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Ockleford C, Adriaanse P, Berny P, Brock T, Duquesne S, Grilli S, Hougaard S, Klein M, Kuhl T, Laskowski R, Machera K, Pelkonen O, Pieper S, Smith R, Stemmer M, Sundh I, Teodorovic I, Tiktak A, Topping CJ, Wolterink G, Bottai M, Halldorsson T, Hamey P, Rambourg MO, Tzoulaki I, Court Marques D, Crivellente F, Deluyker H, Hernandez-Jerez AF. Scientific Opinion of the PPR Panel on the follow-up of the findings of the External Scientific Report 'Literature review of epidemiological studies linking exposure to pesticides and health effects'. EFSA J 2017; 15:e05007. [PMID: 32625302 PMCID: PMC7009847 DOI: 10.2903/j.efsa.2017.5007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
In 2013, EFSA published a comprehensive systematic review of epidemiological studies published from 2006 to 2012 investigating the association between pesticide exposure and many health outcomes. Despite the considerable amount of epidemiological information available, the quality of much of this evidence was rather low and many limitations likely affect the results so firm conclusions cannot be drawn. Studies that do not meet the 'recognised standards' mentioned in the Regulation (EU) No 1107/2009 are thus not suited for risk assessment. In this Scientific Opinion, the EFSA Panel on Plant Protection Products and their residues (PPR Panel) was requested to assess the methodological limitations of pesticide epidemiology studies and found that poor exposure characterisation primarily defined the major limitation. Frequent use of case-control studies as opposed to prospective studies was considered another limitation. Inadequate definition or deficiencies in health outcomes need to be avoided and reporting of findings could be improved in some cases. The PPR Panel proposed recommendations on how to improve the quality and reliability of pesticide epidemiology studies to overcome these limitations and to facilitate an appropriate use for risk assessment. The Panel recommended the conduct of systematic reviews and meta-analysis, where appropriate, of pesticide observational studies as useful methodology to understand the potential hazards of pesticides, exposure scenarios and methods for assessing exposure, exposure-response characterisation and risk characterisation. Finally, the PPR Panel proposed a methodological approach to integrate and weight multiple lines of evidence, including epidemiological data, for pesticide risk assessment. Biological plausibility can contribute to establishing causation.
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Vinceti M, Filippini T, Violi F, Rothman KJ, Costanzini S, Malagoli C, Wise LA, Odone A, Signorelli C, Iacuzio L, Arcolin E, Mandrioli J, Fini N, Patti F, Lo Fermo S, Pietrini V, Teggi S, Ghermandi G, Scillieri R, Ledda C, Mauceri C, Sciacca S, Fiore M, Ferrante M. Pesticide exposure assessed through agricultural crop proximity and risk of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Environ Health 2017; 16:91. [PMID: 28851431 PMCID: PMC5576246 DOI: 10.1186/s12940-017-0297-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2017] [Accepted: 08/14/2017] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Epidemiologic studies have raised the possibility that some pesticide compounds induce the neurodegenerative disease amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), though the available evidence is not entirely consistent. METHODS We conducted a population-based case-control study in two Italian populations to assess the extent to which residence in the vicinity of agricultural crops associated with the application of neurotoxic pesticides is a risk factor for ALS, using crop acreage in proximity to the residence as an index of exposure. RESULTS Based on 703 cases and 2737 controls, we computed an ALS odds ratio of 0.92 (95% confidence interval 0.78-1.09) for those in proximity to agricultural land. Results were not substantially different when using alternative exposure categories or when analyzing specific crop types, with the exception of a higher risk related to exposure to citrus orchards and olive groves in Southern Italy, though based on few exposed subjects (N = 89 and 8, respectively). There was little evidence of any dose-response relation between crop proximity and ALS risk, and using long-term residence instead of current residence did not substantially change our estimates. CONCLUSIONS Though our index of exposure is indirect and subject to considerable misclassification, our results offer little support for the hypothesis that neurotoxic pesticide exposure increases ALS risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco Vinceti
