1
|
Kalyva ME, Vist GE, Diemar MG, López-Soop G, Bozada TJ, Luechtefeld T, Roggen EL, Dirven H, Vinken M, Husøy T. Accessible methods and tools to estimate chemical exposure in humans to support risk assessment: A systematic scoping review. Environ Pollut 2024; 352:124109. [PMID: 38718961 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2024.124109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2023] [Revised: 04/30/2024] [Accepted: 05/03/2024] [Indexed: 05/13/2024]
Abstract
Exposure assessment is a crucial component of environmental health research, providing essential information on the potential risks associated with various chemicals. A systematic scoping review was conducted to acquire an overview of accessible human exposure assessment methods and computational tools to support and ultimately improve risk assessment. The systematic scoping review was performed in Sysrev, a web platform that introduces machine learning techniques into the review process aiming for increased accuracy and efficiency. Included publications were restricted to a publication date after the year 2000, where exposure methods were properly described. Exposure assessments methods were found to be used for a broad range of environmental chemicals including pesticides, metals, persistent chemicals, volatile organic compounds, and other chemical classes. Our results show that after the year 2000, for all the types of exposure routes, probabilistic analysis, and computational methods to calculate human exposure have increased. Sixty-three mathematical models and toolboxes were identified that have been developed in Europe, North America, and globally. However, only twelve occur frequently and their usefulness were associated with exposure route, chemical classes and input parameters used to estimate exposure. The outcome of the combined associations can function as a basis and/or guide for decision making for the selection of most appropriate method and tool to be used for environmental chemical human exposure assessments in Ontology-driven and artificial intelligence-based repeated dose toxicity testing of chemicals for next generation risk assessment (ONTOX) project and elsewhere. Finally, the choice of input parameters used in each mathematical model and toolbox shown by our analysis can contribute to the harmonization process of the exposure models and tools increasing the prospect for comparison between studies and consistency in the regulatory process in the future.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Maria E Kalyva
- Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Division of Climate and Environmental Health, Oslo, Norway.
| | - Gunn E Vist
- Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Division for Health Services, Oslo, Norway
| | | | - Graciela López-Soop
- Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Division of Climate and Environmental Health, Oslo, Norway
| | - T J Bozada
- Toxtrack LLC, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Thomas Luechtefeld
- Toxtrack LLC, Baltimore, MD, United States; Insilica LLC, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Erwin L Roggen
- 3Rs Management and Consulting ApS, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Hubert Dirven
- Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Division of Climate and Environmental Health, Oslo, Norway
| | - Mathieu Vinken
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Laarbeeklaan 103, 1090, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Trine Husøy
- Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Division of Climate and Environmental Health, Oslo, Norway
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Coto-Segura P, Segú-Vergés C, Martorell A, Moreno-Ramírez D, Jorba G, Junet V, Guerri F, Daura X, Oliva B, Cara C, Suárez-Magdalena O, Abraham S, Mas JM. A quantitative systems pharmacology model for certolizumab pegol treatment in moderate-to-severe psoriasis. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1212981. [PMID: 37809085 PMCID: PMC10552644 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1212981] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2023] [Accepted: 08/07/2023] [Indexed: 10/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Psoriasis is a chronic immune-mediated inflammatory systemic disease with skin manifestations characterized by erythematous, scaly, itchy and/or painful plaques resulting from hyperproliferation of keratinocytes. Certolizumab pegol [CZP], a PEGylated antigen binding fragment of a humanized monoclonal antibody against TNF-alpha, is approved for the treatment of moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis. Patients with psoriasis present clinical and molecular variability, affecting response to treatment. Herein, we utilized an in silico approach to model the effects of CZP in a virtual population (vPop) with moderate-to-severe psoriasis. Our proof-of-concept study aims to assess the performance of our model in generating a vPop and defining CZP response variability based on patient profiles. Methods We built a quantitative systems pharmacology (QSP) model of a clinical trial-like vPop with moderate-to-severe psoriasis treated with two dosing schemes of CZP (200 mg and 400 mg, both every two weeks for 16 weeks, starting with a loading dose of CZP 400 mg at weeks 0, 2, and 4). We applied different modelling approaches: (i) an algorithm to generate vPop according to reference population values and comorbidity frequencies in real-world populations; (ii) physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) models of CZP dosing schemes in each virtual patient; and (iii) systems biology-based models of the mechanism of action (MoA) of the drug. Results The combination of our different modelling approaches yielded a vPop distribution and a PBPK model that aligned with existing literature. Our systems biology and QSP models reproduced known biological and clinical activity, presenting outcomes correlating with clinical efficacy measures. We identified distinct clusters of virtual patients based on their psoriasis-related protein predicted activity when treated with CZP, which could help unravel differences in drug efficacy in diverse subpopulations. Moreover, our models revealed clusters of MoA solutions irrespective of the dosing regimen employed. Conclusion Our study provided patient specific QSP models that reproduced clinical and molecular efficacy features, supporting the use of computational methods as modelling strategy to explore drug response variability. This might shed light on the differences in drug efficacy in diverse subpopulations, especially useful in complex diseases such as psoriasis, through the generation of mechanistically based hypotheses.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Pablo Coto-Segura
- Dermatology Department, Hospital Vital Alvarez-Buylla de Mieres, Asturias, Spain
| | - Cristina Segú-Vergés
- Anaxomics Biotech SL, Barcelona, Spain
- Structural Bioinformatics Group, Research Programme on Biomedical Informatics, Department of Medicine and Life Sciences, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain
| | | | - David Moreno-Ramírez
- Dermatology Department, University Hospital Virgen Macarena, Andalusian Health Service, University of Seville, Seville, Spain
| | - Guillem Jorba
- Anaxomics Biotech SL, Barcelona, Spain
- Structural Bioinformatics Group, Research Programme on Biomedical Informatics, Department of Medicine and Life Sciences, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Valentin Junet
- Anaxomics Biotech SL, Barcelona, Spain
- Institute of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola del Vallès, Spain
| | - Filippo Guerri
- Anaxomics Biotech SL, Barcelona, Spain
- Institute of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola del Vallès, Spain
| | - Xavier Daura
- Institute of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola del Vallès, Spain
- Catalan Institution for Research and Advanced Studies (ICREA), Barcelona, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Bioingeniería, Biomateriales y Nanomedicina, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Cerdanyola del Vallès, Spain
| | - Baldomero Oliva
- Structural Bioinformatics Group, Research Programme on Biomedical Informatics, Department of Medicine and Life Sciences, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain
| | | | | | - Sonya Abraham
- National Heart and Lung Institute (NHLI), Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College, London, United Kingdom
- Medical Affairs, UCB Pharma, Brussels, Belgium
| | | |
Collapse
|
3
|
Niu S, Cao Y, Chen R, Bedi M, Sanders AP, Ducatman A, Ng C. A State-of-the-Science Review of Interactions of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) with Renal Transporters in Health and Disease: Implications for Population Variability in PFAS Toxicokinetics. Environ Health Perspect 2023; 131:76002. [PMID: 37418334 DOI: 10.1289/ehp11885] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/09/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are ubiquitous in the environment and have been shown to cause various adverse health impacts. In animals, sex- and species-specific differences in PFAS elimination half-lives have been linked to the activity of kidney transporters. However, PFAS molecular interactions with kidney transporters are still not fully understood. Moreover, the impact of kidney disease on PFAS elimination remains unclear. OBJECTIVES This state-of-the-science review integrated current knowledge to assess how changes in kidney function and transporter expression from health to disease could affect PFAS toxicokinetics and identified priority research gaps that should be addressed to advance knowledge. METHODS We searched for studies that measured PFAS uptake by kidney transporters, quantified transporter-level changes associated with kidney disease status, and developed PFAS pharmacokinetic models. We then used two databases to identify untested kidney transporters that have the potential for PFAS transport based on their endogenous substrates. Finally, we used an existing pharmacokinetic model for perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) in male rats to explore the influence of transporter expression levels, glomerular filtration rate (GFR), and serum albumin on serum half-lives. RESULTS The literature search identified nine human and eight rat kidney transporters that were previously investigated for their ability to transport PFAS, as well as seven human and three rat transporters that were confirmed to transport specific PFAS. We proposed a candidate list of seven untested kidney transporters with the potential for PFAS transport. Model results indicated PFOA toxicokinetics were more influenced by changes in GFR than in transporter expression. DISCUSSION Studies on additional transporters, particularly efflux transporters, and on more PFAS, especially current-use PFAS, are needed to better cover the role of transporters across the PFAS class. Remaining research gaps in transporter expression changes in specific kidney disease states could limit the effectiveness of risk assessment and prevent identification of vulnerable populations. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP11885.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shan Niu
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Yuexin Cao
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Ruiwen Chen
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Megha Bedi
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Alison P Sanders
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Alan Ducatman
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health Sciences, West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virginia, USA
| | - Carla Ng
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Gutiérrez-Casares JR, Segú-Vergés C, Sabate Chueca J, Pozo-Rubio T, Coma M, Montoto C, Quintero J. In silico evaluation of the role of lisdexamfetamine on attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder common psychiatric comorbidities: mechanistic insights on binge eating disorder and depression. Front Neurosci 2023; 17:1118253. [PMID: 37457000 PMCID: PMC10347683 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2023.1118253] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2022] [Accepted: 06/12/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a psychiatric condition well recognized in the pediatric population that can persist into adulthood. The vast majority of patients with ADHD present psychiatric comorbidities that have been suggested to share, to some extent, the pathophysiological mechanism of ADHD. Lisdexamfetamine (LDX) is a stimulant prodrug approved for treating ADHD and, in the US, also for binge eating disorder (BED). Herein, we evaluated, through a systems biology-based in silico method, the efficacy of a virtual model of LDX (vLDX) as ADHD treatment to improve five common ADHD psychiatric comorbidities in adults and children, and we explored the molecular mechanisms behind LDX's predicted efficacy. After the molecular characterization of vLDX and the comorbidities (anxiety, BED, bipolar disorder, depression, and tics disorder), we created a protein-protein interaction human network to which we applied artificial neural networks (ANN) algorithms. We also generated virtual populations of adults and children-adolescents totaling 2,600 individuals and obtained the predicted protein activity from Therapeutic Performance Mapping System models. The latter showed that ADHD molecular description shared 53% of its protein effectors with at least one studied psychiatric comorbidity. According to the ANN analysis, proteins targeted by vLDX are predicted to have a high probability of being related to BED and depression. In BED, vLDX was modeled to act upon neurotransmission and neuroplasticity regulators, and, in depression, vLDX regulated the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, neuroinflammation, oxidative stress, and glutamatergic excitotoxicity. In conclusion, our modeling results, despite their limitations and although requiring in vitro or in vivo validation, could supplement the design of preclinical and potentially clinical studies that investigate treatment for patients with ADHD with psychiatric comorbidities, especially from a molecular point of view.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- José Ramón Gutiérrez-Casares
- Unidad Ambulatoria de Psiquiatría y Salud Mental de la Infancia, Niñez y Adolescencia, Hospital Perpetuo Socorro, Badajoz, Spain
| | - Cristina Segú-Vergés
- Anaxomics Biotech, Barcelona, Spain
- Research Programme on Biomedical Informatics (GRIB), Departament de Ciències Experimentals i de la Salut, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain
| | | | | | | | - Carmen Montoto
- Department of Medical, Takeda Farmacéutica España, Madrid, Spain
