when no toxicity is present. When toxicity is explicitly included in simulations, imposed effect threshold levels could not always be accurately determined. Simulations were also used to examine the influence of mixtures of chemicals on the determination of toxicity thresholds of chemicals within the mixtures. The simulations showed that data sets that appear large and robust can contain many smaller data sets associated with specific biota or chemicals. The sub-sets of data with small sample sizes can contribute to considerable statistical uncertainty in the determination of effects thresholds and can indicate that effects are present when they are absent. The simulations also show that less toxic chemicals may appear toxic when they are present in mixtures with more toxic chemicals. Because of confounding in the assignment of toxicity to individuals chemicals within mixtures, simulations showed that derived toxicity thresholds can be less than the actual toxicity thresholds. A set of best practices is put forward to guard against the potential problems identified by this work. These include conducting an adequate process of determining and implementing Data Quality Objectives (DQOs), evaluating implications of sample size, designing appropriate sampling and evaluation programs based on this information, using an appropriate tiered evaluation strategy that considers the uncertainties, and employing a weight of evidence approach to narrow the uncertainties to manageable and identified levels. The work underscores the importance of communicating the uncertainties associated with numerical values commonly included in tables for screening and risk assessment purposes to better inform decisions.

Multicriteria Decision Analysis Characterization of Chemical Hazard Assessment Data Sources

Chemical hazard assessment (CHA), which aims to investigate the inherent hazard potential of chemicals, has been developed with the purpose of promoting safer consumer products. Despite the increasing use of CHA in recent years, finding adequate and reliable toxicity data required for CHA is still challenging due to issues regarding data completeness and data quality. Also, collecting data from primary toxicity reports or literature can be time consuming, which promotes the use of secondary data sources instead. In this study, we evaluate and characterize numerous secondary data sources on the basis of 5 performance attributes: reliability, adequacy, transparency, volume, and ease of use. We use GreenScreen for Safer Chemicals v1.4 as the CHA framework, which defines the endpoints of interest used in this analysis. We focused upon 34 data sources that reflect 3 types of secondary data: chemical-oriented data sources, hazard-trait-oriented data sources, and predictive data sources. To integrate and analyze the evaluation results, we applied 2 multicriteria decision analysis (MCDA) methodologies: multiattribute utility theory (MAUT) and stochastic multiobjective acceptability analysis (SMAA). Overall, the findings in this research program allow us to explore the relative importance of performance criteria and the data source quality for effectively conducting CHA. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2019;00:1-14. © 2019 SETAC.

Reviewing the Mechanistic Evidence Assessors E-Synthesis and EBM+: A Case Study of Amoxicillin and Drug Reaction with Eosinophilia and Systemic Symptoms (DRESS)

Background:

Basic science has delivered unprecedented insights into intricate relationships on the smallest scales within well-controlled environments. Addressing pressing societal decision problems requires an understanding of systems on larger scales in real-world situations.

Objective:

To assess how well the evidence assessors E-Synthesis and EBM+ assess basic science findings to support medical decision making.

Method:

We demonstrate the workings of E-Synthesis and EBM+ on a case study: the suspected causal connection between the widely-used drug amoxicillin (AMX) and the putative adverse drug reaction: Drug Reaction with Eosinophilia and Systemic Symptoms (DRESS).

Results:

We determine an increase in the probability that AMX can cause DRESS within the E-Synthesis approach and using the EBM+ standards assess the basic science findings as supporting the existence of a mechanism linking AMX and DRESS.

Conclusions:

While progress is made towards developing methodologies which allow the incorporation of basic science research in the decision making process for pressing societal questions, there is still considerable need for further developments. A continued dialogue between basic science researchers and methodologists, philosophers and statisticians seems to offer the best prospects for developing and evaluating continuously evolving methodologies.

