Risk Assessment

2002 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Risk Assessment ◽  
Human Health ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Human Cancer ◽  
Food Additives ◽  
Latency Period ◽  
Epidemiological Studies ◽  
Preliminary Evaluation ◽  
Active Ingredients ◽  
Daily Lives

The purpose of risk assessment is estimation of the severity of harmful effects to human health and the environment that may result from exposure to chemicals present in the environment. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) procedure of risk assessment, whether related to human health or to the environment, involves four steps: 1. hazard assessment 2. dose–response assessment 3. exposure assessment 4. risk characterization The quantity of chemicals in use today is staggering. According to the data compiled by Hodgson and Guthrie in 1980 (1), there were then 1500 active ingredients of pesticides, 4000 active ingredients of therapeutic drugs, 2000 drug additives to improve stability, 2500 food additives with nutritional value, 3000 food additives to promote product life, and 50,000 additional chemicals in common use. Considering the growth of the chemical and pharmaceutical industries, these amounts must now be considerably larger. Past experience has shown that some of these chemicals, although not toxic unless ingested in large quantities, may be mutagenic and carcinogenic with chronic exposure to minute doses, or may interfere with the reproductive or immune systems of humans and animals. To protect human health it is necessary to determine that compounds to which people are exposed daily or periodically in their daily lives (such as cosmetics, foods, and pesticides) will not cause harm upon long-term exposure. The discussion in this chapter will focus primarly on carcinogenicity and mutagenicity, but also endocrine disrupters will be considered. The carcinogenicity of some chemicals was established through epidemiological studies. However, because of the long latency period of cancer, epidemiological studies require many years before any conclusions can be reached. In addition, they are very expensive. Another method that could be used is bioassay in animals. Such bioassays, although quite useful in predicting human cancer hazard, may take as long as 2 years or more and require at least 600 animals per assay. This method is also too costly in terms of time and money to be considered for large-scale screening. For these reasons an inexpensive, short-term assay system is needed for preliminary evaluation of potential mutagens and carcinogens.

An Alternative to Laboratory Animal Experimentation for Human Health Risk Assessment: Epidemiological Studies of Pet Animals

1985 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 267-285
Author(s):  
Lawrence T. Glickman ◽  
Linda M. Domanski
Keyword(s):  
Risk Assessment ◽  
Health Risk ◽  
Human Health ◽  
Health Risk Assessment ◽  
Laboratory Animal ◽  
Human Health Risk ◽  
Animal Experiments ◽  
Occupational Exposures ◽  
Epidemiological Studies ◽  
Human Health Risk Assessment

Alternative approaches to the use of laboratory animals for human health risk assessment have traditionally utilised in vitro techniques. We propose an expanded concept of an alternative to include epidemiological studies of pet animals with spontaneously occurring disease. Compared with humans, the use of pet animals has the advantage of a shorter latent period for development of most diseases and is less confounded by occupational exposures or self-selected personal exposures such as alcohol and tobacco consumption. In contrast to laboratory animal experiments, spontaneous tumours in pets reflect natural exposures to a wide variety of environmental carcinogens, which may be more sensitive for the evaluation of the effects of complex low level ambient exposures, such as air pollutants. Sources of data on pet populations and their diseases are described and examples of epidemiological studies in pet animals are presented. Unlike laboratory animal experiments which primarily benefit humans, research into the cause, prevention, and treatment of spontaneously occurring diseases in pet animals may benefit the individual animal and the species.

scholarly journals Risk assessment of effects of cadmium on human health (IUPAC Technical Report)

2018 ◽  
Vol 90 (4) ◽  
pp. 755-808 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gunnar F. Nordberg ◽  
Alfred Bernard ◽  
Gary L. Diamond ◽  
John H. Duffus ◽  
Paul Illing ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Risk Assessment ◽  
Human Health ◽  
Health Effects ◽  
Dose Response ◽  
Safety Margin ◽  
Epidemiological Studies ◽  
Cadmium Exposure ◽  
Kidney Cortex ◽  
Exposure Level ◽  
Urine Cadmium