| | - Javier Quintero
- Servicio de Psiquiatría, Hospital Universitario Infanta Leonor, Departamento de Medicina Legal, Patología y Psiquiatría, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Gutiérrez-Casares JR, Quintero J, Segú-Vergés C, Rodríguez Monterde P, Pozo-Rubio T, Coma M, Montoto C. In silico clinical trial evaluating lisdexamfetamine's and methylphenidate's mechanism of action computational models in an attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder virtual patients' population. Front Psychiatry 2023; 14:939650. [PMID: 37333910 PMCID: PMC10273406 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2023.939650] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2022] [Accepted: 04/21/2023] [Indexed: 06/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is an impairing psychiatric condition with the stimulants, lisdexamfetamine (LDX), and methylphenidate (MPH), as the first lines pharmacological treatment. Methods Herein, we applied a novel in silico method to evaluate virtual LDX (vLDX) and vMPH as treatments for ADHD applying quantitative systems pharmacology (QSP) models. The objectives were to evaluate the model's output, considering the model characteristics and the information used to build them, to compare both virtual drugs' efficacy mechanisms, and to assess how demographic (age, body mass index, and sex) and clinical characteristics may affect vLDX's and vMPH's relative efficacies. Results and Discussion We molecularly characterized the drugs and pathologies based on a bibliographic search, and generated virtual populations of adults and children-adolescents totaling 2,600 individuals. For each virtual patient and virtual drug, we created physiologically based pharmacokinetic and QSP models applying the systems biology-based Therapeutic Performance Mapping System technology. The resulting models' predicted protein activity indicated that both virtual drugs modulated ADHD through similar mechanisms, albeit with some differences. vMPH induced several general synaptic, neurotransmitter, and nerve impulse-related processes, whereas vLDX seemed to modulate neural processes more specific to ADHD, such as GABAergic inhibitory synapses and regulation of the reward system. While both drugs' models were linked to an effect over neuroinflammation and altered neural viability, vLDX had a significant impact on neurotransmitter imbalance and vMPH on circadian system deregulation. Among demographic characteristics, age and body mass index affected the efficacy of both virtual treatments, although the effect was more marked for vLDX. Regarding comorbidities, only depression negatively impacted both virtual drugs' efficacy mechanisms and, while that of vLDX were more affected by the co-treatment of tic disorders, the efficacy mechanisms of vMPH were disturbed by wide-spectrum psychiatric drugs. Our in silico results suggested that both drugs could have similar efficacy mechanisms as ADHD treatment in adult and pediatric populations and allowed raising hypotheses for their differential impact in specific patient groups, although these results require prospective validation for clinical translatability.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- José Ramón Gutiérrez-Casares
- Unidad Ambulatoria de Psiquiatría y Salud Mental de la Infancia, Niñez y Adolescencia, Hospital Perpetuo Socorro, Badajoz, Spain
| | - Javier Quintero
- Servicio de Psiquiatría, Hospital Universitario Infanta Leonor, Universidad Complutense, Madrid, Spain
| | - Cristina Segú-Vergés
- Anaxomics Biotech, Barcelona, Spain
- Structural Bioinformatics Group, Research Programme on Biomedical Informatics, Department of Medicine and Life Sciences, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain
| | | | | | | | - Carmen Montoto
- Medical Department, Takeda Farmacéutica España, Madrid, Spain
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Han M, Xu J, Lin Y. Approaches of formulation bridging in support of orally administered drug product development. Int J Pharm 2022; 629:122380. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpharm.2022.122380] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2022] [Revised: 11/01/2022] [Accepted: 11/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
|
7
|
Schlüter U, Meyer J, Ahrens A, Borghi F, Clerc F, Delmaar C, Di Guardo A, Dudzina T, Fantke P, Fransman W, Hahn S, Heussen H, Jung C, Koivisto J, Koppisch D, Paini A, Savic N, Spinazzè A, Zare Jeddi M, von Goetz N. Exposure modelling in Europe: how to pave the road for the future as part of the European Exposure Science Strategy 2020-2030. J Expo Sci Environ Epidemiol 2022; 32:499-512. [PMID: 35918394 PMCID: PMC9349043 DOI: 10.1038/s41370-022-00455-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2021] [Revised: 06/21/2022] [Accepted: 06/28/2022] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
Exposure models are essential in almost all relevant contexts for exposure science. To address the numerous challenges and gaps that exist, exposure modelling is one of the priority areas of the European Exposure Science Strategy developed by the European Chapter of the International Society of Exposure Science (ISES Europe). A strategy was developed for the priority area of exposure modelling in Europe with four strategic objectives. These objectives are (1) improvement of models and tools, (2) development of new methodologies and support for understudied fields, (3) improvement of model use and (4) regulatory needs for modelling. In a bottom-up approach, exposure modellers from different European countries and institutions who are active in the fields of occupational, population and environmental exposure science pooled their expertise under the umbrella of the ISES Europe Working Group on exposure models. This working group assessed the state-of-the-art of exposure modelling in Europe by developing an inventory of exposure models used in Europe and reviewing the existing literature on pitfalls for exposure modelling, in order to identify crucial modelling-related strategy elements. Decisive actions were defined for ISES Europe stakeholders, including collecting available models and accompanying information in a living document curated and published by ISES Europe, as well as a long-term goal of developing a best-practices handbook. Alongside these actions, recommendations were developed and addressed to stakeholders outside of ISES Europe. Four strategic objectives were identified with an associated action plan and roadmap for the implementation of the European Exposure Science Strategy for exposure modelling. This strategic plan will foster a common understanding of modelling-related methodology, terminology and future research in Europe, and have a broader impact on strategic considerations globally.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Urs Schlüter
- Federal Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (BAuA), Friedrich-Henkel-Weg 1-25, D-44149, Dortmund, Germany.
| | - Jessica Meyer
- Federal Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (BAuA), Friedrich-Henkel-Weg 1-25, D-44149, Dortmund, Germany
| | - Andreas Ahrens
- Exposure and Supply Chain Unit, European Chemicals Agency (ECHA), P.O. Box 400, FI-00121, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Francesca Borghi
- Department of Science and High Technology, University of Insubria, 22100, Como, Italy
| | - Frédéric Clerc
- National Institute for Research and Safety (INRS), Pollutants Metrology Division, Nancy, France
| | - Christiaan Delmaar
- National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Antonie van Leeuwenhoeklaan 9, 3721 MA, Bilthoven, The Netherlands
| | - Antonio Di Guardo
- Department of Science and High Technology, University of Insubria, 22100, Como, Italy
| | - Tatsiana Dudzina
- Exxon Mobil Petroleum and Chemical B.V., Hermeslaan 2, 1831, Machelen, Belgium
| | - Peter Fantke
- Quantitative Sustainability Assessment, Department of Environmental and Resource Engineering, Technical University of Denmark, Produktionstorvet 424, 2800 Kgs, Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Wouter Fransman
- TNO, Department Risk Analysis for Products in Development, P.O. Box 80015, 3508 TA, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Stefan Hahn
- Fraunhofer Institute for Toxicology and Experimental Medicine (ITEM), Nikolai-Fuchs-Strasse 1, 30625, Hannover, Germany
| | - Henri Heussen
- Cosanta BV, Stationsplein Noord-Oost 202, 1117 CJ, Schiphol-Oost, The Netherlands
| | - Christian Jung
- German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR), Max-Dohrn-Str. 8-10, D-10589, Berlin, Germany
| | - Joonas Koivisto
- Institute for Atmospheric and Earth System Research (INAR), University of Helsinki, PL 64, FI-00014, UHEL, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Dorothea Koppisch
- Section 1.3 Exposure Monitoring-MGU, Institute for Occupational Safety and Health of the German Social Accident Insurance (IFA), Alte Heerstr. 111, 53757, Sankt Augustin, Germany
| | - Alicia Paini
- European Commission Joint Research Centre (JRC), Ispra, Italy
| | - Nenad Savic
- Center for Primary Care and Public Health, Unisanté, Route de la Corniche 2, 1066, Epalinges, Switzerland
| | - Andrea Spinazzè
- Department of Science and High Technology, University of Insubria, 22100, Como, Italy
| | - Maryam Zare Jeddi
- National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Antonie van Leeuwenhoeklaan 9, 3721 MA, Bilthoven, The Netherlands
| | - Natalie von Goetz
- Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH Zurich), Rämistrasse 101, 8092, Zurich, Switzerland.
- Swiss Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH), Schwarzenburgstrasse 157, 3003, Bern, Switzerland.
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Ciffroy P, Mertens B, Van Hoeck E, Van Overmeire I, Johansson E, Alfonso B, Baderna D, Selvestrel G, Benfenati E. Modeling the migration of chemicals from food contact materials to food: The MERLIN-expo/VERMEER toolbox. Food Chem Toxicol 2022; 166:113118. [PMID: 35605713 DOI: 10.1016/j.fct.2022.113118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2021] [Revised: 03/21/2022] [Accepted: 05/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Evaluating the migration of chemicals from food contact materials (FCM) into food is a key step in the safety assessment of such materials. In this paper, a simple mechanistic model describing the migration of chemicals from FCM to food was combined with quantitative property-property relationships (QPPRs) for the prediction of diffusion coefficients and FCM-Food partition coefficients. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the performance of these operational models in the prediction of a chemical's concentration in food in contact with a plastic monolayer FCM. A comparison to experimental migration values reported in literature was conducted. Deterministic simulations showed a good match between predicted and experimental values. The tested models can be used to provide insights in the amount and the type of toxicological data that are needed for the safety evaluation of the FCM substance. Uncertainty in QPPRs used for describing the processes of both diffusion in FCM and partition at the FCM-Food interface was included in the analysis. Combining uncertainty in QPPR predictions, it was shown that the third quartile (75th percentile) derived from probabilistic calculations can be used as a conservative value in the prediction of chemical concentration in food, with reasonable safety factors.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- P Ciffroy
- EDF, Division Recherche et Développement, Laboratoire National d'Hydraulique et Environnement, 6 quai Watier, 78401, Chatou, France.
| | - B Mertens
- Chemical and Physical Health Risks, Sciensano, Juliette Wytsmanstraat 14, 1050, Brussels, Belgium; Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Antwerp, Wilrijk, Belgium
| | - E Van Hoeck
- Chemical and Physical Health Risks, Sciensano, Juliette Wytsmanstraat 14, 1050, Brussels, Belgium
| | - I Van Overmeire
- Chemical and Physical Health Risks, Sciensano, Juliette Wytsmanstraat 14, 1050, Brussels, Belgium
| | - E Johansson
- AFRY, Facilia Sweden Section, Frösundaleden 2, SE16970, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - B Alfonso
- AFRY, Facilia Sweden Section, Frösundaleden 2, SE16970, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - D Baderna
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri IRCCS, Via Mario Negri 2, 20156, Milano, Italy
| | - G Selvestrel
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri IRCCS, Via Mario Negri 2, 20156, Milano, Italy
| | - E Benfenati
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri IRCCS, Via Mario Negri 2, 20156, Milano, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Maertens A, Golden E, Luechtefeld TH, Hoffmann S, Tsaioun K, Hartung T. Probabilistic risk assessment - the keystone for the future of toxicology. ALTEX 2022; 39:3-29. [PMID: 35034131 PMCID: PMC8906258 DOI: 10.14573/altex.2201081] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Safety sciences must cope with uncertainty of models and results as well as information gaps. Acknowledging this uncertainty necessitates embracing probabilities and accepting the remaining risk. Every toxicological tool delivers only probable results. Traditionally, this is taken into account by using uncertainty / assessment factors and worst-case / precautionary approaches and thresholds. Probabilistic methods and Bayesian approaches seek to characterize these uncertainties and promise to support better risk assessment and, thereby, improve risk management decisions. Actual assessments of uncertainty can be more realistic than worst-case scenarios and may allow less conservative safety margins. Most importantly, as soon as we agree on uncertainty, this defines room for improvement and allows a transition from traditional to new approach methods as an engineering exercise. The objective nature of these mathematical tools allows to assign each methodology its fair place in evidence integration, whether in the context of risk assessment, systematic reviews, or in the definition of an integrated testing strategy (ITS) / defined approach (DA) / integrated approach to testing and assessment (IATA). This article gives an overview of methods for probabilistic risk assessment and their application for exposure assessment, physiologically-based kinetic modelling, probability of hazard assessment (based on quantitative and read-across based structure-activity relationships, and mechanistic alerts from in vitro studies), individual susceptibility assessment, and evidence integration. Additional aspects are opportunities for uncertainty analysis of adverse outcome pathways and their relation to thresholds of toxicological concern. In conclusion, probabilistic risk assessment will be key for constructing a new toxicology paradigm – probably!
