Environmental safety assessment of plants expressing RNAi for pest control.

Author(s):  
Salvatore Arpaia ◽  
Olivier Christiaens ◽  
Paul Henning Krogh ◽  
Kimberly M Parker

Abstract This chapter focuses on the importance of problem formulation (PF) in the environmental risk assessment process, which involves the identification of the possible hazards associated with a stressor, i.e. transgenic RNAi expressing plants or RNAi-based pesticides. The risk hypotheses developed from the PF that can be used to hypothesize pathways to risk and support the design of experimental studies to determine environmental impacts are also discussed.

Author(s):  
Salvatore Arpaia ◽  
Olivier Christiaens ◽  
Paul Henning Krogh ◽  
Kimberly M Parker

Abstract This chapter focuses on the importance of problem formulation (PF) in the environmental risk assessment process, which involves the identification of the possible hazards associated with a stressor, i.e. transgenic RNAi expressing plants or RNAi-based pesticides. The risk hypotheses developed from the PF that can be used to hypothesize pathways to risk and support the design of experimental studies to determine environmental impacts are also discussed.


2009 ◽  
Vol 37 (4) ◽  
pp. 732-748 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kristen C. Nelson ◽  
David A. Andow ◽  
Michael J. Banker

Societal evaluation of new technologies, specifically nanotechnology and genetically engineered organisms (GEOs), challenges current practices of governance and science. When a governing body is confronted by a technology whose use has potential environmental risks, some form of risk analysis is typically conducted to help decision makers consider the range of possible benefits and harms posed by the technology. Environmental risk assessment (ERA) is a critical component in the governance of nanotechnology and genetically engineered organisms because the uncertainties and complexities surrounding these technologies pose such risk potential. However, GEOs are unique technologies, and there is widespread, international recognition (e.g., the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety of Living Modified Organisms) that many traditional forms of ERA are not well-suited for evaluating them. Nanotechnology products are also likely to need different models of risk assessment, as there is very little information on their fate, transport, and impacts in the environment.


2019 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
John L. Teem ◽  
Aggrey Ambali ◽  
Barbara Glover ◽  
Jeremy Ouedraogo ◽  
Diran Makinde ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Gene drive mosquitoes have been proposed as a possible means to reduce the transmission of malaria in Africa. Because this technology has no prior use-history at this time, environmental risk assessments for gene drive mosquitoes will benefit from problem formulation—an organized and ordered process to identify protection goals and potential pathways to harm to the environment, or animal or human health. Recognizing this need, the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD), with support from African and international partners, organized four regional consultative workshops in Africa to initiate this process. Methods The workshops were attended by a diverse set of participants and stakeholders, including scientists, ethicists, health professionals, government regulators in the fields of environment health and biosafety as well government policymakers, who met for 4 days to deliberate on protection goals and pathways relevant to the use of gene drive mosquitoes for malaria control. The goal of the workshops was not to produce a comprehensive and detailed environmental risk assessment of gene drive mosquitoes, but rather to introduce problem formulation as a tool to the stakeholder community, and to serve as a starting point for conducting systematic environmental risk assessments in the future, identifying protection goals related to gene drive mosquitoes that are particular to African stakeholders. Results Participants in the workshops frequently identified human health and biodiversity as being relevant broad protection goals. Results of the deliberations provide insight into the concerns of African participants at an early stage in the development of gene drive organism/products that should be instructive to developers using this technology. Conclusions In general, the African participants of the consultations had a precautionary perspective with regard to environmental risk assessment of gene drive technology. As gene drive technology develops, protection goals will become further refined and candidate products will be further defined. These workshops represent only the beginning of a continuing process that will ultimately inform environmental risk assessment for gene drive mosquitoes to control malaria in Africa.


Molecules ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 26 (5) ◽  
pp. 1370
Author(s):  
Raisibe Florence Lehutso ◽  
Yolanda Tancu ◽  
Arjun Maity ◽  
Melusi Thwala

Analytical limitations have constrained the determination of nanopollution character from real-world sources such as nano-enabled products (NEPs), thus hindering the development of environmental safety guidelines for engineered nanomaterials (ENMs). This study examined the properties of ENMs in 18 commercial products: sunscreens, personal care products, clothing, and paints—products exhibiting medium to a high potential for environmental nanopollution. It was found that 17 of the products contained ENMs; 9, 3, 3, and 2 were incorporated with nTiO2, nAg, binaries of nZnO + nTiO2, and nTiO2 + nAg, respectively. Commonly, the nTiO2 were elongated or angular, whereas nAg and nZnO were near-spherical and angular in morphology, respectively. The size ranges (width × length) were 7–48 × 14–200, 34–35 × 37–38, and 18–28 nm for nTiO2, nZnO, and nAg respectively. All ENMs were negatively charged. The total concentration of Ti, Zn, and Ag in the NEPs were 2.3 × 10−4–4.3%, 3.4–4.3%, and 1.0 × 10−4–11.3 × 10−3%, respectively. The study determined some key ENM characteristics required for environmental risk assessment; however, challenges persist regarding the accurate determination of the concentration in NEPs. Overall, the study confirmed NEPs as actual sources of nanopollution; hence, scenario-specific efforts are recommended to quantify their loads into water resources.


2009 ◽  
Vol 19 (3) ◽  
pp. 425-436 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeffrey D. Wolt ◽  
Paul Keese ◽  
Alan Raybould ◽  
Julie W. Fitzpatrick ◽  
Moisés Burachik ◽  
...  

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