A method for risk assessment for three contaminated sites in northern Italy

A stepwise human health risk assessment procedure carried out using American Society for Testing and Materials methodology was applied to three contaminated sites located in northern Italy: an uncontrolled landfill, an abandoned industrial site and an industrial waste contaminated land. Two different tiers of analysis were performed by means of the analytical model RBCA Tool Kit and the numerical model API-DSS, respectively. The latter was applied according to both a deterministic and a probabilistic risk analysis. The comparison of the two approaches highlighted the great benefit provided by probabilistic analysis for the risk assessment based on site specific parameters and more complex models, in particular for groundwater exposure route. Finally, the risk-based site specific target levels were compared to the generic regulatory threshold limits fixed by the Italian regulation. The comparison showed the regulatory limits generally too restrictive for non-carcinogenic substances but less protective for carcinogenic chemicals, outlining the need of a site-specific risk assessment especially for carcinogenic substances.     

Unerwünschte Wirkungen im Gewässer: Gentoxizität als prioritärer Messparameter

The occurrence of genotoxic substances in aquatic systems is a serious problem because of their risk for both human and ecosystem health. The far‐reaching consequences of possible genotoxic impacts (in situ) for environmental policy, trying aims to discourage exposure to genotoxic substances, require a refined experimental concept is needed. The bioassays umu‐test, Ames‐test, comet assay, the DNA unwinding test, alkaline filter elution, the UDS‐test and the micronucleus test are sensitive enough to detect genotoxic effects in complex mixtures in a low dose range. They seem to be suitable for routine testing and should therefore be used in the first stage of a graduated testing battery for detection of genotoxicity in aquatic systems in combination with effect‐oriented chemical analysis.     

Toxicological problems relating to changes in the environment

Assessment of the toxicological risk from foreign substances in the environment is based on the determination of action thresholds below which effects injurious to health no longer occur, even with life-long intake. According to the latest theories it is likely that such thresholds exist even for “irreversible” (carcinogenic, mutagenic) effects. However, the difficulties besetting the determination of threshold values by experimental or epidemiological methods still appear to be virtually insuperable. The problems are both quantitative (excessive numbers of animals and observations required) and qualitative (poor predictability of effects owing to substantial differences in biological reactivity between species). Neither animal experiments nor experience with human subjects can guarantee total security from toxic effects. Legislative measures designed to restrict the introduction of chemical substances into the environment must therefore be based on compromise. Scientists must be consulted, but ultimately the decisions must be political, and politicians have to assume the responsibility for them.     

Analysis in workplace surveillance

The protection of the health against effects of chemical substances which are taken up at the workplace is controlled in Germany by the Gefahrstoffverordnung (Hazardous Substances Ordinance). The protection is based on the adherence to threshold limit values for the concentration of the toxic substance in the air or in body fluids of the human being. The adherence to the Maximum Concentrations at the Workplace (MAK) and the Technical Exposure Limits (TRK) for carcinogenic substances in the air of workplaces is achieved by the continuous measurement of the toxic substance in the air at the workplaces (ambient monitoring). The continuous monitoring of chemical substances and their metabolic products in blood and urine (biological monitoring) guarantees that the Biological Tolerance Values for Working Materials (BAT) and the Exposure Equivalents for Carcinogenic Working Materials (EKA) are adhered to. Ambient monitoring and biological monitoring complement each other with regard to the desired health protection of the individual. The possibilities of modern instrumental analysis guarantee today that practically all toxic substances in the air can be quantitatively determined. As intercomparison programmes show, a lot more could be done concerning the analytical reliability of air analyses. The introduction of laboratory-internal and -external quality control in the laboratory analysing air therefore seems to be of urgent necessity. The accrediting of laboratories and the use of reliable analysis procedures alone is not sufficient to guarantee the analytical reliability of the results. By means of biological monitoring today very many toxic substances in blood and urine can be routinely determined. An effective quality control prescribed by the Hazardous Substances Ordinance allows reliable analysis results up to the ppt-range. Certain groups of substances, such as e.g. many pesticides, are today still beyond the possibilities of biological monitoring. Increasingly methods are being developed which enable the influence of toxic substances on the human body to be quantified. The adducts of carcinogenic working materials at the germ plasm (DNA) or at the haemoglobin open up new perspectives.Awarded poster prize     