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra Maertens
- Center for Alternatives to Animal Testing (CAAT), Johns Hopkins University, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Emily Golden
- Center for Alternatives to Animal Testing (CAAT), Johns Hopkins University, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Thomas H Luechtefeld
- Center for Alternatives to Animal Testing (CAAT), Johns Hopkins University, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA.,ToxTrack, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Sebastian Hoffmann
- Center for Alternatives to Animal Testing (CAAT), Johns Hopkins University, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA.,seh consulting + services, Paderborn, Germany
| | - Katya Tsaioun
- Center for Alternatives to Animal Testing (CAAT), Johns Hopkins University, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Thomas Hartung
- Center for Alternatives to Animal Testing (CAAT), Johns Hopkins University, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA.,CAAT Europe, University of Konstanz, Konstanz, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Silva V, Alaoui A, Schlünssen V, Vested A, Graumans M, van Dael M, Trevisan M, Suciu N, Mol H, Beekmann K, Figueiredo D, Harkes P, Hofman J, Kandeler E, Abrantes N, Campos I, Martínez MÁ, Pereira JL, Goossens D, Gandrass J, Debler F, Lwanga EH, Jonker M, van Langevelde F, Sorensen MT, Wells JM, Boekhorst J, Huss A, Mandrioli D, Sgargi D, Nathanail P, Nathanail J, Tamm L, Fantke P, Mark J, Grovermann C, Frelih-Larsen A, Herb I, Chivers CA, Mills J, Alcon F, Contreras J, Baldi I, Pasković I, Matjaz G, Norgaard T, Aparicio V, Ritsema CJ, Geissen V, Scheepers PTJ. Collection of human and environmental data on pesticide use in Europe and Argentina: Field study protocol for the SPRINT project. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0259748. [PMID: 34780516 PMCID: PMC8592492 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0259748] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2021] [Accepted: 10/25/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Current farm systems rely on the use of Plant Protection Products (PPP) to secure high productivity and control threats to the quality of the crops. However, PPP use may have considerable impacts on human health and the environment. A study protocol is presented aiming to determine the occurrence and levels of PPP residues in plants (crops), animals (livestock), humans and other non-target species (ecosystem representatives) for exposure modelling and impact assessment. To achieve this, we designed a cross-sectional study to compare conventional and organic farm systems across Europe. Environmental and biological samples were/are being/will be collected during the 2021 growing season, at 10 case study sites in Europe covering a range of climate zones and crops. An additional study site in Argentina will inform the impact of PPP use on growing soybean which is an important European protein-source in animal feed. We will study the impact of PPP mixtures using an integrated risk assessment methodology. The fate of PPP in environmental media (soil, water and air) and in the homes of farmers will be monitored. This will be complemented by biomonitoring to estimate PPP uptake by humans and farm animals (cow, goat, sheep and chicken), and by collection of samples from non-target species (earthworms, fish, aquatic and terrestrial macroinvertebrates, bats, and farm cats). We will use data on PPP residues in environmental and biological matrices to estimate exposures by modelling. These exposure estimates together with health and toxicity data will be used to predict the impact of PPP use on environment, plant, animal and human health. The outcome of this study will then be integrated with socio-economic information leading to an overall assessment used to identify transition pathways towards more sustainable plant protection and inform decision makers, practitioners and other stakeholders regarding farming practices and land use policy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Vera Silva
- Soil Physics and Land Management Group, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, Netherlands
| | - Abdallah Alaoui
- Institute of Geography, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- Centre for Development and Environment, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Vivi Schlünssen
- Department of Public Health, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
- National Research Centre for the Working Environment, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Anne Vested
- Department of Public Health, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Martien Graumans
- Radboud Institute for Health Sciences, Radboudumc, Nijmegen, Netherlands
| | - Maurice van Dael
- Radboud Institute for Health Sciences, Radboudumc, Nijmegen, Netherlands
| | - Marco Trevisan
- Department for Sustainable Food Process (DISTAS), Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Piacenza, Italy
| | - Nicoleta Suciu
- Department for Sustainable Food Process (DISTAS), Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Piacenza, Italy
| | - Hans Mol
- Wageningen Food Safety Research, Wageningen, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, Netherlands
| | - Karsten Beekmann
- Wageningen Food Safety Research, Wageningen, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, Netherlands
| | - Daniel Figueiredo
- Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Paula Harkes
- Soil Physics and Land Management Group, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, Netherlands
| | - Jakub Hofman
- Research Centre for Toxic Compounds in the Environment (RECETOX), Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Ellen Kandeler
- Institute of Soil Science and Land Evaluation, Soil Biology Department, University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Nelson Abrantes
- Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies and Department of Environment and Planning, University of Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Isabel Campos
- Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies and Department of Environment and Planning, University of Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal
| | - María Ángeles Martínez
- Centro de Investigaciones Energéticas, Medioambientales y Tecnológicas–CIEMAT, Madrid, Spain
| | - Joana Luísa Pereira
- Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies and Department of Biology, University of Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Dirk Goossens
- Soil Physics and Land Management Group, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, Netherlands
- KU Leuven Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Geo-institute, Celestijnenlaan, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Juergen Gandrass
- Institute of Coastal Environmental Chemistry, Organic Environmental Chemistry, Helmholtz-Zentrum Hereon, Geesthacht, Germany
| | - Freya Debler
- Institute of Coastal Environmental Chemistry, Organic Environmental Chemistry, Helmholtz-Zentrum Hereon, Geesthacht, Germany
| | - Esperanza Huerta Lwanga
- Soil Physics and Land Management Group, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, Netherlands
| | | | - Frank van Langevelde
- Wildlife Ecology and Conservation Group, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, Netherlands
| | | | - Jerry M. Wells
- Host-Microbe Interactomics, Animal Sciences Group, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, Netherlands
| | - Jos Boekhorst
- Host-Microbe Interactomics, Animal Sciences Group, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, Netherlands
| | - Anke Huss
- Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Daniele Mandrioli
- Cesare Maltoni Cancer Research Center, Ramazzini Institute, Bologna, Italy
| | - Daria Sgargi
- Cesare Maltoni Cancer Research Center, Ramazzini Institute, Bologna, Italy
| | | | | | - Lucius Tamm
- Research Institute of Organic Agriculture—FIBL, Frick, Switzerland
| | - Peter Fantke
- Quantitative Sustainability Assessment, Department of Technology, Management and Economics, Technical University of Denmark, Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Jennifer Mark
- Research Institute of Organic Agriculture—FIBL, Frick, Switzerland
| | | | | | | | - Charlotte-Anne Chivers
- Countryside and Community Research Institute, University of Gloucestershire, Cheltenham, United Kingdom
| | - Jane Mills
- Countryside and Community Research Institute, University of Gloucestershire, Cheltenham, United Kingdom
| | | | | | - Isabelle Baldi
- INSERM U1219, EPICENE Team, Bordeaux University, Nouvelle-Aquitaine, France
| | - Igor Pasković
- Institute of Agriculture and Tourism, Department of Agriculture and Nutrition, Poreč, Croatia
| | - Glavan Matjaz
- Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Trine Norgaard
- Department of Agroecology, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Virginia Aparicio
- Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria—INTA, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Coen J. Ritsema
- Soil Physics and Land Management Group, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, Netherlands
| | - Violette Geissen
- Soil Physics and Land Management Group, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, Netherlands
| | | |
Collapse
|
11
|
Gutiérrez-Casares JR, Quintero J, Jorba G, Junet V, Martínez V, Pozo-Rubio T, Oliva B, Daura X, Mas JM, Montoto C. Methods to Develop an in silico Clinical Trial: Computational Head-to-Head Comparison of Lisdexamfetamine and Methylphenidate. Front Psychiatry 2021; 12:741170. [PMID: 34803764 PMCID: PMC8595241 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2021.741170] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2021] [Accepted: 10/05/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Regulatory agencies encourage computer modeling and simulation to reduce the time and cost of clinical trials. Although still not classified in formal guidelines, system biology-based models represent a powerful tool for generating hypotheses with great molecular detail. Herein, we have applied a mechanistic head-to-head in silico clinical trial (ISCT) between two treatments for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, to wit lisdexamfetamine (LDX) and methylphenidate (MPH). The ISCT was generated through three phases comprising (i) the molecular characterization of drugs and pathologies, (ii) the generation of adult and children virtual populations (vPOPs) totaling 2,600 individuals and the creation of physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) and quantitative systems pharmacology (QSP) models, and (iii) data analysis with artificial intelligence methods. The characteristics of our vPOPs were in close agreement with real reference populations extracted from clinical trials, as did our PBPK models with in vivo parameters. The mechanisms of action of LDX and MPH were obtained from QSP models combining PBPK modeling of dosing schemes and systems biology-based modeling technology, i.e., therapeutic performance mapping system. The step-by-step process described here to undertake a head-to-head ISCT would allow obtaining mechanistic conclusions that could be extrapolated or used for predictions to a certain extent at the clinical level. Altogether, these computational techniques are proven an excellent tool for hypothesis-generation and would help reach a personalized medicine.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- José Ramón Gutiérrez-Casares
- Unidad Ambulatoria de Psiquiatría y Salud Mental de la Infancia, Niñez y Adolescencia, Hospital Perpetuo Socorro, Badajoz, Spain
| | - Javier Quintero
- Servicio de Psiquiatría, Hospital Universitario Infanta Leonor, Universidad Complutense, Madrid, Spain
| | - Guillem Jorba
- Anaxomics Biotech, Barcelona, Spain
- Research Programme on Biomedical Informatics (GRIB), Departament de Ciències Experimentals i de la Salut, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Valentin Junet
- Anaxomics Biotech, Barcelona, Spain
- Institute of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola del Vallès, Spain
| | | | | | - Baldomero Oliva
- Research Programme on Biomedical Informatics (GRIB), Departament de Ciències Experimentals i de la Salut, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Xavier Daura
- Institute of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola del Vallès, Spain
- Catalan Institution for Research and Advanced Studies (ICREA), Barcelona, Spain
| | | | - Carmen Montoto
- Medical Department, Takeda Farmacéutica España, Madrid, Spain
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Ciffroy P, Urien N. A probabilistic model for assessing uncertainty and sensitivity in the prediction of monochloramine loss in French river waters. Water Res 2021; 202:117383. [PMID: 34237692 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2021.117383] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2021] [Revised: 06/03/2021] [Accepted: 06/20/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Monochloramine (NH2Cl) is increasingly used as alternative disinfectant to free chlorine in industrial plants. After use in cooling systems, the waters are released to the environment and residual NH2Cl may be discharged into the receiving waters. As NH2Cl is suspected to exhibit toxicity towards aquatic organisms, a proper risk assessment of its occurrence in environmental waters is needed to prevent adverse effects on wildlife. For this purpose, a comprehensive model simulating monochloramine loss in natural riverine waters was developed. This model incorporates the following processes: (i) autodecomposition; (ii) reaction with nitrite and bromide; (iii) oxidation with Dissolved Organic Carbon (DOC); (iv) oxidation with organic fraction of Suspended Particulate Matter (SPM); (v) reactions in bottom sediments and (vi) volatilization. The model was also designed to conduct uncertainty and sensitivity analysis. It was tested on several French rivers submitted to discharges of monochloraminated effluents and on several seasonal conditions. Uncertainty analysis allowed evaluation of confidence intervals related to NH2Cl half-lives in natural waters. It was shown that simulation intervals are in good agreement with experimental data obtained on the same rivers. Sensitivity analysis using an EFAST variance decomposition approach allowed identification of the most influential parameters on half-life determination. It was shown that the kinetic rate describing rapid reaction of NH2Cl with DOC is by far the most sensitive parameter, demonstrating the predominance of such reactions in the loss process. Variables or parameters involved in temperature dependence (temperature and activation energy) can also significantly influence model results. To a lesser extent, wind velocity is the most sensitive parameter explaining uncertainty in the prediction of volatilization, with a high level of interactions with other parameters, showing that loss through volatilization can be essential in some specific conditions only. This study then identified the most important research priorities for improving the prediction of NH2Cl half-lives in natural rivers.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- P Ciffroy
- EDF, Division Recherche et Développement, Laboratoire National dHydraulique et Environnement 6 quai Watier, 78401 Chatou, France
| | - N Urien
- EDF, Division Recherche et Développement, Laboratoire National dHydraulique et Environnement 6 quai Watier, 78401 Chatou, France
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Pellicanò F, D'Orsi L, De Gaetano A, Panunzi S. A population approach for the estimation of methylmercury ToxicoKinetics in red mullets. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol 2021; 428:115679. [PMID: 34400196 DOI: 10.1016/j.taap.2021.115679] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2021] [Revised: 08/10/2021] [Accepted: 08/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
It is known that, as the vast majority of the anthropogenically emitted mercury can be found in aquatic ecosystems, where several methylating bacteria are present, fish consumption represents the most critical intake source of the most toxic form of mercury, the methylmercury (MeHg). The aim of this work is to predict MeHg levels in the fish muscles which, being the edible portion, are part of the human diet. A physiologically based toxicokinetics model was developed to evaluate the kinetics of MeHg in red mullets. Fishes were described by means of a multi-compartment model including stomach, gut, blood, muscles and an additional compartment virtually encompassing all the remaining organs. Absorption, distribution and excretion were modelled considering different MeHg routes of administration and excretion: intake by ingestion of contaminated food, intake and elimination through inhalation-exhalation and excretion through feces. The model has been firstly validated on Terapon jarbua fish (using the weighted least squares method for parameter estimation) to be subsequently readapted to predict methylmercury concentrations in the muscle of red mullets (using an approximate Bayesian computation approach). This simple multicompartmental model could be considered part, a link in the chain, of a wider more complex project aiming at tracking the fate of MeHg from polluted seawater to the human end consumer. The present study could be useful to surveillance organizations in order to carry out a more comprehensive and informed risk assessment analysis and to take appropriate preventive measures by evaluating possible new MeHg concentration thresholds to minimize public health hazards.
