Case Study Part 1: How to calculate appropriate deterministic long-term toxicity to exposure ratios (TERs) for birds and mammals

In the European Union, first-tier assessment of the long-term risk to birds and mammals from pesticides is based on calculation of a deterministic long-term toxicity/exposure ratio (TER(lt)). The ratio is developed from generic herbivores and insectivores and applied to all species. This paper describes two case studies that implement proposed improvements to the way long-term risk is assessed. These refined methods require calculation of a TER for each of five identified phases of reproduction (phase-specific TERs) and use of adjusted No Observed Effect Levels (NOELs) to incorporate variation in species sensitivity to pesticides. They also involve progressive refinement of the exposure estimate so that it applies to particular species, rather than generic indicators, and relates spraying date to onset of reproduction. The effect of using these new methods on the assessment of risk is described. Each refinement did not necessarily alter the calculated TER value in a way that was either predictable or consistent across both case studies. However, use of adjusted NOELs always reduced TERs, and relating spraying date to onset of reproduction increased most phase-specific TERs. The case studies suggested that the current first-tier TER(lt )assessment may underestimate risk in some circumstances and that phase-specific assessments can help identify appropriate risk-reduction measures. The way in which deterministic phase-specific assessments can currently be implemented to enhance first-tier assessment is outlined.

Case Study Part 2: Probabilistic modelling of long-term effects of pesticides on individual breeding success in birds and mammals

Long term exposure of skylarks to a fictitious insecticide and of wood mice to a fictitious fungicide were modelled probabilistically in a Monte Carlo simulation. Within the same simulation the consequences of exposure to pesticides on reproductive success were modelled using the toxicity-exposure-linking rules developed by R.S. Bennet et al. (2005) and the interspecies extrapolation factors suggested by R. Luttik et al. (2005). We built models to reflect a range of scenarios and as a result were able to show how exposure to pesticide might alter the number of individuals engaged in any given phase of the breeding cycle at any given time and predict the numbers of new adults at the season's end.

Hematological and pulmonary responses to high altitude in Quechuas: a multivariate approach

This study investigates the relationships among hematological variables, pulmonary function, and age in a sample of high-altitude natives. The following anthropometric and physiological variables were examined in 77 adult Quechua males from the Peruvian Central Andes (Huancavelica, 3,680 m): height, weight, sitting height, chest diameters, chest and abdominal circumferences, forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume at 1 sec (FEV1), peak expiratory flow (PEF), hemoglobin concentration (Hb), red blood cells (RBC), hematocrit (Htc), diastolic and systolic blood pressure, body temperature, pulmonary rate, and pulse rate. The means of these variables for the Huancavelica sample fall within the range of variability previously observed in Andean populations. Principal components analysis and canonical correlation analysis suggest that in this native Andean population: 1) aging decreases lung function but does not affect hematological features, and 2) there is a negative age-independent correlation between lung function (FVC, FEV1, PEF) and hematological traits (Hb, RBC, Htc).

Net primary production of a forest ecosystem with experimental CO2 enrichment

The concentration of atmospheric carbon dioxide was increased by 200 microliters per liter in a forest plantation, where competition between organisms, resource limitations, and environmental stresses may modulate biotic responses. After 2 years the growth rate of the dominant pine trees increased by about 26 percent relative to trees under ambient conditions. Carbon dioxide enrichment also increased litterfall and fine-root increment. These changes increased the total net primary production by 25 percent. Such an increase in forest net primary production globally would fix about 50 percent of the anthropogenic carbon dioxide projected to be released into the atmosphere in the year 2050. The response of this young, rapidly growing forest to carbon dioxide may represent the upper limit for forest carbon sequestration.

Apparent seasonal rhythms in hypothalamic neuropeptides in rats without photoperiod changes

An apparent seasonal or circannual rhythm in the hypothalamic content of CRF, TRH, neurotensin, and neuromedin N has been observed in 12 separate monthly coherts (n = 10@ or 130 total) adult, male Sprague-Dawley rats obtained at the same time each month from a single commercial supplier and held under constant (12:12) photoperiod conditions since birth. Both annual and 4-month (terannual) harmonics can be statistically discerned in these apparent rhythms, which exhibit cycles containing concentration changes up to 3-fold the lowest levels across the year (CRF increases 390%, TRH increases 173%, neurotensin increases 136%, and neuromedin N increases 150%). Hypothalamic somatostatin did not exhibit these statistically significant robust rhythms nor did any peptide in regions outside the hypothalamus. These data indicate that a mechanism allowing enhanced or diminished physiological availability of these regulatory neuropeptides at different times of the year may exist and may display distinct cycles even in the absence of normal photoperiod cues. Possible regulatory responses of pituitary receptor populations for these hypothalamic peptides must be considered. As certain of these neuropeptides also appear to be altered in the cerebrospinal fluid of patients with major depression or schizophrenia, similar hypothalamic cyclic changes may underly psychiatric symptoms with seasonal periodicity.

Poor prognosis associated with thrombocytosis in patients with cervical cancer

The medical records of 113 patients treated with radiation therapy for invasive cervical cancer between 1975 and 1985 were retrospectively reviewed. Patients with thrombocytosis (platelet count greater than 400,000/microliters) were compared with those with normal platelet counts. Thrombocytosis was present at the initiation of therapy in 20 (17.7%) of the 113 patients. The 5-year cumulative survival rate for the 93 patients with normal platelet counts was 65%, whereas it was 25% for the 20 with thrombocytosis (P less than 0.0001, log-rank test). Using Cox's proportional hazards model, thrombocytosis continued to correlate strongly with poor survival even when adjusted for histologic type, patient age, and disease stage (P less than 0.001). Thrombocytosis is an independent indicator of poor prognosis in patients with cervical cancer.

The effect of short-term refrigeration of milk and addition of breast milk fortifier on the delivery of lipids during tube feeding

Both storage of breast milk for 3 days at 4 degrees C and the addition of breast milk fortifier containing lipid improved the delivery of lipids during continuous pump infusion. The percentage of the original lipid delivered after 8 h of pumping was 9, 25, 58, and 66% from the freshly collected milk, stored milk, freshly collected milk mixed with fortifier, and stored milk mixed with fortifier, respectively. Phospholipid and cholesterol levels also were measured. Their loss during delivery through the tube was similar to the loss of total lipid. While storage improved the delivery of lipids from breast milk, the additional lipid delivered from milk mixed with fortifier was primarily due to lipids from the fortifier.

Changing patterns of free fatty acids in breast milk during storage

Milk was collected from eight mothers. Total lipid and free fatty acids were determined on collection. The samples were divided into aliquots and stored at 25, 4, or -11 degrees C for 6, 12, 24, or 48 h. Additional samples were stored at -11 or -70 degrees C for 1, 2, 4, 6, or 8 weeks. The effect of temperature, length of storage, and total milk lipid on the release of individual fatty acids during storage was determined. There was no measurable lipolysis in milk stored at -70 degrees C. In the other samples both storage temperature and length of storage significantly affected lipolysis of milk lipids. The accumulation of free fatty acids in the milk increased with the length of storage and with increased storage temperature. Total lipid was not a significant factor in the release of fatty acids during the initial 48 h of storage. In samples stored for greater than 48 h at -11 degrees C, total lipid was positively correlated with the release of fatty acids. The pattern of free fatty acids in milk changed as storage progressed with an increase in the proportion of free 18:2, 20:4, and the other long-chain polyenoic acids. This may have implications for infant nutrition as these fatty acids are required for normal growth and development of the neonate.