scholarly journals Chemical monitoring of Swedish coastal waters indicates common exceedances of environmental thresholds, both for individual substances as well as their mixtures

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mikael B Gustavsson ◽  
Jörgen Magnér ◽  
Bethanie Carney Almroth ◽  
Martin K Eriksson ◽  
Joachim Sturve ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Risk Assessment ◽  
Concentration Addition ◽  
Chemical Pollution ◽  
Chemical Contamination ◽  
Total Risk ◽  
Environmental Chemical ◽  
Swedish West Coast ◽  
Chemical Monitoring ◽  
Chemical Risk Assessment ◽  
The Individual

Chemical pollution was monitored and assessed along the Swedish west coast. 62 of 172 analyzed organic chemicals were detected in the water phase of at least one of five monitored sites. A Concentration Addition based screening-level risk assessment indicates that all sites are put at risk from chemical contamination, with total risk quotients between 2 and 9. Only at one site did none of the individual chemicals exceeded its individual environmental threshold (PNEC, EQS). The monitoring data thus demonstrate a widespread blanket of diffuse pollution, with no clear trends amongst sites. Further issues critical for the environmental chemical risk assessment include the challenges to achieve sufficiently low levels of detection especially for hormones and cybermethrin (a pyrethroid insecticide), the appropriate consideration of non-detects and the limited availability of reliable PNECs and EQS values.

scholarly journals Chemical monitoring of Swedish coastal waters indicates common exceedances of environmental thresholds, both for individual substances as well as their mixtures

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mikael B Gustavsson ◽  
Jörgen Magnér ◽  
Bethanie Carney Almroth ◽  
Martin K Eriksson ◽  
Joachim Sturve ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Risk Assessment ◽  
Concentration Addition ◽  
Chemical Pollution ◽  
Chemical Contamination ◽  
Total Risk ◽  
Environmental Chemical ◽  
Swedish West Coast ◽  
Chemical Monitoring ◽  
Chemical Risk Assessment ◽  
The Individual

Chemical pollution was monitored and assessed along the Swedish west coast. 62 of 172 analyzed organic chemicals were detected in the water phase of at least one of five monitored sites. A Concentration Addition based screening-level risk assessment indicates that all sites are put at risk from chemical contamination, with total risk quotients between 2 and 9. Only at one site did none of the individual chemicals exceeded its individual environmental threshold (PNEC, EQS). The monitoring data thus demonstrate a widespread blanket of diffuse pollution, with no clear trends amongst sites. Further issues critical for the environmental chemical risk assessment include the challenges to achieve sufficiently low levels of detection especially for hormones and cybermethrin (a pyrethroid insecticide), the appropriate consideration of non-detects and the limited availability of reliable PNECs and EQS values.

scholarly journals Role of epidemiology in risk assessment: a case study of five ortho-phthalates

2021 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Maricel V. Maffini ◽  
Birgit Geueke ◽  
Ksenia Groh ◽  
Bethanie Carney Almroth ◽  
Jane Muncke
Keyword(s):  
Risk Assessment ◽  
Health Outcomes ◽  
Reproductive Toxicity ◽  
Toxicity Testing ◽  
Epidemiological Studies ◽  
Animal Testing ◽  
Environmental Chemical ◽  
Regulatory Toxicology ◽  
Chemical Risk Assessment

Abstract Background The association between environmental chemical exposures and chronic diseases is of increasing concern. Chemical risk assessment relies heavily on pre-market toxicity testing to identify safe levels of exposure, often known as reference doses (RfD), expected to be protective of human health. Although some RfDs have been reassessed in light of new hazard information, it is not a common practice. Continuous surveillance of animal and human data, both in terms of exposures and associated health outcomes, could provide valuable information to risk assessors and regulators. Using ortho-phthalates as case study, we asked whether RfDs deduced from male reproductive toxicity studies and set by traditional regulatory toxicology approaches sufficiently protect the population for other health outcomes. Methods We searched for epidemiological studies on benzyl butyl phthalate (BBP), diisobutyl phthalate (DIBP), dibutyl phthalate (DBP), dicyclohexyl phthalate (DCHP), and bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP). Data were extracted from studies where any of the five chemicals or their metabolites were measured and showed a statistically significant association with a health outcome; 38 studies met the criteria. We estimated intake for each phthalate from urinary metabolite concentration and compared estimated intake ranges associated with health endpoints to each phthalate’s RfD. Result For DBP, DIBP, and BBP, the estimated intake ranges significantly associated with health endpoints were all below their individual RfDs. For DEHP, the intake range included associations at levels both below and above its RfD. For DCHP, no relevant studies could be identified. The significantly affected endpoints revealed by our analysis include metabolic, neurodevelopmental and behavioral disorders, obesity, and changes in hormone levels. Most of these conditions are not routinely evaluated in animal testing employed in regulatory toxicology. Conclusion We conclude that for DBP, DIBP, BBP, and DEHP current RfDs estimated based on male reproductive toxicity may not be sufficiently protective of other health effects. Thus, a new approach is needed where post-market exposures, epidemiological and clinical data are systematically reviewed to ensure adequate health protection.