The potential of recycled materials used in agriculture to contaminate food through uptake by livestock

The potential for contaminant uptake from recycled materials used in livestock farming, to animal tissues and organs, was investigated in three practical modular studies involving broiler chickens, laying chickens and pigs. Six types of commercially available recycled materials were used either as bedding material for chickens or as fertilizer for cropland that later housed outdoor reared pigs. The contaminants studied included regulated contaminants e.g. polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs, dioxins) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), but related contaminants such as polybrominated diphenylethers (PBDEs), hexabrominated cyclododecane (HBCDD), polychlorinated naphthalenes (PCNs), polybrominated dioxins (PBDD/Fs) and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) were also investigated. Contaminant occurrence in the recycled materials was verified prior to the studies and the relationship to tissue and egg concentrations in market ready animals was investigated using a weights of evidence approach. Contaminant uptake to animal tissues and eggs was observed in all the studies but the extent varied depending on the species and the recycled material. PCBs, PBDEs, PCDD/Fs, PCNs and PFAS showed the highest potential to transfer, with laying chickens showing the most pronounced effects. PBDD/Fs showed low concentrations in the recycled materials, making it difficult to evaluate potential transfer. Higher resulting occurrence levels in laying chickens relative to broilers suggests that period of contact with the materials may influence the extent of uptake in chickens. Bio-transfer factors (BTFs) estimated for PCDD/F and PCBs showed a greater magnitude for chicken muscle tissue relative to pigs with the highest values observed for PCBs in laying chickens. There were no significant differences between BTFs for the different chicken tissues which contrasted with the high BTF values for pigs liver relative to muscle. The study raises further questions which require investigation such as the effects of repeated or yearly application of recycled materials as fertilizers, and the batch homogeneity/consistency of available recycled materials.

Linking management planning for coastal wetlands to potential future wave attenuation under a range of relative sea-level rise scenarios

Understanding changes in wave attenuation by emergent vegetation as wetlands degrade or accrete over time is crucial for incorporation of wetlands into holistic coastal risk management. Linked SLAMM and XBeach models were used to investigate potential future changes in wave attenuation over a 50-year period in a degrading, subtropical wetland and a prograding, temperate wetland. These contrasting systems also have differing management contexts and were contrasted to demonstrate how the linked models can provide management-relevant insights. Morphological development of wetlands for different scenarios of sea-level rise and accretion was simulated with SLAMM and then coupled with different vegetation characteristics to predict the influence on future wave attenuation using XBeach. The geomorphological context, subsidence, and accretion resulted in large predicted reductions in the extent of vegetated land (e.g., wetland) and changes in wave height reduction potential across the wetland. These were exacerbated by increases in sea-level from +0.217 m to +0.386 m over a 50-year period, especially at the lowest accretion rates in the degrading wetland. Mangrove vegetation increased wave attenuation within the degrading, subtropical, saline wetland, while grazing reduced wave attenuation in the temperate, prograding wetland. Coastal management decisions and actions, related to coastal vegetation type and structure, have the potential to change future wave attenuation at a spatial scale relevant to coastal protection planning. Therefore, a coastal management approach that includes disaster risk reduction, biodiversity, and climate change, can be informed by coastal modeling tools, such as those demonstrated here for two contrasting case studies.

Environmental assessment in health care organizations

The aim of this research is to design a multi-criteria model for environmental assessment of health care organizations. This is a model which guarantees the objectivity of the results obtained, is easy to apply, and incorporates a series of criteria, and their corresponding descriptors, relevant to the internal environmental auditing processes of the hospital. Furthermore, judgments were given by three experts from the areas of health, the environment, and multi-criteria decision techniques. From the values assigned, geometric means were calculated, giving weightings for the criteria of the model. This innovative model is intended for application within a continuous improvement process. A practical case from a Spanish hospital is included at the end. Information contained in the sustainability report provided the data needed to apply the model. The example contains all the criteria previously defined in the model. The results obtained show that the best-satisfied criteria are those related to energy consumption, generation of hazardous waste, legal matters, environmental sensitivity of staff, patients and others, and the environmental management of suppliers. On the other hand, those areas returning poor results are control of atmospheric emissions, increase in consumption of renewable energies, and the logistics of waste produced. It is recommended that steps be taken to correct these deficiencies, thus leading to an acceptable increase in the sustainability of the hospital.