Collapse
|
14
|
Paladino O, Moranda A. Human Health Risk Assessment of a pilot-plant for catalytic pyrolysis of mixed waste plastics for fuel production. J Hazard Mater 2021; 405:124222. [PMID: 33172677 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2020.124222] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2020] [Revised: 09/24/2020] [Accepted: 10/06/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Dioxins, PCBs and VOCs are the main hazardous chemicals emitted by gaseous streams from catalytic pyrolysis of waste plastics. In this work we propose a methodology to assess toxic and cancer risk under uncertainty, due to inhalation and ingestion of these chemicals by considering complex scenarios, as repeated start-ups and short continuous operation that may occur in a pilot-plant. Different simulation tools are combined to evaluate the expected concentration of pollutants in the environmental compartments and food. Hazard Index and Cancer Risk remain under the threshold for both dioxins (HI < 0.012, CR < 5.03 10-7) and PCBdl (HI < 1.3 10-7, CR < 2.49 10-12) in all the simulated scenarios, also for the worst case of children ingesting vegetables and meat and uncertainty factors up to 1000. Different results are obtained for VOCs since repeated leakages during the pilot-plant operation are possible. All the risk indexes for benzene are under the threshold (HI < 0.175, CR < 1.41 10-7); acute toxic risk due to inhalation and cancer risk due to ingestion of grain/vegetables are over the threshold if all the uncertainties are considered. Lesson learned: HHRA is important also during scale-up; pilot-plants for pyrolysis of waste plastics must always be equipped with all the abatement systems designed for the final plant.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ombretta Paladino
- Department of Civil, Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of Genoa, Italy.
| | - Arianna Moranda
- Department of Civil, Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of Genoa, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Eichler CMA, Hubal EAC, Xu Y, Cao J, Bi C, Weschler CJ, Salthammer T, Morrison GC, Koivisto AJ, Zhang Y, Mandin C, Wei W, Blondeau P, Poppendieck D, Liu X, Delmaar CJE, Fantke P, Jolliet O, Shin HM, Diamond ML, Shiraiwa M, Zuend A, Hopke PK, von Goetz N, Kulmala M, Little JC. Assessing Human Exposure to SVOCs in Materials, Products, and Articles: A Modular Mechanistic Framework. Environ Sci Technol 2021; 55:25-43. [PMID: 33319994 PMCID: PMC7877794 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.0c02329] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
A critical review of the current state of knowledge of chemical emissions from indoor sources, partitioning among indoor compartments, and the ensuing indoor exposure leads to a proposal for a modular mechanistic framework for predicting human exposure to semivolatile organic compounds (SVOCs). Mechanistically consistent source emission categories include solid, soft, frequent contact, applied, sprayed, and high temperature sources. Environmental compartments are the gas phase, airborne particles, settled dust, indoor surfaces, and clothing. Identified research needs are the development of dynamic emission models for several of the source emission categories and of estimation strategies for critical model parameters. The modular structure of the framework facilitates subsequent inclusion of new knowledge, other chemical classes of indoor pollutants, and additional mechanistic processes relevant to human exposure indoors. The framework may serve as the foundation for developing an open-source community model to better support collaborative research and improve access for application by stakeholders. Combining exposure estimates derived using this framework with toxicity data for different end points and toxicokinetic mechanisms will accelerate chemical risk prioritization, advance effective chemical management decisions, and protect public health.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Clara M A Eichler
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia 24060, United States
- Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Gillings School of Global Public Health, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, United States
| | - Elaine A Cohen Hubal
- Office of Research and Development, U.S. EPA, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27711, United States
| | - Ying Xu
- Department of Building Science, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Jianping Cao
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510006, China
| | - Chenyang Bi
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia 24060, United States
| | - Charles J Weschler
- Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences Institute, Rutgers University, Piscataway, New Jersey 08854, United States
- International Centre for Indoor Environment and Energy, Department of Civil Engineering, Technical University of Denmark, Lyngby 2800, Denmark
| | - Tunga Salthammer
- Fraunhofer WKI, Department of Material Analysis and Indoor Chemistry, Braunschweig 38108, Germany
| | - Glenn C Morrison
- Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Gillings School of Global Public Health, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, United States
| | - Antti Joonas Koivisto
- Institute for Atmospheric and Earth System Research (INAR), University of Helsinki, Helsinki 00014, Finland
| | - Yinping Zhang
- Department of Building Science, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Corinne Mandin
- University of Paris-Est, Scientific and Technical Center for Building (CSTB), French Indoor Air Quality Observatory (OQAI), Champs sur Marne 77447, France
| | - Wenjuan Wei
- University of Paris-Est, Scientific and Technical Center for Building (CSTB), French Indoor Air Quality Observatory (OQAI), Champs sur Marne 77447, France
| | - Patrice Blondeau
- Laboratoire des Sciences de l'Ingénieur pour l'Environnement - LaSIE, Université de La Rochelle, La Rochelle 77447, France
| | - Dustin Poppendieck
- Engineering Lab, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, Maryland 20899, United States
| | - Xiaoyu Liu
- Office of Research and Development, U.S. EPA, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27711, United States
| | - Christiaan J E Delmaar
- National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, Center for Safety of Substances and Products, Bilthoven 3720, The Netherlands
| | - Peter Fantke
- Quantitative Sustainability Assessment, Department of Technology, Management and Economics, Technical University of Denmark, Kgs. Lyngby 2800, Denmark
| | - Olivier Jolliet
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
| | - Hyeong-Moo Shin
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, Texas 76019, United States
| | - Miriam L Diamond
- Department of Earth Sciences, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3B1, Canada
| | - Manabu Shiraiwa
- Department of Chemistry, University of California, Irvine, California 92697, United States
| | - Andreas Zuend
- Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec H3A0B9, Canada
| | - Philip K Hopke
- Center for Air Resources Engineering and Science, Clarkson University, Potsdam, New York 13699-5708, United States
- Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, New York 14642, United States
| | | | - Markku Kulmala
- Institute for Atmospheric and Earth System Research (INAR), University of Helsinki, Helsinki 00014, Finland
| | - John C Little
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia 24060, United States
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
P C. A comprehensive probabilistic approach for integrating and separating natural variability and parametric uncertainty in the prediction of distribution coefficient of radionuclides in rivers. J Environ Radioact 2020; 225:106371. [PMID: 32978004 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2020.106371] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2019] [Revised: 07/24/2020] [Accepted: 07/24/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
A geochemical speciation model was developed to predict Distribution coefficients (Kds) of radionuclides (RNs) in rivers. The model takes into account complexation of RNs with inorganic ligands, sorption of RNs with hydrous ferric oxides, complexation of RNs with dissolved and particulate organic carbon (DOC and POC) and sorption and/or co-precipitation of RNs to carbonates. A sorption model of Cs onto clay was also integrated. The tool is also designed to conduct uncertainty and sensitivity analysis. Sensitivity analysis follows a stepwise structured approach, starting from computationally 'inexpensive' Morris method to most costly variance-based EFAST method. A nested Monte Carlo approach was also implemented to separate natural variability and lack of knowledge in global uncertainty assessment. As case studies, Kd distributions were estimated for Co, Mn, Ag and Cs in seven French rivers. Uncertainty analysis allowed to quantify Kd ranges that can be expected when considering all the sensitive parameters together.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ciffroy P
- EDF, Division Recherche et Développement, Laboratoire National d'Hydraulique et Environnement, 6 quai Watier, 78401, Chatou, France.
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Tebby C, van der Voet H, de Sousa G, Rorije E, Kumar V, de Boer W, Kruisselbrink JW, Bois FY, Faniband M, Moretto A, Brochot C. A generic PBTK model implemented in the MCRA platform: Predictive performance and uses in risk assessment of chemicals. Food Chem Toxicol 2020; 142:111440. [PMID: 32473292 DOI: 10.1016/j.fct.2020.111440] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2020] [Revised: 05/07/2020] [Accepted: 05/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Physiologically-based toxicokinetic (PBTK) models are important tools for in vitro to in vivo or inter-species extrapolations in health risk assessment of foodborne and non-foodborne chemicals. Here we present a generic PBTK model implemented in the EuroMix toolbox, MCRA 9 and predict internal kinetics of nine chemicals (three endocrine disrupters, three liver steatosis inducers, and three developmental toxicants), in data-rich and data-poor conditions, when increasingly complex levels of parametrization are applied. At the first stage, only QSAR models were used to determine substance-specific parameters, then some parameter values were refined by estimates from substance-specific or high-throughput in vitro experiments. At the last stage, elimination or absorption parameters were calibrated based on available in vivo kinetic data. The results illustrate that parametrization plays a capital role in the output of the PBTK model, as it can change how chemicals are prioritized based on internal concentration factors. In data-poor situations, estimates can be far from observed values. In many cases of chronic exposure, the PBTK model can be summarized by an external to internal dose factor, and interspecies concentration factors can be used to perform interspecies extrapolation. We finally discuss the implementation and use of the model in the MCRA risk assessment platform.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Cleo Tebby
- INERIS, Unit Models for Ecotoxicology and Toxicology (METO), Verneuil-en-Halatte, France.