Caco-2细胞模型用于毒害污染物转运与吸收研究*

Caco-2 细胞来源于人类结肠癌细胞,其单层细胞模型常用于体外模拟肠道上皮细胞转运与吸收外源性物质的研究,并被广泛地应用于毒理学研究等方面。本文简要介绍了Caco-2 单层细胞模型的培养、细胞特性及常用功能指标;详细综述了环境毒害污染物在Caco-2细胞中转运与吸收机制以及污染物细胞毒性对其转运与吸收的影响,并对Caco-2 单层细胞模型在环境毒害污染物的人体健康风险评估中的应用进行了展望。     

Bioterrorism: impact on external quality assessment service delivery

Safety issues related to the design, production and distribution of simulated specimens for microbiology external quality assessment (EQA) have occupied scheme organisers for many years. Since the anthrax attacks in Washington, USA in October 2001, there has been heightened awareness in the public domain regarding the transport of infectious substances. For instance, in direct response to the anthrax incident in the US, microbiology institutes in the UK that handle dangerous pathogens (like the Health Protection Agency) are registered with the national police force and are inspected regularly to ensure compliance with current legislation covering the control of these pathogens. The fear of a complete ban on the movement of infectious substances following the anthrax incident has not yet been realised, but remains a serious risk. Many countries such as the UK, USA, and Australia have introduced measures for the control, transportation, and health and safety aspects of handling and distribution of infectious materials. The national postal services of many countries do not accept infectious materials by mail. There are a limited number of courier services willing to transport dangerous goods, especially division 6.2 (infectious substances) and these services are costly. Measures can be implemented by scheme organisers to ensure best practice; for instance, by having sufficient and trained staff, with knowledge, expertise and use of computerised systems in the shipping/export department. Ensuring compliance with national and international health and safety legislation by providing safety data sheets and by carrying out product risk assessments is required to ensure transparency and to demonstrate duty of care. Organisers of microbiology EQA face uncertainty about the future survival of schemes in the current climate. It is imperative that practices and procedures are put into place that meet with the legislation and enable us to continue to support quality in laboratory medicine.     

Taste sensing with polyacrylic acid grafted cellulose membrane

There are reports of fabrication of taste sensor by adsorbing lipids into Millipore filter paper, which improved the taste sensing efficiency of membrane remarkably. We have made an attempt to prepare taste sensor material by grafting polyacrylic acid (PAA) to cellulose. The research work covers polymer membrane preparation, morphology study, and structural characterization of the membrane and study of the taste sensing characteristics of this membrane for five different taste substances. FTIR spectroscopic analysis and SEM were done to get an idea about the structure and morphology of the PAA grafted cellulose membrane. Surface charge density of the membrane was estimated. The sensor characteristics like temporal stability, response stability, response to different taste substances, and reproducibility of sensing performance were studied using PAA grafted cellulose membrane. Sensor device prepared with this membrane has shown distinct response patterns for different taste substances in terms of membrane potential. Threshold concentrations of PAA grafted cellulose membrane for HCl, NaCl, quinine-hydrochloride (Q-HCl), sucrose and monosodium glutamate are 0.001 mM, 0.01 mM, 0.08 mM, 0.08 mM and 0.01 mM, respectively. The threshold concentrations except that in Q-HCl are below human threshold concentrations. Membranes also showed characteristic response patterns for organic acids like acetic acid, citric acid, formic acid, etc., mineral acids like HCl, H₂SO₄ and HNO₃, etc., salts, bitter substances, sweet substances and umami substances. Sensor device prepared with this membrane has excellent shelf life.     

Bioterrorism: impact on external quality assessment service delivery

Safety issues related to the design, production and distribution of simulated specimens for microbiology external quality assessment (EQA) have occupied scheme organisers for many years. Since the anthrax attacks in Washington, USA in October 2001, there has been heightened awareness in the public domain regarding the transport of infectious substances. For instance, in direct response to the anthrax incident in the US, microbiology institutes in the UK that handle dangerous pathogens (like the Health Protection Agency) are registered with the national police force and are inspected regularly to ensure compliance with current legislation covering the control of these pathogens. The fear of a complete ban on the movement of infectious substances following the anthrax incident has not yet been realised, but remains a serious risk. Many countries such as the UK, USA, and Australia have introduced measures for the control, transportation, and health and safety aspects of handling and distribution of infectious materials. The national postal services of many countries do not accept infectious materials by mail. There are a limited number of courier services willing to transport dangerous goods, especially division 6.2 (infectious substances) and these services are costly. Measures can be implemented by scheme organisers to ensure best practice; for instance, by having sufficient and trained staff, with knowledge, expertise and use of computerised systems in the shipping/export department. Ensuring compliance with national and international health and safety legislation by providing safety data sheets and by carrying out product risk assessments is required to ensure transparency and to demonstrate duty of care. Organisers of microbiology EQA face uncertainty about the future survival of schemes in the current climate. It is imperative that practices and procedures are put into place that meet with the legislation and enable us to continue to support quality in laboratory medicine.

