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Otte JC, Hollnagel HM, Nagel C, Gerhardt RF, Wohlleben W, Vallotton N, Schowanek D, Sanders G, Frasca JM, Mahale T, Pemberton M, Hidding B, Landsiedel R. Three-tiered approach for standard information requirements for polymers requiring registration under REACH. Regul Toxicol Pharmacol 2023; 144:105495. [PMID: 37730194 DOI: 10.1016/j.yrtph.2023.105495] [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: 02/07/2023] [Revised: 09/05/2023] [Accepted: 09/13/2023] [Indexed: 09/22/2023]
Abstract
Polymers are a very large class of chemicals comprising often complex molecules with multiple functions used in everyday products. The EU Commission is seeking to develop environmental and human health standard information requirements (SIRs) for man-made polymers requiring registration (PRR) under a revised Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) Regulation. Conventional risk assessment approaches currently used for small molecules may not apply to most polymers. Therefore, we propose a conceptual three-tiered regulatory approach for data generation to assess individual and groups of polymers requiring registration (PRR). A key element is the grouping of polymers according to chemistry, physico-chemical properties and hazard similarity. The limited bioavailability of many polymers is a prominent difference to many small molecules and is a key consideration of the proposed approach. Methods assessing potential for systemic bioavailability are integral to Tier 1. Decisions for further studies are based on considerations of properties and effects, combined with systemic bioavailability and use and exposure considerations. For many PRRs, Tier 1 data on hazard, use and exposure will likely be sufficient for achieving the protection goals of REACH. Vertebrate animal studies in Tiers 2 and 3 can be limited to targeted testing. The outlined approach aims to make use of current best scientific evidence and to reduce animal testing whilst providing data for an adequate level of protection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jens C Otte
- BASF SE, Carl-Bosch-Strasse 38, 67056, Ludwigshafen am Rhein, Germany
| | | | - Christiane Nagel
- BASF SE, Carl-Bosch-Strasse 38, 67056, Ludwigshafen am Rhein, Germany
| | | | - Wendel Wohlleben
- BASF SE, Carl-Bosch-Strasse 38, 67056, Ludwigshafen am Rhein, Germany
| | | | - Diederik Schowanek
- Procter&Gamble, Brussels Innovation Centre, Temselaan 100, B-1853, Strombeek-Bever, Belgium
| | - Gordon Sanders
- Givaudan International SA, 5, Ch. de la Parfumerie, 1214, Vernier, Switzerland
| | - Joe M Frasca
- ExxonMobil Biomedical Sciences, Inc., Annandale, NJ, USA
| | - Tushar Mahale
- The Lubrizol Corporation, Advanced Materials India Pvt Ltd, 5th, 6th Floor, Jaswanti Landmark, Vikhroli, Mumbai (W), India
| | - Mark Pemberton
- Systox Limited, Sutton, Sutton Grange, Parvey Lane, SK11 0HX, Cheshire, United Kingdom
| | - Bjoern Hidding
- BASF SE, Carl-Bosch-Strasse 38, 67056, Ludwigshafen am Rhein, Germany
| | - Robert Landsiedel
- BASF SE, Carl-Bosch-Strasse 38, 67056, Ludwigshafen am Rhein, Germany; Free University of Berlin, Pharmacy, Pharmacology and Toxicology, 14195, Berlin, Germany.