| | | | | | - Emiel Rorije
- RIVM, Centre for Safety of Substances and Products, Department for Consumers and Product Safety, P.O. Box 1, 3720, BA Bilthoven, Netherlands
| | - Vikas Kumar
- URV, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, C/ Països Catalans, nº 26, 43007, Tarragona (Tarragona- Catalonia), Spain
| | - Waldo de Boer
- Wageningen University & Research, Biometris, Wageningen, Netherlands
| | | | - Frédéric Y Bois
- INERIS, Unit Models for Ecotoxicology and Toxicology (METO), Verneuil-en-Halatte, France
| | - Moosa Faniband
- Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Lund University, Sweden
| | - Angelo Moretto
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, Italy
| | - Céline Brochot
- INERIS, Unit Models for Ecotoxicology and Toxicology (METO), Verneuil-en-Halatte, France
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Pruvost-Couvreur M, Le Bizec B, Béchaux C, Rivière G. Dietary risk assessment methodology: how to deal with changes through life. Food Addit Contam Part A Chem Anal Control Expo Risk Assess 2020; 37:705-722. [DOI: 10.1080/19440049.2020.1727964] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Manon Pruvost-Couvreur
- Laboratoire d’Etude des Résidus et Contaminants dans les Aliments, Oniris, Nantes, France
- Direction de l’évaluation des risques, ANSES, ANSES, 14 rue Pierre et Marie Curie, 94700 Maisons-Alfort, France
| | - Bruno Le Bizec
- Laboratoire d’Etude des Résidus et Contaminants dans les Aliments, Oniris, Nantes, France
| | - Camille Béchaux
- Direction de l’évaluation des risques, ANSES, ANSES, 14 rue Pierre et Marie Curie, 94700 Maisons-Alfort, France
| | - Gilles Rivière
- Direction de l’évaluation des risques, ANSES, ANSES, 14 rue Pierre et Marie Curie, 94700 Maisons-Alfort, France
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Ciffroy P, Monnin L, Garnier JM, Ambrosi JP, Radakovitch O. Modelling geochemical and kinetic processes involved in lead (Pb) remobilization during resuspension events of contaminated sediments. Sci Total Environ 2019; 679:159-171. [PMID: 31082590 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.04.192] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2019] [Revised: 04/09/2019] [Accepted: 04/12/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
The objective of this paper is to present a model simulating and predicting the exchange kinetics of lead (Pb) between contaminated sediments and water during resuspension events potentially occurring in reservoirs. We developed an innovative model that combines thermodynamic speciation of particulate surfaces (oxides and Particulate Organic Carbon (POC)), thermodynamic Pb speciation in water, and kinetic modelling of exchanges between free Pb and particulate sites (i.e., dissolution of a carbonate carrier phase, adsorption/coprecipitation and desorption/dissolution to/from oxides, and adsorption and desorption/degradation to/from particulate organic particles). We used results from laboratory resuspension experiments performed on sediments from three contaminated dam reservoirs to calibrate a new chemical speciation model. Uptake and release processes to/from sediments were found to be controlled by at least two successive reactions that are associated with two particulate pools (here oxides and POC). Kinetic adsorption and desorption rates were calibrated for seven experimental conditions. Variability in kinetic rates allowed evaluation of the effect of the solid-to-liquid ratio and sediment origin on exchange kinetics at the water-particle interface. The kinetic release of dissolved Pb by desorption or dissolution from the oxides was reproduced almost identically between the experiments, regardless of the solid-to-liquid ratio or sediment origin. Long-term readsorption on POC sites is more variable, even if ranges of variation in the adsorption and desorption kinetic rates related to POC remain limited, considering that tested sediments vary significantly. CAPSULE: A kinetic model simulating the dynamics of lead (Pb) during sediment resuspension was developed and calibrated to laboratory experiments performed on three contaminated sediments.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Philippe Ciffroy
- EDF, Division Recherche et Développement, Laboratoire National d'Hydraulique et Environnement (LNHE), Chatou, France.
| | - Lucie Monnin
- Aix Marseille Univ, CNRS, IRD, INRA, Coll France, CEREGE, Aix-en-Provence, France
| | - Jean-Marie Garnier
- Aix Marseille Univ, CNRS, IRD, INRA, Coll France, CEREGE, Aix-en-Provence, France
| | - Jean-Paul Ambrosi
- Aix Marseille Univ, CNRS, IRD, INRA, Coll France, CEREGE, Aix-en-Provence, France
| | - Olivier Radakovitch
- Aix Marseille Univ, CNRS, IRD, INRA, Coll France, CEREGE, Aix-en-Provence, France; Institut de Radioprotection et de Sûreté Nucléaire (IRSN), PSE-ENV/SRTE/LRTA, BP3, 13115 Saint-Paul Lez Durance, France
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Sarigiannis DA, Karakitsios S, Dominguez-Romero E, Papadaki K, Brochot C, Kumar V, Schuhmacher M, Sy M, Mielke H, Greiner M, Mengelers M, Scheringer M. Physiology-based toxicokinetic modelling in the frame of the European Human Biomonitoring Initiative. Environ Res 2019; 172:216-230. [PMID: 30818231 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2019.01.045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2018] [Revised: 01/25/2019] [Accepted: 01/28/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Given the opportunities provided by internal dosimetry modelling in the interpretation of human biomonitoring (HBM) data, the assessment of the links between exposure to chemicals and observed HBM data can be effectively supported by PBTK modelling. This paper gives a comprehensive review of available human PBTK models for compounds selected as a priority by the European Human Biomonitoring Initiative (HBM4EU). We highlight their advantages and deficiencies and suggest steps for advanced internal dose modelling. The review of the available PBTK models highlighted the conceptual differences between older models compared to the ones developed recently, reflecting commensurate differences in research questions. Due to the lack of coordinated strategies for deriving useful biomonitoring data for toxicokinetic properties, significant problems in model parameterisation still remain; these are further increased by the lack of human toxicokinetic data due to ethics issues. Finally, questions arise as well as to the extent they are really representative of interindividual variability. QSARs for toxicokinetic properties is a complementary approach for PBTK model parameterisation, especially for data poor chemicals. This approach could be expanded to model chemico-biological interactions such as intestinal absorption and renal clearance; this could serve the development of more complex generic PBTK models that could be applied to newly derived chemicals. Another gap identified is the framework for mixture interaction terms among compounds that could eventually interact in metabolism. From the review it was concluded that efforts should be shifted toward the development of generic multi-compartmental and multi-route models, supported by targeted biomonitoring coupled with parameterisation by both QSAR approach and experimental (in-vivo and in-vitro) data for newly developed and data poor compounds.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Dimosthenis A Sarigiannis
- Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Department of Chemical Engineering, Environmental Engineering Laboratory, University Campus, Thessaloniki 54124, Greece; HERACLES Research Center on the Exposome and Health, Center for Interdisciplinary Research and Innovation, Balkan Center, Bldg. B, 10th km Thessaloniki-Thermi Road, 57001, Greece.
| | - Spyros Karakitsios
- Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Department of Chemical Engineering, Environmental Engineering Laboratory, University Campus, Thessaloniki 54124, Greece; HERACLES Research Center on the Exposome and Health, Center for Interdisciplinary Research and Innovation, Balkan Center, Bldg. B, 10th km Thessaloniki-Thermi Road, 57001, Greece
| | | | - Krystalia Papadaki
- Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Department of Chemical Engineering, Environmental Engineering Laboratory, University Campus, Thessaloniki 54124, Greece
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
21
|
Paini A, Leonard J, Joossens E, Bessems J, Desalegn A, Dorne J, Gosling J, Heringa M, Klaric M, Kliment T, Kramer N, Loizou G, Louisse J, Lumen A, Madden J, Patterson E, Proença S, Punt A, Setzer R, Suciu N, Troutman J, Yoon M, Worth A, Tan Y. Next generation physiologically based kinetic (NG-PBK) models in support of regulatory decision making. Comput Toxicol 2019; 9:61-72. [PMID: 31008414 PMCID: PMC6472623 DOI: 10.1016/j.comtox.2018.11.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2018] [Revised: 11/02/2018] [Accepted: 11/08/2018] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
The fields of toxicology and chemical risk assessment seek to reduce, and eventually replace, the use of animals for the prediction of toxicity in humans. In this context, physiologically based kinetic (PBK) modelling based on in vitro and in silico kinetic data has the potential to a play significant role in reducing animal testing, by providing a methodology capable of incorporating in vitro human data to facilitate the development of in vitro to in vivo extrapolation of hazard information. In the present article, we discuss the challenges in: 1) applying PBK modelling to support regulatory decision making under the toxicology and risk-assessment paradigm shift towards animal replacement; 2) constructing PBK models without in vivo animal kinetic data, while relying solely on in vitro or in silico methods for model parameterization; and 3) assessing the validity and credibility of PBK models built largely using non-animal data. The strengths, uncertainties, and limitations of PBK models developed using in vitro or in silico data are discussed in an effort to establish a higher degree of confidence in the application of such models in a regulatory context. The article summarises the outcome of an expert workshop hosted by the European Commission Joint Research Centre (EC-JRC) - European Union Reference Laboratory for Alternatives to Animal Testing (EURL ECVAM), on "Physiologically-Based Kinetic modelling in risk assessment - reaching a whole new level in regulatory decision-making" held in Ispra, Italy, in November 2016, along with results from an international survey conducted in 2017 and recently reported activities occurring within the PBK modelling field. The discussions presented herein highlight the potential applications of next generation (NG)-PBK modelling, based on new data streams.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- A. Paini
- European Commission Joint Research Centre, Ispra, Italy
| | - J.A. Leonard
- Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education, 100 ORAU Way, Oak Ridge, TN 37830, USA
| | - E. Joossens
- European Commission Joint Research Centre, Ispra, Italy
| | - J.G.M. Bessems
- European Commission Joint Research Centre, Ispra, Italy
- Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO), Mol, Belgium
| | - A. Desalegn
- European Commission Joint Research Centre, Ispra, Italy
| | - J.L. Dorne
- European Food Safety Authority, 1a, Via Carlo Magno, 1A, 43126 Parma PR, Italy
| | - J.P. Gosling
- School of Mathematics, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
| | - M.B. Heringa
- RIVM - The National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, Bilthoven, The Netherlands
| | | | - T. Kliment
- European Commission Joint Research Centre, Ispra, Italy
| | - N.I. Kramer
- Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences, Utrecht University, P.O. Box 80177, 3508TD Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - G. Loizou
- Health and Safety Executive, Buxton, UK
| | - J. Louisse
- Division of Toxicology, Wageningen University, Tuinlaan 5, 6703 HE Wageningen, The Netherlands
- RIKILT Wageningen University and Research, Akkermaalsbos 2, 6708 WB Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - A. Lumen
- Division of Biochemical Toxicology, National Center for Toxicological Research, US Food and Drug Administration, Jefferson, AR 72079, USA
| | - J.C. Madden
- School of Pharmacy and Bimolecular Sciences, Liverpool John Moores University, Byrom Street, Liverpool L3 3AF, UK
| | - E.A. Patterson
- School of Engineering, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 3GH, UK
| | - S. Proença
- European Commission Joint Research Centre, Ispra, Italy
- Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences, Utrecht University, P.O. Box 80177, 3508TD Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - A. Punt
- RIKILT Wageningen University and Research, Akkermaalsbos 2, 6708 WB Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - R.W. Setzer
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, National Exposure Research Laboratory, 109 TW Alexander Drive, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA
| | - N. Suciu
- DiSTAS, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Piacenza, Italy
| | - J. Troutman
- Central Product Safety, The Procter & Gamble Company, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - M. Yoon
- ScitoVation, 6 Davis Drive, PO Box 110566, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA
- ToxStrategies, Research Triangle Park Office, 1249 Kildaire Farm Road 134, Cary, NC 27511, USA
| | - A. Worth
- European Commission Joint Research Centre, Ispra, Italy
| | - Y.M. Tan
- School of Engineering, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 3GH, UK
| |
Collapse
|
22
|
Isigonis P, Critto A, Stefan M, Zabeo A, Ciffroy P, Marcomini A. "AMORE" Decision Support System for probabilistic Ecological Risk Assessment - Part I: Exposure and risk assessment of the case study on cyanide. Sci Total Environ 2019; 648:693-702. [PMID: 30125851 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.08.124] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2018] [Revised: 08/08/2018] [Accepted: 08/09/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Ecological Risk Assessment of chemicals in fluvial systems is a highly researched topic, but its importance for the environmental protection of our planet is vital. Thus, new developments and improvements to existing methodologies are proposed constantly, for providing more advanced tools and more accurate results to researchers and other interested parties. In the field of probabilistic Ecological Risk Assessment, a new Decision Support System is proposed, developed, tested and evaluated. The AMORE DSS is a modular DSS, which incorporates a series of new methodologies, and is built upon the notions of 'Exposure Assessment', 'Effect Assessment' and 'Risk Assessment'. The AMORE Decision Support System has been developed as part of the AMORE research project (French National Research Agency project). The DSS provides a set of tools for analysing and integrating both exposure and effect information in order to evaluate the risk for species living on a given contaminated aquatic system in terms of the Potentially Affected Fraction. The DSS has been tested through a case study on ERA of cyanide in the watershed of river Selune in France. The paper presents the 'Exposure Assessment' and 'Risk Assessment' of the cyanide case study, as well as the complete functionalities of the AMORE DSS. The main results presented in the paper are the statistical analysis of the measured environmental concentrations of cyanide (Exposure Assessment) and the probabilistic 'Risk assessment' of the same contaminant in the area of interest, based on the functionalities of the DSS. The results are described and discussed in detail with the use of various graphs and risk indices. The risk indices are calculated for all the available ecotoxicological data, as well as for the data on trophic levels or taxonomic groups separately. A risk comparison is presented between the innovative methodologies included in the DSS and the currently existing methodologies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Panagiotis Isigonis
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Informatics and Statistics, University Ca' Foscari of Venice, Venice, Italy
| | - Andrea Critto
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Informatics and Statistics, University Ca' Foscari of Venice, Venice, Italy.