Risk assessment of waterborne protozoa: current status and future trends

Parasitology ◽  
1999 ◽  
Vol 117 (7) ◽  
pp. 205-212 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. J. GIBSON ◽  
C. N. HAAS ◽  
J. B. ROSE
Keyword(s):  
Risk Assessment ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Assessment Methods ◽  
Detection Methods ◽  
Current Status ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Microbial Risk Assessment ◽  
Microbial Risk ◽  
Chemical Risk Assessment ◽  
Low Levels

Throughout the past decade much research has been directed towards identifying the occurrence, epidemiology, and risks associated with waterborne protozoa. While outbreaks are continually documented, sporadic cases of disease associated with exposure to low levels of waterborne protozoa are of increasing concern. Current methodologies may not be sensitive enough to define these low levels of disease. However, risk assessment methods may be utilised to address these low level contamination events. The purpose of this article is to provide an introduction to microbial risk assessment for waterborne protozoa. Risk assessment is a useful tool for evaluating relative risks and can be used for development of policies to decrease risks. Numerous studies have been published on risk assessment methods for pathogenic protozoa including Cryptosporidium and Giardia. One common notion prevails: microbial risk assessment presents interesting complications to the traditional chemical risk assessment paradigm. Single microbial exposures (non-threshold) are capable of causing symptomatic illness unlike traditional chemical exposures, which require a threshold to be reached. Due to the lack of efficient recovery and detection methods for protozoa, we may be underestimating the occurrence, concentration and distribution of these pathogenic micro-organisms. To better utilize the tool of microbial risk assessment for risk management practices, future research should focus in the area of exposure assessment.

Safety risk assessment and early warning of chemical contamination in vegetable oil

Food Control ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 125 ◽  
pp. 107970
Author(s):  
Bing Niu ◽  
Hui Zhang ◽  
Guangya Zhou ◽  
Shuwen Zhang ◽  
Yunfeng Yang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Risk Assessment ◽  
Vegetable Oil ◽  
Early Warning ◽  
Chemical Contamination ◽  
Safety Risk

scholarly journals Financial and Labor Benefits of the Individual TB Risk Assessment Model for Annual TB Screening

2020 ◽  
Vol 41 (S1) ◽  
pp. s234-s234
Author(s):  
Kristin Sims ◽  
Roger Stienecker
Keyword(s):  
Risk Assessment ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Assessment Model ◽  
Health Care Personnel ◽  
Individual Risk ◽  
Tuberculosis Screening ◽  
Hospital System ◽  
National Tuberculosis ◽  
The Individual ◽  
The Cost

Background: Since 1991, US tuberculosis (TB) rates have declined, including among health care personnel (HCP). Non–US born persons accounted for approximately two-thirds of cases. Serial TB testing has limitations in populations at low risk; it is expensive and labor intensive. Method: We moved a large hospital system from facility-level risk stratification to an individual risk model to guide TB screening based on Tuberculosis Screening, Testing, and Treatment of US Health Care Personnel: Recommendations from the National Tuberculosis Controllers Association and CDC, 2019. This process included individual TB risk assessment, symptom evaluation, TB testing for M. tuberculosis infection (by either IGRA or TST) for HCP without documented evidence of prior LTBI or TB disease, with an additional workup for TB disease for HCP with positive test results or symptoms compatible with TB disease. In addition, employees with specific job codes deemed high risk were required to undergo TB screening. Result: In 2018, this hospital system of ~10,000 employees screened 7,556 HCP for TB at a cost of $348,625. In 2019, the cost of the T Spot test increased from $45 to $100 and the cost of screening 5,754 HCP through October 31, 2019, was $543,057. In 2020, it is anticipated that 755 HCP will be screened, saving the hospital an estimated minimum of $467,557. The labor burden associated with employee health personnel will fall from ~629.66 hours to 62.91 hours. The labor burden associated with pulling HCPs from the bedside to be screened will be reduced from 629.66 hours to 62.91 hours as well. Conclusion: Adoption of the individual risk assessment model for TB screening based on Tuberculosis Screening, Testing, and Treatment of US Health Care Personnel: Recommendations from the National Tuberculosis Controllers Association and CDC, 2019 will greatly reduce financial and labor burdens in healthcare settings when implemented.Funding: NoneDisclosures: None

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