- Environmental, Genetic, and Nutritional Epidemiology Research Center - CREAGEN, Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 287 Via Campi, 41125 Modena, Italy
- Department of Epidemiology, Boston University School of Public Health, 715 Albany Street, Boston, MA 02118 USA
| | - Tommaso Filippini
- Environmental, Genetic, and Nutritional Epidemiology Research Center - CREAGEN, Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 287 Via Campi, 41125 Modena, Italy
| | - Federica Violi
- Environmental, Genetic, and Nutritional Epidemiology Research Center - CREAGEN, Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 287 Via Campi, 41125 Modena, Italy
| | - Kenneth J. Rothman
- Department of Epidemiology, Boston University School of Public Health, 715 Albany Street, Boston, MA 02118 USA
- Research Triangle Institute, Research Triangle Park, 3040 E Cornwallis Road, Durham, NC 27709 USA
| | - Sofia Costanzini
- Department of Engineering “Enzo Ferrari”, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 10 Via Vivarelli, 41125 Modena, Italy
| | - Carlotta Malagoli
- Environmental, Genetic, and Nutritional Epidemiology Research Center - CREAGEN, Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 287 Via Campi, 41125 Modena, Italy
| | - Lauren A. Wise
- Department of Epidemiology, Boston University School of Public Health, 715 Albany Street, Boston, MA 02118 USA
| | - Anna Odone
- Department of Biomedical, Biotechnological, and Translational Sciences, University of Parma, 14 Via Gramsci, 43126 Parma, Italy
| | - Carlo Signorelli
- Department of Biomedical, Biotechnological, and Translational Sciences, University of Parma, 14 Via Gramsci, 43126 Parma, Italy
- School of Medicine, University Vita-Salute San Raffaele, 58 Via Olgettina Milano, 20132 Milan, Italy
| | - Laura Iacuzio
- Environmental, Genetic, and Nutritional Epidemiology Research Center - CREAGEN, Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 287 Via Campi, 41125 Modena, Italy
| | - Elisa Arcolin
- Environmental, Genetic, and Nutritional Epidemiology Research Center - CREAGEN, Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 287 Via Campi, 41125 Modena, Italy
| | - Jessica Mandrioli
- Department of Neuroscience, S. Agostino-Estense Hospital, and University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 1355 Via Pietro Giardini, 41126 Modena, Italy
| | - Nicola Fini
- Department of Neuroscience, S. Agostino-Estense Hospital, and University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 1355 Via Pietro Giardini, 41126 Modena, Italy
| | - Francesco Patti
- Department of Medical, Surgical Sciences and Advanced Technologies “G.F. Ingrassia”, University of Catania, 87 Via S. Sofia, 95123 Catania, Italy
| | - Salvatore Lo Fermo
- Neurologic Unit, AOU Policlinico - Vittorio Emanuele, University of Catania, 628 Via Plebiscito, 95124 Catania, Italy
| | - Vladimiro Pietrini
- Department of Neuroscience, Neurology Unit, University of Parma, 14 Via Gramsci, 43126 Parma, Italy
| | - Sergio Teggi
- Department of Engineering “Enzo Ferrari”, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 10 Via Vivarelli, 41125 Modena, Italy
| | - Grazia Ghermandi
- Department of Engineering “Enzo Ferrari”, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 10 Via Vivarelli, 41125 Modena, Italy
| | - Renato Scillieri
- Department of Prevention, Catania Local Health Unit, 5 Via Santa Maria la Grande, 95124 Catania, Italy
| | - Caterina Ledda
- Department of Medical, Surgical Sciences and Advanced Technologies “G.F. Ingrassia”, University of Catania, 87 Via S. Sofia, 95123 Catania, Italy
| | - Cristina Mauceri
- Department of Medical, Surgical Sciences and Advanced Technologies “G.F. Ingrassia”, University of Catania, 87 Via S. Sofia, 95123 Catania, Italy
| | - Salvatore Sciacca
- Department of Medical, Surgical Sciences and Advanced Technologies “G.F. Ingrassia”, University of Catania, 87 Via S. Sofia, 95123 Catania, Italy
| | - Maria Fiore
- Department of Medical, Surgical Sciences and Advanced Technologies “G.F. Ingrassia”, University of Catania, 87 Via S. Sofia, 95123 Catania, Italy
| | - Margherita Ferrante
- Department of Medical, Surgical Sciences and Advanced Technologies “G.F. Ingrassia”, University of Catania, 87 Via S. Sofia, 95123 Catania, Italy