Ecotoxicological risk of trace element mobility in coastal semiartificial depositional areas near the mouth of the river Rhine, the Netherlands

Artificial sand replenishments are globally used as innovative coastal protection measures. In these replenishments elevated porewater concentrations of trace elements are found. The present study investigated possible ecotoxicological risks at 2 intertidal depositional sites, the Sand Engine as a recent innovative Dutch coastal management project and a semiartificial tidal flat. Using the sediment quality triad approach, we considered 3 major lines of evidence: geochemical characterization, toxicity characterization using bioassays with the estuarine amphipod Corophium volutator, and ecological field survey. In both depositional areas C. volutator is at risk: moderate (Sand Engine) and low (tidal flat). For tidal flat, the bioavailability of trace elements differs between the field site and the laboratory. Contamination from arsenic and copper is present, but the low survival rate of C. volutator from the bioassay suggests the presence of additional contaminations. The highly morphological dynamic environment of Sand Engine creates a less favorable habitat for C. volutator, where local spots with stagnant water can temporarily create hypoxic conditions and sulfate becomes reduced. The dynamic system mobilizes especially arsenic, triggering adverse ecotoxic effects at low original sediment concentrations. To conclude, the sediment quality triad approach shows that a semiartificial tidal flat is preferred over a highly dynamic coastal management project like the Sand Engine. The Sand Engine concept does not provide suitable conditions for macrobenthos species like C. volutator; therefore, limiting the nature development goal set together with the coastal protection goal. Assessing each line of evidence from the approach together with additional measurements established more precise and realistic conclusions, showing that evaluating the contributions of this method is necessary to understand the causes of risk in a site-specific manner. Environ Toxicol Chem 2018;37:2933-2946. © 2018 The Authors. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of SETAC.

Use of multiple lines of evidence to provide a realistic toxic substances control act ecological risk evaluation based on monitoring data: D4 case study

D4 (octamethylcyclotetrasiloxane) is a high-production-volume cyclic volatile methyl siloxane with a wide range of industrial and consumer applications. This study conducted a robust ecological risk evaluation for D4 using exposure data collected under a nation-wide environmental monitoring program facilitated under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). This ecological risk evaluation was conducted consistent with the principles outlined in the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA's) Guidance to Assist Interested Persons in Developing and Submitting Draft Risk Evaluations under TSCA (U.S. EPA 2017a). The evaluation examined multiple lines of evidence (LoEs) to determine the potential risks from D4 to aquatic receptors in rivers and streams in the United States from municipal wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) discharges and discharges from manufacturing, processing, and/or formulating (MPF) facilities after onsite wastewater treatment. The LoEs consisted of comparing D4 concentrations measured in water and sediment to toxicity thresholds derived from laboratory studies; comparing D4 concentrations measured in biota tissue to critical target lipid body burdens (CTLBBs); comparing fugacity-based chemical activities between toxicity thresholds and measured environmental concentrations; and assessing benthic macroinvertebrate community structure and habitat suitability. The approach taken moves beyond a standard deterministic hazard quotient approach to incorporate more advanced methods for risk prediction, using distributions rather than conservative point estimates of exposure to obtain a realistic view of the probability of harm, consistent with EPA's stated intent to "strive to utilize probabilistic approaches for exposure assessments included in a risk evaluation" (U.S. EPA 2017b). The risk evaluation concluded there is negligible risk to water column and sediment receptors from D4 discharged from MPF facilities after onsite wastewater treatment or from municipal WWTPs that may treat a mix of industrial and consumer wastewater.

Weight of Evidence for Hazard Identification: A Critical Review of the Literature

BACKGROUND

Transparency when documenting and assessing weight of evidence (WOE) has been an area of increasing focus for national and international health agencies.

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this work was to conduct a critical review of WOE analysis methods as a basis for developing a practical framework for considering and assessing WOE in hazard identification in areas of application at the French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health and Safety (ANSES).

METHODS

Based on a review of the literature and directed requests to 63 international and national agencies, 116 relevant articles and guidance documents were selected. The WOE approaches were assessed based on three aspects: the extent of their prescriptive nature, their purpose-specific relevance, and their ease of implementation.

RESULTS

Twenty-four approaches meeting the specified criteria were identified from selected reviewed documents. Most approaches satisfied one or two of the assessed considerations, but not all three. The approaches were grouped within a practical framework comprising the following four stages: (1) planning the assessment, including scoping, formulating the question, and developing the assessment method; (2) establishing lines of evidence (LOEs), including identifying and selecting studies, assessing their quality, and integrating with studies of similar type; (3) integrating the LOEs to evaluate WOE; and (4) presenting conclusions.

DISCUSSION

Based on the review, considerations for selecting methods for a wide range of applications are proposed. Priority areas for further development are identified. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP3067.