| | - Marco Stefan
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Informatics and Statistics, University Ca' Foscari of Venice, Venice, Italy
| | - Alex Zabeo
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Informatics and Statistics, University Ca' Foscari of Venice, Venice, Italy
| | | | - Antonio Marcomini
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Informatics and Statistics, University Ca' Foscari of Venice, Venice, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
23
|
Radomyski A, Lei K, Giubilato E, Critto A, Lin C, Marcomini A. Bioaccumulation of trace metals in aquatic food web. A case study, Liaodong Bay, NE China. Mar Pollut Bull 2018; 137:555-565. [PMID: 30503468 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2018.11.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2018] [Revised: 11/01/2018] [Accepted: 11/02/2018] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
The recently developed modelling tool MERLIN-Expo was applied to support the exposure assessment of an aquatic food web to trace metals in a coastal environment. The exposure scenario, built on the data from Daliao River estuary in the Liaodong Bay (Bohai Sea, China), affected by long-term and large-scale industrial activities as well as rapid urbanization in Liao River watershed, represents an interesting case-study for ecological exposure modelling due to the availability of local data on metal concentrations in water and sediment. The bioaccumulation of selected trace metals in aquatic organisms was modelled and compared with field data from local aquatic organisms. Both model results and experimental data demonstrated that As, Cd, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn, out of examined metals, were accumulated most abundantly by invertebrates and less by higher trophic level species. The body parts of the sampled animals with the highest measured concentration of metals were predominantly muscles, intestine and liver and fish skin in the case of Cr. The Morris and extended Fourier Analysis (EFAST) were used to account for variability in selected parameters of the bioaccumulation model. Food assimilation efficiency and slopes and intercepts of two sub-models for calculating metal specific BCFs (BCFmetal-exposure concentration) and fish weight (Weightfish-Lengthfish) were identified as the most influential parameters on ecological exposure to selected metals.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Artur Radomyski
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Informatics and Statistics, University Ca' Foscari Venice, Via Torino 155, Mestre, 30172 Venice, Italy
| | - Kai Lei
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Beijing Normal University, 100875 Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Elisa Giubilato
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Informatics and Statistics, University Ca' Foscari Venice, Via Torino 155, Mestre, 30172 Venice, Italy
| | - Andrea Critto
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Informatics and Statistics, University Ca' Foscari Venice, Via Torino 155, Mestre, 30172 Venice, Italy.
| | - Chunye Lin
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Beijing Normal University, 100875 Beijing, People's Republic of China.
| | - Antonio Marcomini
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Informatics and Statistics, University Ca' Foscari Venice, Via Torino 155, Mestre, 30172 Venice, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
24
|
Fantke P, Aylward L, Bare J, Chiu WA, Dodson R, Dwyer R, Ernstoff A, Howard B, Jantunen M, Jolliet O, Judson R, Kirchhübel N, Li D, Miller A, Paoli G, Price P, Rhomberg L, Shen B, Shin HM, Teeguarden J, Vallero D, Wambaugh J, Wetmore BA, Zaleski R, McKone TE. Advancements in Life Cycle Human Exposure and Toxicity Characterization. Environ Health Perspect 2018; 126:125001. [PMID: 30540492 PMCID: PMC6371687 DOI: 10.1289/ehp3871] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2018] [Revised: 11/06/2018] [Accepted: 11/15/2018] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The Life Cycle Initiative, hosted at the United Nations Environment Programme, selected human toxicity impacts from exposure to chemical substances as an impact category that requires global guidance to overcome current assessment challenges. The initiative leadership established the Human Toxicity Task Force to develop guidance on assessing human exposure and toxicity impacts. Based on input gathered at three workshops addressing the main current scientific challenges and questions, the task force built a roadmap for advancing human toxicity characterization, primarily for use in life cycle impact assessment (LCIA). OBJECTIVES The present paper aims at reporting on the outcomes of the task force workshops along with interpretation of how these outcomes will impact the practice and reliability of toxicity characterization. The task force thereby focuses on two major issues that emerged from the workshops, namely considering near-field exposures and improving dose–response modeling. DISCUSSION The task force recommended approaches to improve the assessment of human exposure, including capturing missing exposure settings and human receptor pathways by coupling additional fate and exposure processes in consumer and occupational environments (near field) with existing processes in outdoor environments (far field). To quantify overall aggregate exposure, the task force suggested that environments be coupled using a consistent set of quantified chemical mass fractions transferred among environmental compartments. With respect to dose–response, the task force was concerned about the way LCIA currently characterizes human toxicity effects, and discussed several potential solutions. A specific concern is the use of a (linear) dose–response extrapolation to zero. Another concern addresses the challenge of identifying a metric for human toxicity impacts that is aligned with the spatiotemporal resolution of present LCIA methodology, yet is adequate to indicate health impact potential. CONCLUSIONS Further research efforts are required based on our proposed set of recommendations for improving the characterization of human exposure and toxicity impacts in LCIA and other comparative assessment frameworks. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP3871.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Peter Fantke
- Quantitative Sustainability Assessment Division, Department of Management Engineering, Technical University of Denmark, Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Lesa Aylward
- National Centre for Environmental Toxicology, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Jane Bare
- U.S. EPA (Environmental Protection Agency), Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | - Weihsueh A Chiu
- Department of Veterinary Integrative Biosciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA
| | - Robin Dodson
- Silent Spring Institute, Newton, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Robert Dwyer
- International Copper Association, New York, New York, USA
| | | | | | - Matti Jantunen
- Department of Environmental Health, National Institute for Health and Welfare, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Olivier Jolliet
- School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | | | - Nienke Kirchhübel
- Quantitative Sustainability Assessment Division, Department of Management Engineering, Technical University of Denmark, Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Dingsheng Li
- School of Community Health Sciences, University of Nevada, Reno, Nevada, USA
| | - Aubrey Miller
- National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Greg Paoli
- Risk Sciences International, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Paul Price
- U.S. EPA, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA
| | | | - Beverly Shen
- School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, California, USA
| | | | - Justin Teeguarden
- Health Effects and Exposure Science, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, Washington, USA
| | | | - John Wambaugh
- U.S. EPA, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA
| | | | - Rosemary Zaleski
- ExxonMobil Biomedical Sciences, Inc., Annandale, New Jersey, USA
| | - Thomas E McKone
- School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, California, USA
| |
Collapse
|
25
|
Ciffroy P, Benedetti M. A comprehensive probabilistic approach for integrating natural variability and parametric uncertainty in the prediction of trace metals speciation in surface waters. Environ Pollut 2018; 242:1087-1097. [PMID: 30096547 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2018.07.064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2018] [Revised: 07/11/2018] [Accepted: 07/15/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
The main objectives of this study were to evaluate global uncertainty in the prediction of Distribution coefficients (Kds) for several Trace Metals (TM) (Cd, Cu, Pb, Zn) through the probabilistic use of a geochemical speciation model, and to conduct sensitivity analysis in speciation modeling in order to identify the main sources of uncertainty in Kd prediction. As a case study, data from the Loire river (France) were considered. The geochemical speciation model takes into account complexation of TM with inorganic ligands, sorption of TM with hydrous ferric oxides, complexation of TM with dissolved and particulate organic matter (i.e. dissolved and particulate humic acids and fulvic acids) and sorption and/or co-precipitation of TM to carbonates. Probability Density Functions (PDFs) were derived for physico-chemical conditions of the Loire river from a comprehensive collection of monitoring data. PDFs for model parameters were derived from literature review. Once all the parameters were assigned PDFs that describe natural variability and/or knowledge uncertainty, a stepwise structured sensitivity analysis (SA) was performed, by starting from computationally 'inexpensive' Morris method to most costly variance-based EFAST method. The most sensitive parameters on Kd predictions were thus ranked and their contribution to Kd variance was quantified. Uncertainty analysis was finally performed, allowing quantifying Kd ranges that can be expected when considering all the sensitive parameters together.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- P Ciffroy
- EDF, Division Recherche et Développement, 6 Quai Watier, 78401 Chatou, France.
| | - M Benedetti
- Institut de Physique du Globe de Paris, Sorbonne Paris Cité, Universite Paris Diderot, CNRS UMR, 7154, Paris, France
| |
Collapse
|
26
|
Tong R, Zhai C, Jia Q, Wu C, Liu Y, Xue S. An Interactive Model among Potential Human Risk Factors: 331 Cases of Coal Mine Roof Accidents in China. IJERPH 2018; 15:E1144. [PMID: 29865150 PMCID: PMC6025142 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph15061144] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2018] [Revised: 05/24/2018] [Accepted: 05/30/2018] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
In order to explore optimal strategies for managing potential human risk factors, this paper developed an interactive model among potential human risk factors based on the development processes of accidents. This model was divided into four stages, i.e., risk latency stage, risk accumulation stage, risk explosion stage and risk residue stage. Based on this model, this paper analyzed risk management procedures and relevant personal's responsibility in each stage, and then probed into the interactive mechanism among human risk factors in three aspects, i.e., knowledge, information and communication. The validity and feasibility of the model was validated by analyzing a coal mine roof accident in China. In addition, the contribution of different functional levels' personnel in risk evolution was discussed. It showed that this model can effectively reveal the interactive mechanism of potential human risk factors, and can thus give significant insights into the development of risk management theories and practices. It also proves that the contribution of different functional levels' personnel in the model is different. This can further help practitioners design enhanced Behavioral-Based Safety (BBS) intervention approaches which can have a more sustainable and persistent impact on corporate personnel's safety behavior. Specific recommendations and suggestions are provided fundamentally for future BBS practices in the coal mine industry.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ruipeng Tong
- School of Resources & Safety Engineering, China University of Mining and Technology (Beijing), Beijing 100083, China.
| | - Cunli Zhai
- School of Resources & Safety Engineering, China University of Mining and Technology (Beijing), Beijing 100083, China.
| | - Qingli Jia
- School of Resources & Safety Engineering, China University of Mining and Technology (Beijing), Beijing 100083, China.
| | - Chunlin Wu
- School of Economics and Management, Beihang University, Beijing 100191, China.