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Chemical exposure and infant leukaemia: development of an adverse outcome pathway (AOP) for aetiology and risk assessment research. Arch Toxicol 2017; 91:2763-2780. [PMID: 28536863 DOI: 10.1007/s00204-017-1986-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2017] [Accepted: 05/08/2017] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Infant leukaemia (<1 year old) is a rare disease of an in utero origin at an early phase of foetal development. Rearrangements of the mixed-lineage leukaemia (MLL) gene producing abnormal fusion proteins are the most frequent genetic/molecular findings in infant B cell-acute lymphoblastic leukaemia. In small epidemiological studies, mother/foetus exposures to some chemicals including pesticides have been associated with infant leukaemia; however, the strength of evidence and power of these studies are weak at best. Experimental in vitro or in vivo models do not sufficiently recapitulate the human disease and regulatory toxicology studies are unlikely to capture this kind of hazard. Here, we develop an adverse outcome pathway (AOP) based substantially on an analogous disease-secondary acute leukaemia caused by the topoisomerase II (topo II) poison etoposide-and on cellular and animal models. The hallmark of the AOP is the formation of MLL gene rearrangements via topo II poisoning, leading to fusion genes and ultimately acute leukaemia by global (epi)genetic dysregulation. The AOP condenses molecular, pathological, regulatory and clinical knowledge in a pragmatic, transparent and weight of evidence-based framework. This facilitates the interpretation and integration of epidemiological studies in the process of risk assessment by defining the biologically plausible causative mechanism(s). The AOP identified important gaps in the knowledge relevant to aetiology and risk assessment, including the specific embryonic target cell during the short and spatially restricted period of susceptibility, and the role of (epi)genetic features modifying the initiation and progression of the disease. Furthermore, the suggested AOP informs on a potential Integrated Approach to Testing and Assessment to address the risk caused by environmental chemicals in the future.
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Ockleford C, Adriaanse P, Berny P, Brock T, Duquesne S, Grilli S, Hernandez-Jerez AF, Bennekou SH, Klein M, Kuhl T, Laskowski R, Machera K, Pelkonen O, Pieper S, Smith R, Stemmer M, Sundh I, Teodorovic I, Tiktak A, Topping CJ, Wolterink G, Angeli K, Fritsche E, Hernandez-Jerez AF, Leist M, Mantovani A, Menendez P, Pelkonen O, Price A, Viviani B, Chiusolo A, Ruffo F, Terron A, Bennekou SH. Investigation into experimental toxicological properties of plant protection products having a potential link to Parkinson's disease and childhood leukaemia. EFSA J 2017; 15:e04691. [PMID: 32625422 PMCID: PMC7233269 DOI: 10.2903/j.efsa.2017.4691] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
In 2013, EFSA published a literature review on epidemiological studies linking exposure to pesticides and human health outcome. As a follow up, the EFSA Panel on Plant Protection Products and their residues (PPR Panel) was requested to investigate the plausible involvement of pesticide exposure as a risk factor for Parkinson's disease (PD) and childhood leukaemia (CHL). A systematic literature review on PD and CHL and mode of actions for pesticides was published by EFSA in 2016 and used as background documentation. The Panel used the Adverse Outcome Pathway (AOP) conceptual framework to define the biological plausibility in relation to epidemiological studies by means of identification of specific symptoms of the diseases as AO. The AOP combines multiple information and provides knowledge of biological pathways, highlights species differences and similarities, identifies research needs and supports regulatory decisions. In this context, the AOP approach could help in organising the available experimental knowledge to assess biological plausibility by describing the link between a molecular initiating event (MIE) and the AO through a series of biologically plausible and essential key events (KEs). As the AOP is chemically agnostic, tool chemical compounds were selected to empirically support the response and temporal concordance of the key event relationships (KERs). Three qualitative and one putative AOP were developed by the Panel using the results obtained. The Panel supports the use of the AOP framework to scientifically and transparently explore the biological plausibility of the association between pesticide exposure and human health outcomes, identify data gaps, define a tailored testing strategy and suggests an AOP's informed Integrated Approach for Testing and Assessment (IATA).
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