AbstractChemistry and Human Health, Division VII of the International Union on Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC), provides guidance on risk assessment methodology and, as appropriate, assessment of risks to human health from chemicals of exceptional toxicity. The aim of this document is to describe dose-response relationships for the health effects of low-level exposure to cadmium, in particular, with an emphasis on causation. The term “cadmium” in this document includes all chemical species of cadmium, as well as those in cadmium compounds. Diet is the main source of cadmium exposure in the general population. Smokers and workers in cadmium industries have additional exposure. Adverse effects have been shown in populations with high industrial or environmental exposures. Epidemiological studies in general populations have also reported statistically significant associations with a number of adverse health effects at low exposures. Cadmium is recognized as a human carcinogen, a classification mainly based on occupational studies of lung cancer. Other cancers have been reported, but dose-response relationships cannot be defined. Cardiovascular disease has been associated with cadmium exposure in recent epidemiological studies, but more evidence is needed in order to establish causality. Adequate evidence of dose-response relationships is available for kidney effects. There is a relationship between cadmium exposure and kidney effects in terms of low molecular mass (LMM) proteinuria. Long-term cadmium exposures with urine cadmium of 2 nmol mmol−1creatinine cause such effects in a susceptible part of the population. Higher exposures result in increases in the size of these effects. This assessment is supported by toxicokinetic and toxicodynamic (TKTD) modelling. Associations between urine cadmium lower than 2 nmol mmol−1creatinine and LMM proteinuria are influenced by confounding by co-excretion of cadmium with protein. A number of epidemiological studies, including some on low exposures, have reported statistically significant associations between cadmium exposure and bone demineralization and fracture risk. Exposures leading to urine cadmium of 5 nmol mmol−1creatinine and more increase the risk of bone effects. Similar associations at much lower urine cadmium levels have been reported. However, complexities in the cause and effect relationship mean that a no-effect level cannot be defined. LMM proteinuria was selected as the critical effect for cadmium, thus identifying the kidney cortex as the critical organ, although bone effects may occur at exposure levels similar to those giving rise to kidney effects. To avoid these effects, population exposures should not exceed that resulting in cadmium values in urine of more than 2 nmol mmol−1creatinine. As cadmium is carcinogenic, a ‘safe’ exposure level cannot be defined. We therefore recommend that cadmium exposures be kept as low as possible. Because the safety margin for toxic effects in kidney and bone is small, or non-existent, in many populations around the world, there is a need to reduce cadmium pollution globally.

scholarly journals Thyroid Disrupting Effects of Old and New Generation PFAS

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Francesca Coperchini ◽  
Laura Croce ◽  
Gianluca Ricci ◽  
Flavia Magri ◽  
Mario Rotondi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
General Population ◽  
Human Health ◽  
Food Packaging ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Epidemiological Studies ◽  
Low Grade ◽  
Flame Resistance ◽  
New Generation

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) represent a group of synthetic compounds widely used in industry plants due to their low grade of degradation, surfactant properties, thermic and flame resistance. These characteristics are useful for the industrial production, however they are also potentially dangerous for human health and for the environment. PFAS are persistent pollutants accumulating in waters and soil and recoverable in foods due to their release by food packaging. Humans are daily exposed to PFAS because these compounds are ubiquitous and, when assimilated, they are difficult to be eliminated, persisting for years both in humans and animals. Due to their persistence and potential danger to health, some old generation PFAS have been replaced by newly synthesized PFAS with the aim to use alternative compounds presumably safer for humans and the environment. Yet, the environmental pollution with PFAS remains a matter of concern worldwide and led to large-scale epidemiological studies both on plants’ workers and on exposed people in the general population. In this context, strong concern emerged concerning the potential adverse effects of PFAS on the thyroid gland. Thyroid hormones play a critical role in the regulation of metabolism, and thyroid function is related to cardiovascular disease, fertility, and fetal neurodevelopment. In vitro, ex vivo data, and epidemiological studies suggested that PFASs may disrupt the thyroid hormone system in humans, with possible negative repercussions on the outcome of pregnancy and fetal-child development. However, data on the thyroid disrupting effect of PFAS remain controversial, as well as their impact on human health in different ages of life. Aim of the present paper is to review recent data on the effects of old and new generation PFAS on thyroid homeostasis. To this purpose we collected information from in vitro studies, animal models, and in vivo data on exposed workers, general population, and pregnant women.

scholarly journals Consider This Before Using the SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic as an Instrumental Variable in an Epidemiological Study

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michelle C Dimitris ◽  
Robert W Platt
Keyword(s):  
Human Health ◽  
Instrumental Variables ◽  
Respiratory System ◽  
Instrumental Variable ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Epidemiological Studies ◽  
Natural Experiments ◽  
Weather Events ◽  
External Sources ◽  
Sources Of Variation

Abstract Epidemiologists sometimes use external sources of variation to explore highly-confounded exposure-outcome relationships or exposures that cannot be randomized. These exogenous sources of variation, or natural experiments, are sometimes proposed as instrumental variables to examine the effects of a given exposure(s) on a given outcome(s). Previous epidemiological studies have applied this technique using famines, earthquakes, weather events, and previous pandemics as exogenous sources of variation for other exposures; interest in applying this technique using the current severe acute respiratory system coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic is already documented. Yet, large-scale events like these likely have broad and complicated impacts on human health, which almost certainly violates the exclusion restriction assumption of instrumental variable analyses. We review the assumptions of instrumental variable analyses, highlight previous applications of this method with respect to natural experiments with broad impacts or “shocks”, and discuss how these relate to our current observations of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. While we encourage thorough investigation of the broad impacts of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic on human health, we caution against its widespread use as an instrumental variable to study other exposures of interest.