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Emergency Support Simulation Technologies for City Operations, Beihang University, Beijing 100191, China.
| | - Yan Liu
- Faculty of Civil Engineering and Geosciences, Delft University of Technology, Stevinweg 1, 2628 CN Delft, The Netherlands.
| | - Surui Xue
- School of Safety Engineering, China University of Labor Relations, Beijing 100048, China.
| |
Collapse
|
27
|
Zhang Y, Han X, Niu Z. Health risk assessment of haloacetonitriles in drinking water based on internal dose. Environ Pollut 2018; 236:899-906. [PMID: 29157971 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2017.10.049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2017] [Revised: 10/10/2017] [Accepted: 10/12/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
To estimate the health risk of haloacetonitriles in different kinds of drinking water, the concentrations of haloacetonitriles in tap water, boiled water and direct drinking water were detected. The physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) model was used to calculate internal dose in the human body for haloacetonitriles through ingestion, and the probability distributions of the non-carcinogenic risk of haloacetonitriles for human via drinking water were assessed. This study found that the mean concentrations of dichloroacetonitrile (DCAN) in tap water, boiled water and direct drinking water were 0.955 μg/L, 0.207 μg/L and 0.127 μg/L, and those of dibromoacetonitrile (DBAN) were 0.221 μg/L, 0.104 μg/L, 0.089 μg/L, respectively. In China, direct drinking water is used most frequently, so the concentrations of haloacetonitriles in direct drinking water were used to obtain data on the internal dose of haloacetonitriles. In addition, the simulation results for the PBPK model showed that the highest and lowest concentrations of DCAN occurred in the liver and venous blood, respectively. The peak concentrations of DBAN in each tissue were in the decreasing order liver > rapidly perfused tissue > kidney > slowly perfused tissues > fat > arterial blood (venous blood). In addition, the highest 95th percentile hazard quotients (HQ) value of haloacetonitriles via drinking water for humans was 8.89 × 10-3, much lower than 1. The 95th percentile hazard index (HI) was 0.046, which was also lower than 1, suggesting that there was no obvious non-carcinogenic risk.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ying Zhang
- MOE Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, China.
| | - Xuemei Han
- MOE Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, China.
| | - Zhiguang Niu
- School of Marine Science and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China.
| |
Collapse
|
28
|
Abstract
Advancements in measurement technologies and modeling capabilities continue to result in an abundance of exposure information, adding to that currently in existence. However, fragmentation within the exposure science community acts as an obstacle for realizing the vision set forth in the National Research Council's report on Exposure Science in the 21st century to consider exposures from source to dose, on multiple levels of integration, and to multiple stressors. The concept of an Aggregate Exposure Pathway (AEP) was proposed as a framework for organizing and integrating diverse exposure information that exists across numerous repositories and among multiple scientific fields. A workshop held in May 2016 followed introduction of the AEP concept, allowing members of the exposure science community to provide extensive evaluation and feedback regarding the framework's structure, key components, and applications. The current work briefly introduces topics discussed at the workshop and attempts to address key challenges involved in refining this framework. The resulting evolution in the AEP framework's features allows for facilitating acquisition, integration, organization, and transparent application and communication of exposure knowledge in a manner that is independent of its ultimate use, thereby enabling reuse of such information in many applications.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yu-Mei Tan
- National Exposure Research Laboratory, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Durham, North Carolina 27709, USA.
| | - Jeremy A Leonard
- Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37830, USA
| | - Stephen Edwards
- National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Durham, North Carolina 27709, USA
| | - Justin Teeguarden
- Health Effects and Exposure Science, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, Washington 99352, USA
| | - Peter Egeghy
- National Exposure Research Laboratory, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Durham, North Carolina 27709, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
29
|
Schmidt Rivera XC, Bacenetti J, Fusi A, Niero M. The influence of fertiliser and pesticide emissions model on life cycle assessment of agricultural products: The case of Danish and Italian barley. Sci Total Environ 2017; 592:745-757. [PMID: 28325596 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2016.11.183] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2016] [Revised: 11/16/2016] [Accepted: 11/25/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Barley is an ancient crop and a great source of nutrients. It is the third largest agricultural commodity produced in Denmark and represents a relevant crop in Italy too. Due to the increasing customers awareness of sustainability issues, it has become essential to evaluate the environmental impact and the use of resources in food production and distribution systems. However, especially in agriculture, difficulties are encountered when emissions from fertilisers and pesticides need to be modelled, due to a variety of modelling options and their dependency on the availability of site-specific information. How to address these difficulties might affect the results reliability. Hence, this study aims to evaluate, using the life cycle assessment (LCA) methodology, the influence of different models for estimating emissions from fertilisers and pesticides on the environmental impacts of barley cultivation in Denmark and Italy. Two models for fertilisers and pesticides' emissions have been applied; these differ on the extent of data requirements and complexity of calculation algorithms, which might increase the results accuracy and robustness. The results show that the modelling options do affect the environmental impacts of barley production, in particular climate change, eutrophication categories, acidification and freshwater eco-toxicity. This study estimates that the variations for such categories range from 15% in the case of climate change to 89% in the case of marine eutrophication. These findings highlight the importance of the emission modelling options as well as the constraints of data requirements, critical aspects when a LCA study on agricultural products is carried out.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ximena C Schmidt Rivera
- School of Chemical Engineering and Analytical Science, The Mill, Sackville Street, The University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PL, UK
| | - Jacopo Bacenetti
- AgriFood LCA Lab, Department of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Production, Landscape, Agroenergy, Università degli Studi di Milano, via Giovanni Celoria 2, 20133 Milan, Italy.
| | - Alessandra Fusi
- School of Chemical Engineering and Analytical Science, The Mill, Sackville Street, The University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PL, UK
| | - Monia Niero
- Division for Quantitative Sustainability Assessment (QSA), Department of Management Engineering, Technical University of Denmark, Bygningstorvet 115, 2800 Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
| |
Collapse
|
30
|
Panizzi S, Suciu NA, Trevisan M. Combined ecotoxicological risk assessment in the frame of European authorization of pesticides. Sci Total Environ 2017; 580:136-146. [PMID: 28012656 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2016.10.154] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2016] [Revised: 10/19/2016] [Accepted: 10/19/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Organisms are frequently exposed to mixtures of chemical contaminants in the environment, causing a potential "cocktail effect", or combined effect. The joint action of different molecules with similar or different modes of action could result in a potentially unlimited number of additives, synergistic or antagonistic combinations. Since the large number of contaminants makes it impossible to perform ecotoxicity tests for each potential mixture, a robust approach for prospective environmental risk assessment of chemical mixtures is needed. A number of recent publications by the European Commission and the authorities in charge prove the increasing interest that is spreading in the European community towards the topic of the assessment of chemical mixtures. The current EU regulation for Plant Protection Products authorization (Reg. 1107/2009 EC) explicitly requires the evaluation of the potential combined effects of active substances. We reviewed current methods and limitations of mixture assessment of pesticides (7 fungicides and 4 herbicides) through the analysis of the approaches adopted to investigate possible risks for different non-target organisms. The Concentration Addition (CA) approach was the most used approach to predict multiple toxicity to non-target organisms. The guidance for birds and mammals first introduced standard procedures to assess the multiple toxicity based on on CA concept. The recent aquatic EFSA guidance introduced some requirements to evaluate potential mixture toxicity, while the current guidance requirements for terrestrial organisms still lack clear indications on how to conduct the assessment. Moreover, new indications come from the draft guidance for the assessment of terrestrial plants and in-soil organisms. However, the approval and implementation of these new guidelines are still at a developmental stage. Some final considerations are drawn on the future possibilities to improve risk assessment procedures so as to identify harmful effects of pesticides mixtures on non-target organisms.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Silvia Panizzi
- Istituto di Chimica Agraria ed Ambientale, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Piacenza, Italy.
| | - Nicoleta Alina Suciu
- Istituto di Chimica Agraria ed Ambientale, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Piacenza, Italy
| | - Marco Trevisan
- Istituto di Chimica Agraria ed Ambientale, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Piacenza, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
31
|
Huang L, Ernstoff A, Fantke P, Csiszar SA, Jolliet O. A review of models for near-field exposure pathways of chemicals in consumer products. Sci Total Environ 2017; 574:1182-1208. [PMID: 27644856 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2016.06.118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2016] [Revised: 06/15/2016] [Accepted: 06/15/2016] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Exposure to chemicals in consumer products has been gaining increasing attention, with multiple studies showing that near-field exposures from products is high compared to far-field exposures. Regarding the numerous chemical-product combinations, there is a need for an overarching review of models able to quantify the multiple transfers of chemicals from products used near-field to humans. The present review therefore aims at an in-depth overview of modeling approaches for near-field chemical release and human exposure pathways associated with consumer products. It focuses on lower-tier, mechanistic models suitable for life cycle assessments (LCA), chemical alternative assessment (CAA) and high-throughput screening risk assessment (HTS). Chemicals in a product enter the near-field via a defined "compartment of entry", are transformed or transferred to adjacent compartments, and eventually end in a "human receptor compartment". We first focus on models of physical mass transfers from the product to 'near-field' compartments. For transfers of chemicals from article interior, adequate modeling of in-article diffusion and of partitioning between article surface and air/skin/food is key. Modeling volatilization and subsequent transfer to the outdoor is crucial for transfers of chemicals used in the inner space of appliances, on object surfaces or directly emitted to indoor air. For transfers from skin surface, models need to reflect the competition between dermal permeation, volatilization and fraction washed-off. We then focus on transfers from the 'near-field' to 'human' compartments, defined as respiratory tract, gastrointestinal tract and epidermis, for which good estimates of air concentrations, non-dietary ingestion parameters and skin permeation are essential, respectively. We critically characterize for each exposure pathway the ability of models to estimate near-field transfers and to best inform LCA, CAA and HTS, summarizing the main characteristics of the potentially best-suited models. This review identifies large knowledge gaps for several near-field pathways and suggests research needs and future directions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lei Huang
- Environmental Health Sciences & Risk Science Center, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2029, United States.