Ecological risk assessment of polymetallic sites using weight of evidence approach

Ecological risk assessment (ERA) of polymetallic contamination in soils has caused extensive solicitude. However, objective and feasible methods suitable for soil ERA are limited. Therefore, in this study, a multidisciplinary and quantitative weight of evidence approach (WOE) specific to soil ecosystems was developed based on the previous WOE for aquatic ecosystems. The framework consisted of four lines of evidence (LOEs): DTPA-extractable heavy metal in soils, bioaccumulation in earthworms, integration of biomarker responses and expected community effect (multi-substance Potentially Affected Fraction, msPAF). These four LOEs were initially evaluated by each hazard quotient (HQ) of them based on the ratio to the reference (RTR) of each parameter. Then, Environmental risk index (EnvRI) integrated by HQs with different weights was calculated. At last, three sites, one for reference (N1) and two for contaminated soils (N2 and N3) were chosen to apply the modified WOE approach. Results showed that heavily contaminated site, N3 had higher HQ classification for each LOE and its EnvRI was classified as Major levels, while the EnvRI of N2 was assigned into Moderate. What's more, HQ of biomarker response (HQ_biomarker) integrated by RTRs of biomarkers increased gradiently with the increase of heavy metal levels in soils though irregular changes were observed for most of those biomarkers. Overall, our results indicated that the quantitative WOE framework specific to soil ERA had the advantage of obtaining a comprehensive and objective risk assessment.

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT OF A HEALTH TECHNOLOGY: A SCOPING REVIEW

INTRODUCTION

The Health Technology Expert Review Panel is an advisory body to Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health (CADTH) that develops recommendations on health technology assessments (HTAs) for nondrug health technologies using a deliberative framework. The framework spans several domains, including the environmental impact of the health technology(ies). Our research objective was to identify articles on frameworks, methods or case studies on the environmental impact assessment of health technologies.

METHODS

A literature search in major databases and a focused gray literature search were conducted. The main search concepts were HTA and environmental impact/sustainability. Eligible articles were those that described a conceptual framework or methods used to conduct an environmental assessment of health technologies, and case studies on the application of an environmental assessment.

RESULTS

From the 1,710 citations identified, thirteen publications were included. Two articles presented a framework to incorporate environmental assessment in HTAs. Other approaches described weight of evidence practices and comprehensive and integrated environmental impact assessments. Central themes derived include transparency and repeatability, integration of components in a framework or of evidence into a single outcome, data availability to ensure the accuracy of findings, and familiarity with the approach used.

CONCLUSIONS

Each framework and methods presented have different foci related to the ecosystem, health economics, or engineering practices. Their descriptions suggested transparency, repeatability, and the integration of components or of evidence into a single outcome as their main strengths. Our review is an initial step of a larger initiative by CADTH to develop the methods and processes to address the environmental impact question in an HTA.

Hazard Screening Methods for Nanomaterials: A Comparative Study

Hazard identification is the key step in risk assessment and management of manufactured nanomaterials (NM). However, the rapid commercialisation of nano-enabled products continues to out-pace the development of a prudent risk management mechanism that is widely accepted by the scientific community and enforced by regulators. However, a growing body of academic literature is developing promising quantitative methods. Two approaches have gained significant currency. Bayesian networks (BN) are a probabilistic, machine learning approach while the weight of evidence (WoE) statistical framework is based on expert elicitation. This comparative study investigates the efficacy of quantitative WoE and Bayesian methodologies in ranking the potential hazard of metal and metal-oxide NMs—TiO₂, Ag, and ZnO. This research finds that hazard ranking is consistent for both risk assessment approaches. The BN and WoE models both utilize physico-chemical, toxicological, and study type data to infer the hazard potential. The BN exhibits more stability when the models are perturbed with new data. The BN has the significant advantage of self-learning with new data; however, this assumes all input data is equally valid. This research finds that a combination of WoE that would rank input data along with the BN is the optimal hazard assessment framework.