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Davenport R, Curtis‐Jackson P, Dalkmann P, Davies J, Fenner K, Hand L, McDonough K, Ott A, Ortega‐Calvo JJ, Parsons JR, Schäffer A, Sweetlove C, Trapp S, Wang N, Redman A. Scientific concepts and methods for moving persistence assessments into the 21st century. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2022; 18:1454-1487. [PMID: 34989108 PMCID: PMC9790601 DOI: 10.1002/ieam.4575] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [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: 02/11/2021] [Revised: 09/29/2021] [Accepted: 12/06/2021] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
The evaluation of a chemical substance's persistence is key to understanding its environmental fate, exposure concentration, and, ultimately, environmental risk. Traditional biodegradation test methods were developed many years ago for soluble, nonvolatile, single-constituent test substances, which do not represent the wide range of manufactured chemical substances. In addition, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) screening and simulation test methods do not fully reflect the environmental conditions into which substances are released and, therefore, estimates of chemical degradation half-lives can be very uncertain and may misrepresent real environmental processes. In this paper, we address the challenges and limitations facing current test methods and the scientific advances that are helping to both understand and provide solutions to them. Some of these advancements include the following: (1) robust methods that provide a deeper understanding of microbial composition, diversity, and abundance to ensure consistency and/or interpret variability between tests; (2) benchmarking tools and reference substances that aid in persistence evaluations through comparison against substances with well-quantified degradation profiles; (3) analytical methods that allow quantification for parent and metabolites at environmentally relevant concentrations, and inform on test substance bioavailability, biochemical pathways, rates of primary versus overall degradation, and rates of metabolite formation and decay; (4) modeling tools that predict the likelihood of microbial biotransformation, as well as biochemical pathways; and (5) modeling approaches that allow for derivation of more generally applicable biotransformation rate constants, by accounting for physical and/or chemical processes and test system design when evaluating test data. We also identify that, while such advancements could improve the certainty and accuracy of persistence assessments, the mechanisms and processes by which they are translated into regulatory practice and development of new OECD test guidelines need improving and accelerating. Where uncertainty remains, holistic weight of evidence approaches may be required to accurately assess the persistence of chemicals. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2022;18:1454-1487. © 2022 The Authors. Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of Society of Environmental Toxicology & Chemistry (SETAC).
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Philipp Dalkmann
- Bayer AG, Crop Science Division, Environmental SafetyMonheimGermany
| | | | - Kathrin Fenner
- Eawag, Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and TechnologyDübendorfSwitzerland
- Department of ChemistryUniversity of ZürichZürichSwitzerland
| | - Laurence Hand
- Syngenta, Product Safety, Jealott's Hill International Research CentreBracknellUK
| | | | - Amelie Ott
- School of EngineeringNewcastle UniversityNewcastle upon TyneUK
- European Centre for Ecotoxicology and Toxicology of Chemicals (ECETOC)BrusselsBelgium
| | - Jose Julio Ortega‐Calvo
- Instituto de Recursos Naturales y Agrobiología de SevillaConsejo Superior de Investigaciones CientíficasSevillaSpain
| | - John R. Parsons
- Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem DynamicsUniversity of AmsterdamAmsterdamThe Netherlands
| | - Andreas Schäffer
- RWTH Aachen University, Institute for Environmental ResearchAachenGermany
| | - Cyril Sweetlove
- L'Oréal Research & InnovationEnvironmental Research DepartmentAulnay‐sous‐BoisFrance
| | - Stefan Trapp
- Department of Environmental EngineeringTechnical University of DenmarkBygningstorvetLyngbyDenmark
| | - Neil Wang
- Total Marketing & ServicesParis la DéfenseFrance
| | - Aaron Redman
- ExxonMobil Petroleum and ChemicalMachelenBelgium
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Huang Z, Qi Z, Ding X, Liu C. N-chlorosuccinimide enhancing the antimicrobial effect of benzalkonium chloride on biofilm Pseudomonas aeruginosa and its interaction mechanisms. J Environ Sci Health A Tox Hazard Subst Environ Eng 2022; 57:1-8. [PMID: 35852222 DOI: 10.1080/10934529.2022.2095176] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2022] [Revised: 06/17/2022] [Accepted: 06/19/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