| | - Alexi Ernstoff
- Quantitative Sustainability Assessment Division, Department of Management Engineering, Technical University of Denmark, 2808 Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Peter Fantke
- Quantitative Sustainability Assessment Division, Department of Management Engineering, Technical University of Denmark, 2808 Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Susan A Csiszar
- Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education Research Participant, US Environmental Protection Agency, National Risk Management Research Laboratory, Cincinnati, OH 45268, United States
| | - Olivier Jolliet
- Environmental Health Sciences & Risk Science Center, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2029, United States
| |
Collapse
|
32
|
Fierens T, Van Holderbeke M, Standaert A, Cornelis C, Brochot C, Ciffroy P, Johansson E, Bierkens J. Multimedia & PBPK modelling with MERLIN-Expo versus biomonitoring for assessing Pb exposure of pre-school children in a residential setting. Sci Total Environ 2016; 568:785-793. [PMID: 27102273 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2016.03.194] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2016] [Revised: 03/23/2016] [Accepted: 03/26/2016] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
This paper reports on a case study - conducted within the European FP7 project "4FUN" - focusing on exposure of pre-school children to lead resulting from past emissions by non-ferrous smelters in Belgium (Northern Campine area). Exposure scenarios were constructed and simulated with the MERLIN-Expo tool to estimate external Pb exposure as well as the Pb body burden in children living in the vicinity of the former industrial sites as compared to children living in adjacent areas and a reference area. Simulations were run for several scenarios ranging from very simple to rather complex in order to study the effect of different simulation approaches (e.g., deterministic vs. probabilistic, individual vs. aggregated population exposure) and different exposure scenarios (e.g., with vs. without considering local food consumption or time activity patterns) on the model outcomes (predicted concentrations of Pb in environmental and human matrices). This paper discusses the two most complex scenarios, namely exposure at the aggregated population level and at the individual level for a random sub-sample of subjects, respectively. In the final and most realistic exposure scenario, simulating individual lead exposure, model predictions were shown to be higher than the biomonitoring data. Blood Pb levels in children, irrespective of the area they lived in, were overpredicted by MERLIN-Expo with a factor of about 2 on average. The model predictions for individual children overlap with the prediction interval calculated by MERLIN-Expo based on population averages, demonstrating the use of probabilistic approaches in risk assessment. While these results constitute a first verification of the model performance of MERLIN-Expo dealing with inorganic pollutants in a complex real-world exposure scenario and a demonstration of the robustness of the modelling tool, further validation and benchmarking efforts are required for a larger number of inorganic pollutants and different exposure settings.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tine Fierens
- Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO), Human and Environmental Exposure and Risk Assessment, VITO-Health, 2400 Mol, Belgium
| | - Mirja Van Holderbeke
- Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO), Human and Environmental Exposure and Risk Assessment, VITO-Health, 2400 Mol, Belgium
| | - Arnout Standaert
- Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO), Human and Environmental Exposure and Risk Assessment, VITO-Health, 2400 Mol, Belgium
| | - Christa Cornelis
- Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO), Human and Environmental Exposure and Risk Assessment, VITO-Health, 2400 Mol, Belgium
| | - Céline Brochot
- Institut National de l'Environnement Industriel et des Risques (INERIS), Unité Modèles pour l'Ecotoxicologie et la Toxicologie (METO), Parc ALATA BP2, 60550 Verneuil en Halatte, France
| | - Philippe Ciffroy
- Electricité de France (EDF) R&D, National Hydraulic and Environment Laboratory, 6 quai Watier, 78400 Chatou, France
| | - Erik Johansson
- Facilia AB Gustavslundsvägen 151C, 167 51 Bromma, Sweden
| | - Johan Bierkens
- Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO), Human and Environmental Exposure and Risk Assessment, VITO-Health, 2400 Mol, Belgium.
| |
Collapse
|
33
|
Van Holderbeke M, Fierens T, Standaert A, Cornelis C, Brochot C, Ciffroy P, Johansson E, Bierkens J. Assessing multimedia/multipathway exposures to inorganic arsenic at population and individual level using MERLIN-Expo. Sci Total Environ 2016; 568:794-802. [PMID: 27113276 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2016.04.038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2016] [Revised: 04/05/2016] [Accepted: 04/06/2016] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
In this study, we report on model simulations performed using the newly developed exposure tool, MERLIN-Expo, in order to assess inorganic arsenic (iAs) exposure to adults resulting from past emissions by non-ferrous smelters in Belgium (Northern Campine area). Exposure scenarios were constructed to estimate external iAs exposure as well as the toxicologically relevant As (tAs, i.e., iAs, MMA and DMA) body burden in adults living in the vicinity of the former industrial sites as compared to adults living in adjacent areas and a reference area. Two scenarios are discussed: a first scenario studying exposure to iAs at the aggregated population level and a second scenario studying exposure at the individual level for a random sub-sample of subjects in each of the three different study areas. These two scenarios only differ in the type of human related input data (i.e., time-activity data, ingestion rates and consumption patterns) that were used, namely averages (incl. probability density functions, PDFs) in the simulation at population level and subject-specific values in the simulation at individual level. The model predictions are shown to be lower than the corresponding biomonitoring data from the monitoring campaign. Urinary tAs levels in adults, irrespective of the area they lived in, were under-predicted by MERLIN-Expo by 40% on average. The model predictions for individual adults, by contrast, under-predict the biomonitoring data by 7% on average, but with more important under-predictions for subjects at the upper end of exposure. Still, average predicted urinary tAs levels from the simulations at population level and at individual level overlap, and, at least for the current case, lead to similar conclusions. These results constitute a first and partial verification of the model performance of MERLIN-Expo when dealing with iAs in a complex site-specific exposure scenario, and demonstrate the robustness of the modelling tool for these situations.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mirja Van Holderbeke
- Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO), Human and Environmental Exposure and Risk Assessment, VITO - Health, 2400 Mol, Belgium
| | - Tine Fierens
- Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO), Human and Environmental Exposure and Risk Assessment, VITO - Health, 2400 Mol, Belgium
| | - Arnout Standaert
- Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO), Human and Environmental Exposure and Risk Assessment, VITO - Health, 2400 Mol, Belgium
| | - Christa Cornelis
- Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO), Human and Environmental Exposure and Risk Assessment, VITO - Health, 2400 Mol, Belgium
| | - Céline Brochot
- Institut National de l'Environnement Industriel et des Risques (INERIS), Unité Modèles pour l'Ecotoxicologie et la Toxicologie (METO), Parc ALATA BP2, 60550, Verneuil en Halatte, France
| | - Philippe Ciffroy
- Electricité de France (EDF) R&D, National Hydraulic and Environment Laboratory, 6 quai Watier, 78400 Chatou, France
| | - Erik Johansson
- Facilia AB, Gustavslundsvägen 151C, 167 51 Bromma, Sweden
| | - Johan Bierkens
- Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO), Human and Environmental Exposure and Risk Assessment, VITO - Health, 2400 Mol, Belgium.
| |
Collapse
|
34
|
Giubilato E, Radomyski A, Critto A, Ciffroy P, Brochot C, Pizzol L, Marcomini A. Modelling ecological and human exposure to POPs in Venice lagoon. Part I - Application of MERLIN-Expo tool for integrated exposure assessment. Sci Total Environ 2016; 565:961-976. [PMID: 27178754 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2016.04.146] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2016] [Revised: 04/20/2016] [Accepted: 04/20/2016] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Elisa Giubilato
- University Ca' Foscari of Venice, Department of Environmental Sciences, Informatics and Statistics, Via Torino 155, Mestre, 30172 Venezia, Italy
| | - Artur Radomyski
- University Ca' Foscari of Venice, Department of Environmental Sciences, Informatics and Statistics, Via Torino 155, Mestre, 30172 Venezia, Italy
| | - Andrea Critto
- University Ca' Foscari of Venice, Department of Environmental Sciences, Informatics and Statistics, Via Torino 155, Mestre, 30172 Venezia, Italy
| | - Philippe Ciffroy
- Electricité de France (EDF) R&D, National Hydraulic and Environment Laboratory, 6 quai Watier, 78400 Chatou, France
| | - Céline Brochot
- Institut National de l'Environnement Industriel et des Risques (INERIS), Unité Modèles pour l'Ecotoxicologie et la Toxicologie (METO), Parc ALATA BP2, 60550 Verneuil en Halatte, France
| | - Lisa Pizzol
- University Ca' Foscari of Venice, Department of Environmental Sciences, Informatics and Statistics, Via Torino 155, Mestre, 30172 Venezia, Italy
| | - Antonio Marcomini
- University Ca' Foscari of Venice, Department of Environmental Sciences, Informatics and Statistics, Via Torino 155, Mestre, 30172 Venezia, Italy.
| |
Collapse
|
35
|
Fantke P, Ernstoff AS, Huang L, Csiszar SA, Jolliet O. Coupled near-field and far-field exposure assessment framework for chemicals in consumer products. Environ Int 2016; 94:508-518. [PMID: 27318619 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2016.06.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2016] [Revised: 06/02/2016] [Accepted: 06/08/2016] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
Humans can be exposed to chemicals in consumer products through product use and environmental emissions over the product life cycle. Exposure pathways are often complex, where chemicals can transfer directly from products to humans during use or exchange between various indoor and outdoor compartments until sub-fractions reach humans. To consistently evaluate exposure pathways along product life cycles, a flexible mass balance-based assessment framework is presented structuring multimedia chemical transfers in a matrix of direct inter-compartmental transfer fractions. By matrix inversion, we quantify cumulative multimedia transfer fractions and exposure pathway-specific product intake fractions defined as chemical mass taken in by humans per unit mass of chemical in a product. Combining product intake fractions with chemical mass in the product yields intake estimates for use in life cycle impact assessment and chemical alternatives assessment, or daily intake doses for use in risk-based assessment and high-throughput screening. Two illustrative examples of chemicals used in personal care products and flooring materials demonstrate how this matrix-based framework offers a consistent and efficient way to rapidly compare exposure pathways for adult and child users and for the general population. This framework constitutes a user-friendly approach to develop, compare and interpret multiple human exposure scenarios in a coupled system of near-field ('user' environment), far-field and human intake compartments, and helps understand the contribution of individual pathways to overall human exposure in various product application contexts to inform decisions in different science-policy fields for which exposure quantification is relevant.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Peter Fantke
- Quantitative Sustainability Assessment Division, Department of Management Engineering, Technical University of Denmark, Produktionstorvet 424, 2800 Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark.
| | - Alexi S Ernstoff
- Quantitative Sustainability Assessment Division, Department of Management Engineering, Technical University of Denmark, Produktionstorvet 424, 2800 Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Lei Huang
- Environmental Health Sciences, University of Michigan, 1415 Washington Heights, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2029, USA
| | - Susan A Csiszar
- Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education hosted at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, National Risk Management Research Laboratory, Cincinnati, OH 45268, USA
| | - Olivier Jolliet
- Environmental Health Sciences, University of Michigan, 1415 Washington Heights, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2029, USA
| |
Collapse
|
36
|
Suciu N, Tediosi A, Ciffroy P, Altenpohl A, Brochot C, Verdonck F, Ferrari F, Giubilato E, Capri E, Fait G. Potential for MERLIN-Expo, an advanced tool for higher tier exposure assessment, within the EU chemical legislative frameworks. Sci Total Environ 2016; 562:474-479. [PMID: 27107646 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2016.04.072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2016] [Revised: 04/10/2016] [Accepted: 04/10/2016] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
MERLIN-Expo merges and integrates advanced exposure assessment methodologies, allowing the building of complex scenarios involving several pollution sources and targets. The assessment of exposure and risks to human health from chemicals is of major concern for policy and ultimately benefits all citizens. The development and operational fusion of the advanced exposure assessment methodologies envisaged in the MERLIN-Expo tool will have a significant impact in the long term on several policies dealing with chemical safety management. There are more than 30 agencies in Europe related to exposure and risk evaluation of chemicals, which have an important role in implementing EU policies, having especially tasks of technical, scientific, operational and/or regulatory nature. The main purpose of the present paper is to introduce MERLIN-Expo and to highlight its potential for being effectively integrated within the group of tools available to assess the risk and exposure of chemicals for EU policy. The main results show that the tool is highly suitable for use in site-specific or local impact assessment, with minor modifications it can also be used for Plant Protection Products (PPPs), biocides and REACH, while major additions would be required for a comprehensive application in the field of consumer and worker exposure assessment.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nicoleta Suciu
- Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 29122 Piacenza, Italy.
| | | | - Philippe Ciffroy
- Electricité de France (EDF) R&D, National Hydraulic and Environment Laboratory, 6 quai Watier, 78400 Chatou, France
| | - Annette Altenpohl
- Österreichisches Normungsinstitut/Austrian Standards Institute, Heinestraße 38, 1020 Wien, Austria
| | - Céline Brochot
- INERIS, Parc ALATA, BP2, 60550 Verneuil en Halatte, France
| | | | | | - Elisa Giubilato
- University Ca Foscari Venice, Department of Environmental Sciences, Informatics and Statistics, via Torino 155, 30172 Mestre-Venice, Italy
| | - Ettore Capri
- Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 29122 Piacenza, Italy
| | | |
Collapse
|