Linking People to Coastal Habitats: A meta-analysis of final ecosystem goods and services on the coast

Coastal ecosystem goods and services (EGS) have steadily gained traction in the scientific literature over the last few decades, providing a wealth of information about underlying coastal habitat dependencies. This meta-analysis summarizes relationships between coastal habitats and final ecosystem goods and services (FEGS) users. Through a "weight of evidence" approach synthesizing information from published literature, we assessed habitat classes most relevant to coastal users. Approximately 2,800 coastal EGS journal articles were identified by online search engines, of which 16% addressed linkages between specific coastal habitats and FEGS users, and were retained for subsequent analysis. Recreational (83%) and industrial (35%) users were most cited in literature, with experiential-users/hikers and commercial fishermen most prominent in each category, respectively. Recreational users were linked to the widest diversity of coastal habitat subclasses (i.e., 22 of 26). Whereas, mangroves and emergent wetlands were most relevant for property owners. We urge EGS studies to continue surveying local users and identifying habitat dependencies, as these steps are important precursors for developing appropriate coastal FEGS metrics and facilitating local valuation. In addition, understanding how habitats contribute to human well-being may assist communities in prioritizing restoration and evaluating development scenarios in the context of future ecosystem service delivery.

Quantitative weight of evidence assessment of higher-tier studies on the toxicity and risks of neonicotinoid insecticides in honeybees 1: Methods

A quantitative weight of evidence (QWoE) methodology was developed and used to assess many higher-tier studies on the effects of three neonicotinoid insecticides: clothianidin (CTD), imidacloprid (IMI), and thiamethoxam (TMX) on honeybees. A general problem formulation, a conceptual model for exposures of honeybees, and an analysis plan were developed. A QWoE methodology was used to characterize the quality of the available studies from the literature and unpublished reports of studies conducted by or for the registrants. These higher-tier studies focused on the exposures of honeybees to neonicotinoids via several matrices as measured in the field as well as the effects in experimentally controlled field studies. Reports provided by Bayer Crop Protection and Syngenta Crop Protection and papers from the open literature were assessed in detail, using predefined criteria for quality and relevance to develop scores (on a relative scale of 0-4) to separate the higher-quality from lower-quality studies and those relevant from less-relevant results. The scores from the QWoEs were summarized graphically to illustrate the overall quality of the studies and their relevance. Through mean and standard errors, this method provided graphical and numerical indications of the quality and relevance of the responses observed in the studies and the uncertainty associated with these two metrics. All analyses were conducted transparently and the derivations of the scores were fully documented. The results of these analyses are presented in three companion papers and the QWoE analyses for each insecticide are presented in detailed supplemental information (SI) in these papers.

A weight of evidence framework for environmental assessments: Inferring qualities

The weighing of heterogeneous evidence such as conventional laboratory toxicity tests, field tests, biomarkers, and community surveys is essential to environmental assessments. Evidence synthesis and weighing is needed to determine causes of observed effects, hazards posed by chemicals or other agents, the completeness of remediation, and other environmental qualities. As part of its guidelines for weight of evidence (WoE) in ecological assessments, the US Environmental Protection Agency has developed a generally applicable framework. Its basic steps are these: assemble evidence, weight the evidence, and weigh the body of evidence. Use of the framework can increase the consistency and rigor of WoE practices and provide greater transparency than ad hoc and narrative-based approaches. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2017;13:1038-1044. Published 2017. This article is a US Government work and is in the public domain in the USA.

A weight of evidence framework for environmental assessments: Inferring quantities

The US Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) has developed a generally applicable framework for a weight-of-evidence (WoE) process for deriving quantitative values from multiple estimates. These guidelines are intended for environmental assessments that require the generation of quantitative parameters such as degradation rates or that develop quantitative products such as criterion values or magnitudes of effects. The basic steps are to weigh evidence for the environmental quality to be quantified, generate the value by merging estimates or by identifying the best estimate, and weight the results to determine confidence in the numerical value. When multiple data sets or outputs of multiple models are available, it may be appropriate to weigh the evidence. Use of the framework to weigh multiple estimates may increase the accuracy of quantitative results compared to a single estimate from a default method. Its use can provide greater transparency compared to ad hoc weighing of evidence. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2017;13:1045-1051. Published 2017. This article is a US Government work and is in the public domain in the USA.