This study investigated the influence of N-chlorosuccinimide (NCS) pretreatment on the antimicrobial effect of benzalkonium chloride (BZC, representative of QACs) against biofilm bacteria and its mechanisms. Results show that 0.04 - 0.07 mmol/L NCS pretreatment significantly increased the antimicrobial efficacy of 0.03 mmol/L BZC on biofilm cells by 30% - 70%. The main mechanisms involved membrane permeability, oxidative damage, and metabolic disorder. More precisely, NCS pretreatment increased the permeability of bacteria and reduced the activity of the electron transport system (ETS) and dehydrogenase (DHA). At the same time, the oxidative damage of both endogenous and exogenous ROS and the disorder of the antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase and catalase) further improved their combined antibacterial ability. Moreover, NCS pretreatment greatly reduced the resistance of biofilm Pseudomonas aeruginosa to BZC. The findings of the study provide a new method to effectively enhance the antimicrobial efficiency of quaternary ammonium cationic surfactants (e.g., BZC) and reduce bacterial resistance, as well as a scientific guidance for the development of new antimicrobial products.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zaihui Huang
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shandong Key Laboratory of Environmental Processes and Health, Shandong University, Qingdao, P.R. China
| | - Zheng Qi
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shandong Key Laboratory of Environmental Processes and Health, Shandong University, Qingdao, P.R. China
| | - Xiaohu Ding
- Weifang Ecological Environmental Protection Bureau, Weifang City, P.R. China
| | - Chunguang Liu
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shandong Key Laboratory of Environmental Processes and Health, Shandong University, Qingdao, P.R. China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Environmental Protection and Resources Utilization Guangdong, P.R. China
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Nabeoka R, Suzuki H, Akasaka Y, Ando N, Yoshida T. Evaluating the Ready Biodegradability of Biodegradable Plastics. Environ Toxicol Chem 2021; 40:2443-2449. [PMID: 34003509 DOI: 10.1002/etc.5116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [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: 10/13/2020] [Revised: 11/21/2020] [Accepted: 05/06/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Reducing the environmental burden and assessing the safety of plastics are huge global challenges. However, standard test data on the ready biodegradability of plastics are limited. We evaluated the ready biodegradability of 8 biodegradable plastics using Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) test guideline 301F with nonspecific bacteria and examined the effects of prolonging the test duration to a maximum of 90 d. Cellulose used as a potential reference material for plastics was not comparable to the reference material of OECD test guideline 301, but it may be improved by using a test concentration lower than the typical test concentration (100 mg/L). Of the 8 plastics examined, polyamide 4, poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyhexanoate), polycaprolactone, and poly(butylene succinate adipate; PBSA) were biodegraded by >60% by day 28 and considered to show ready biodegradability. Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate; PHB), poly(3-hydroxybutyric acid-co-3-hydroxyvaleric acid; PHBV), and poly(butylene succinate; PBS) were biodegraded but did not fulfill the ready biodegradability criteria. Because the typical test concentration is considered to have negative effects on biodegradation and calculation of biodegradation percentage, using a lower concentration may result in PHB, PHBV, and PBS fulfilling the ready biodegradability criteria. Poly(d,l-lactide; PLA) was not biodegraded. The biodegradation of PBS and PBSA was noted to vary depending on the used inoculum and/or particle size. For the 7 plastics except PLA, the percentage biodegradation on day 60 was larger than that on day 28, indicating that a longer test period could be useful for evaluating the environmental persistence of plastics. In tests in which the plastics were not biodegraded by day 60, no marked biodegradation was observed by day 90. Environ Toxicol Chem 2021;40:2443-2449. © 2021 SETAC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryosuke Nabeoka
- Chemicals Evaluation and Research Institute, Kurume, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Hisako Suzuki
- Chemicals Evaluation and Research Institute, Kurume, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Yuya Akasaka
- Chemicals Evaluation and Research Institute, Kurume, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Nanami Ando
- Chemicals Evaluation and Research Institute, Kurume, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Tomohiko Yoshida
- Chemicals Evaluation and Research Institute, Kurume, Fukuoka, Japan
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