     

Recent advances in analysis of hazardous genotoxic impurities in pharmaceuticals by HPLC,GC, and CE

Nowadays, genotoxic impurities in pharmaceuticals at lower levels are of increasing concerns not only to pharmaceutical industries but also for the regulatory agencies due to their risks for human carcinogenesis and, thus, requiring manufacturers to pay extra attention for their analysis and control. The need to determine these impurities at trace levels, based on the threshold of toxicological and daily dose, taking into consideration the often reactive and labile nature of genotoxic impurities, which poses significant analytical challenges. Therefore, sensitive and sophisticated analytical methodologies are deemed necessary in order to be able to test and control genotoxic impurities in drug substances. This review demonstrates the approaches reported in the literature for the analysis of the hazardous genotoxic impurities and the strategies used to enhance the sensitivity such as using ion spray-mass spectrometry and the separation techniques for the analysis of such impurities.     

Exploring the chemistry of complex samples by tentative identification and semiquantification: A food contact material case

In fields such as food safety and environmental chemistry, ensuring safety is greatly challenged by large numbers of unknown substances occurring. Even with current state‐of‐the‐art mass spectrometers, dealing with nonidentified substances is a very laborious process as it includes structure elucidation of a vast number of unknowns, of which only a fraction may be relevant. Here, we present an exploration and prioritization approach based on high‐resolution mass spectrometry. The method uses algorithm‐based precursor/product‐ion correlations on quadrupole time‐of‐flight tandem mass spectrometry data to retrieve the most likely chemical match from a structure database. In addition, time‐of‐flight‐only data are used to estimate analyte concentration via semiquantification. The method is demonstrated in recycled paper food contact material. Here, 585 chromatographic peaks were discovered, of which 117 were unique to the sample and could be tentatively elucidated via accurate mass, isotopic pattern, and precursor/product‐ion correlations. Nearly 85% of these 117 peaks were matched with database entries, which provided varying certainty of information about the analyte structure. Semiquantitative concentration ranges of investigated compounds were between 0.7 and 1600 μg dm⁻². With these data, a subgroup of chemicals was risk‐categorized and prioritized by using the most likely candidate structure(s) obtained. Prioritization based on expected health impact was possible by using the tentatively assigned data. Overall, the described method not only is a valuable chemical exploration tool for nonidentified substances but may also be used as a preliminary prioritization tool for substances expected to have the highest health impact, for example, in food contact materials.     

Chromato-spectrophotometric determination of psoberan and psoralen in blood plasma

A procedure has been developed for the quantitative determination of the natural photosensitizers psoberan and psoralen in blood plasma. The furocoumarins are extracted from the plasma with chloroform and are separated from accompanying substances by the TLC method. The quantitative determination is made spectrophotometrically. The sensitivity threshold of the method is 1 µg/ml.     

Defining the Human-Biota Thresholds of Toxicological Concern for Organic Chemicals in Freshwater: The Proposed Strategy of the LIFE VERMEER Project Using VEGA Tools

Several tons of chemicals are released every year into the environment and it is essential to assess the risk of adverse effects on human health and ecosystems. Risk assessment is expensive and time-consuming and only partial information is available for many compounds. A consolidated approach to overcome this limitation is the Threshold of Toxicological Concern (TTC) for assessment of the potential health impact and, more recently, eco-TTCs for the ecological aspect. The aim is to allow a safe assessment of substances with poor toxicological characterization. Only limited attempts have been made to integrate the human and ecological risk assessment procedures in a “One Health” perspective. We are proposing a strategy to define the Human-Biota TTCs (HB-TTCs) as concentrations of organic chemicals in freshwater preserving both humans and ecological receptors at the same time. Two sets of thresholds were derived: general HB-TTCs as preliminary screening levels for compounds with no eco- and toxicological information, and compound-specific HB-TTCs for chemicals with known hazard assessment, in terms of Predicted No effect Concentration (PNEC) values for freshwater ecosystems and acceptable doses for human health. The proposed strategy is based on freely available public data and tools to characterize and group chemicals according to their toxicological profiles. Five generic HB-TTCs were defined, based on the ecotoxicological profiles reflected by the Verhaar classes, and compound-specific thresholds for more than 400 organic chemicals with complete eco- and toxicological profiles. To complete the strategy, the use of in silico models is proposed to predict the required toxicological properties and suitable models already available on the VEGAHUB platform are listed.     