Framework for the quantitative weight-of-evidence analysis of 'omics data for regulatory purposes

A framework for the quantitative weight-of-evidence (QWoE) analysis of 'omics data for regulatory purposes is presented. The QWoE framework encompasses seven steps to evaluate 'omics data (also together with non-'omics data): (1) Hypothesis formulation, identification and weighting of lines of evidence (LoEs). LoEs conjoin different (types of) studies that are used to critically test the hypothesis. As an essential component of the QWoE framework, step 1 includes the development of templates for scoring sheets that predefine scoring criteria with scores of 0-4 to enable a quantitative determination of study quality and data relevance; (2) literature searches and categorisation of studies into the pre-defined LoEs; (3) and (4) quantitative assessment of study quality and data relevance using the respective pre-defined scoring sheets for each study; (5) evaluation of LoE-specific strength of evidence based upon the study quality and study relevance scores of the studies conjoined in the respective LoE; (6) integration of the strength of evidence from the individual LoEs to determine the overall strength of evidence; (7) characterisation of uncertainties and conclusion on the QWoE. To put the QWoE framework in practice, case studies are recommended to confirm the relevance of its different steps, or to adapt them as necessary.

Physical, psychological, sexual, and systemic abuse of children with disabilities in East Africa: Mapping the evidence

Children with disabilities (CWDs) are at a higher risk of being maltreated than are typical children. The evidence base on the abuse of children with disabilities living in low- and middle-income countries is extremely limited but the problem is particularly acute in East Africa. We don't know the types of evidence that exist on this topic. This problem is compounded by the fact that key indicators of disability, such as reliable prevalence rates, are not available currently. This paper addresses this serious problem by mapping the existing evidence-base to document the coverage, patterns, and gaps in existing research on the abuse of children with disabilities in East Africa. An evidence map, following systematic review guidelines, was conducted and included a systematic search, transparent and structured data extraction, and critical appraisal. Health and social science databases (Medline, EMBASE, PsychInfo, Taylor&Francis, Web of Science, and SAGE) were systematically searched for relevant studies. A substantive grey literature search was also conducted. All empirical research on the abuse of CWDs in East Africa was eligible for inclusion: Data on abuse was systematically extracted and the research evidence, following critical appraisal, mapped according to the type of abuse and disability condition, highlighting gaps and patterns in the evidence-base. 6005 studies were identified and screened, of which 177 received a full-text assessment. Of these, 41 studies matched the inclusion criteria. By mapping the available data and reports and systematically assessing their trustworthiness and relevance, we highlight significant gaps in the available evidence base. Clear patterns emerge that show a major data gap and lack of research on sexual abuse of children with disabilities and an identifiable lack of methodological quality in many relevant studies. These make the development of a concerted and targeted research effort to tackle the abuse of children with disabilities in East Africa extremely difficult. This needs to be addressed urgently if the abuse of children with disabilities is to be prioritised by the global health community.

Guidance on the use of the weight of evidence approach in scientific assessments

EFSA requested the Scientific Committee to develop a guidance document on the use of the weight of evidence approach in scientific assessments for use in all areas under EFSA's remit. The guidance document addresses the use of weight of evidence approaches in scientific assessments using both qualitative and quantitative approaches. Several case studies covering the various areas under EFSA's remit are annexed to the guidance document to illustrate the applicability of the proposed approach. Weight of evidence assessment is defined in this guidance as a process in which evidence is integrated to determine the relative support for possible answers to a question. This document considers the weight of evidence assessment as comprising three basic steps: (1) assembling the evidence into lines of evidence of similar type, (2) weighing the evidence, (3) integrating the evidence. The present document identifies reliability, relevance and consistency as three basic considerations for weighing evidence.

This publication is linked to the following EFSA Supporting Publications article: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.2903/sp.efsa.2017.EN-1295/full

Integrating causation in investigative ecological weight of evidence assessments

Weight of evidence (WOE) frameworks integrate environmental assessment data to reach conclusions regarding relative certainty of adverse environmental effects due to stressors, possible causation, and key uncertainties. Such studies can be investigative (i.e., determining whether adverse impact is occurring to identify a need for management) or retrospective (i.e., determining the cause of a detected impact such that management efforts focus on the correct stressor). Such WOE assessments do not themselves definitively establish causation; they provide the basis for subsequent follow-up studies to further investigate causation. We propose a modified investigative WOE framework that includes an additional weighting step, which we term "direction weighting." This additional step allows for the examination of alternative hypotheses and provides improved certainty regarding possible causation. To our knowledge, this approach has not been previously applied in investigative ecological WOE assessments. We provide a generic example of 2 conflicting hypotheses related to a mine discharging treated effluent to a freshwater lake: chemical toxicity versus nutrient enrichment. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2017;13:702-713. © 2016 SETAC.