scholarly journals Radiation Biomarkers in Large Scale Human Health Effects Studies

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 155 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jayne Moquet ◽  
Kai Rothkamm ◽  
Stephen Barnard ◽  
Elizabeth Ainsbury
Keyword(s):  
Human Health ◽  
Health Effects ◽  
Radiation Effects ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Epidemiological Studies ◽  
Data Sets ◽  
Recent Developments ◽  
Radiation Induced ◽  
Effort Effect ◽  
Human Health Effects

Following recent developments, the RENEB network (Running the European Network of biological dosimetry and physical retrospective dosimetry) is in an excellent position to carry out large scale molecular epidemiological studies of ionizing radiation effects, with validated expertise in the dicentric, fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH)-translocation, micronucleus, premature chromosome condensation, gamma-H2AX foci and gene expression assays. Large scale human health effects studies present complex challenges such as the practical aspects of sample logistics, assay costs, effort, effect modifiers and quality control/assurance measures. At Public Health England, the dicentric, automated micronucleus and gamma-H2AX radiation-induced foci assays have been tested for use in a large health effects study. The results of the study and the experience gained in carrying out such a large scale investigation provide valuable information that could help minimise random and systematic errors in biomarker data sets for health surveillance analyses going forward.

An Investigation into VOC Emissions from Polyurethane Flexible Foam Mattresses

2003 ◽  
Vol 22 (4) ◽  
pp. 237-259 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. Hillier ◽  
T. Schupp ◽  
I. Carney
Keyword(s):  
Risk Assessment ◽  
Human Health ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Analytical Data ◽  
Human Health Risk ◽  
Quantitative Risk Assessment ◽  
Exposure Model ◽  
Product Knowledge ◽  
Trace Impurities ◽  
Worst Case

Emissions of volatile species from flexible polyurethane foam mattresses were investigated by using large scale chamber tests designed to replicate the product use as mattress cores. Various trace impurities were identified and their concentrations were measured for input into a human health and toxicity risk assessment, which has concluded that none was injurious to health. The raw materials used to make the foam were analysed to identify the source of emanations and routes to their reduction or elimination. Several analytical artefacts were identified, and some recommendations made for their avoidance. Detailed product knowledge was essential to the reliable interpretation of analytical data. A quantitative risk assessment was carried out on each of the volatiles. No evidence of any human health risk was identified from the ‘worst-case’ exposure model employed

Human health risk assessment: application of the NORISC-HRA and ROME models at two test sites

2006 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 559-570 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. Quercia ◽  
A. Vecchio ◽  
M. Falconi ◽  
L. Togni ◽  
E. Wcislo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Risk Assessment ◽  
Health Risk ◽  
Human Health ◽  
Health Risk Assessment ◽  
Human Health Risk ◽  
Human Health Risk Assessment

Combustion Driven by Fragment-based Ab Initio Molecular Dynamics Simulation

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Liqun Cao ◽  
Jinzhe Zeng ◽  
Mingyuan Xu ◽  
Chih-Hao Chin ◽  
Tong Zhu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Molecular Dynamics ◽  
Ab Initio ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Methane Combustion ◽  
Combustion Method ◽  
Dynamics Simulation ◽  
Ab Initio Molecular Dynamics ◽  
Computational Time ◽  
Combustion Mechanism ◽  
Daily Lives

Combustion is a kind of important reaction that affects people's daily lives and the development of aerospace. Exploring the reaction mechanism contributes to the understanding of combustion and the more efficient use of fuels. Ab initio quantum mechanical (QM) calculation is precise but limited by its computational time for large-scale systems. In order to carry out reactive molecular dynamics (MD) simulation for combustion accurately and quickly, we develop the MFCC-combustion method in this study, which calculates the interaction between atoms using QM method at the level of MN15/6-31G(d). Each molecule in systems is treated as a fragment, and when the distance between any two atoms in different molecules is greater than 3.5 Å, a new fragment involved two molecules is produced in order to consider the two-body interaction. The deviations of MFCC-combustion from full system calculations are within a few kcal/mol, and the result clearly shows that the calculated energies of the different systems using MFCC-combustion are close to converging after the distance thresholds are larger than 3.5 Å for the two-body QM interactions. The methane combustion was studied with the MFCC-combustion method to explore the combustion mechanism of the methane-oxygen system.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document