Modelling bioconcentration of pesticides in fish using biopartitioning micellar chromatography

Ecotoxicity assessment is essential before placing new chemical substances on the market. An investigation of the use of the chromatographic retention (log k) in biopartitioning micellar chromatography (BMC) as an in vitro approach to evaluate the bioconcentration factor (BCF) of pesticides in fish is proposed. A heterogeneous set of 85 pesticides from six chemical families was used. For pesticides exhibiting bioconcentration in fish (experimental log BCF > 2), a quantitative retention-activity relationships (QRAR) model is able to perform precise log BCF estimations of new pesticides. Considering the present data, the results based on log k seem to be more reliable than those from available software (BCFWIN and KOWWIN) and from log P (quantitative structure-activity relationships (QSAR)). It is also possible to perform risk assessment tasks fixing a threshold value for log k, which substitute two common threshold values, log P and experimental log BCF, avoiding the experimental problems related with these two parameters.     

Colon cancer risk factors from nutrition

Nutrition and health are closely connected and malnutrition can seriously endanger health. The consequences are higher risks of developing diseases. Of these, cancers are of special importance. The most frequent nutrition-associated type of cancer is colon cancer. This review summarises the predisposing factors for the development of colon cancer, and molecular mechanisms responsible for sporadic colon cancer. Moreover, it is pointed out that individual genetic predisposition such as polymorphisms of biotransformation systems might affect susceptibility to cancer risk factors. Selected findings of epidemiological research and nutritional habits, foods, and metabolites that could increase cancer risk are discussed. Furthermore, toxicological assessment of food-related risk factors, e.g. heterocyclic amines, and potential protective effects of food ingredients, e.g. the induction of phase II enzymes or removal of already degenerated cells from tissue by apoptosis, inhibition of proliferation, and cell differentiation are discussed. Risks are not necessarily reduced by avoiding certain substances but by healthy and well-balanced nutrition. Knowledge of individual susceptibility will also make it possible to recognise risks and design more specific nutritional recommendations.     

Detection of anabolic residues in misplaced implantation sites in cattle

Eight weeks before slaughter, 26 heifers, 2 calves, and 1 steer were implanted with licensed anabolic preparations at off-label injection sites. After slaughter, 24 of 31 implantation sites (77%) were detected. Residual pellets of Revalor H contained a mean of 42.9 mg trenbolone acetate (range 19.8-57.7 mg) and 4.6 mg (1.96-6.45 mg) estradiol, corresponding to 30% (19.8-57.7%) and 32.7% (14.0-46.6%) of the originally applied dose, respectively. In the tissue areas containing residual Revalor H pellets, total residues ranged from 14.8 microg to 12.6 mg trenbolone acetate, 41.7 microg to 1.45 mg trenbolone, and 11.1 microg to 3.39 mg estradiol. The outer tissue areas of the injection sites contained <2 microg hormones. The preparations Synovex H, Finaplix H, Implus S, and Component EC behaved similarly to Revalor H. Residues of Synovex Plus were low, whereas the Compudose silicone rubber contained 58.8% of the implanted dose, but left no significant tissue residues. If implantation sites are processed in meat manufacturing, international threshold levels of the respective substances will be exceeded in tons of meat products.     

Environmental radioactivity near the central coast of Venezuela and its radiological impact

The concentrations of⁴⁰K,²²⁶Ra,²³²Th and¹³⁷Cs were determined in the upper layers of soils in the central coastal region of Venezuela. The activities of¹³⁷Cs are higher in the areas where the forest is well developed, oriented towards the wind and at higher elevations. The origin of the¹³⁷Cs deposition is from water input from the clouds directly in the cloudforest and rainfall from the northeast trade winds. Even though the values of¹³⁷Cs are much higher in these areas, there is little or no significant increase in the health risk. The natural radioactivity is correlated with the geology in the region except in the area of Urama. The values for the natural radiation background are as follows: for potassium between 1–3%, for radium between 1–3 ppm and for thorium the range was 6–39 ppm. The corresponding amounts of absorbed dose rates in air, the exposure rates and the annual effective dose equivalents are in the following ranges respectively: 11–39 pGy/s, 4–16 uR/h and 0.25–0.86 mSv/y. The annual effective dose equivalents include the contribution of the global average (2.57 mSv/y) of the rest of the natural sources of radiation. Finally, the largest natural radioactivity background, was found near Chichiriviche as a result of the massive granite deposits in this area, but again there is no significant health risk.     

Electrochemical screening of biomembrane-active compounds in water

Interactions of biomembrane-active compounds with phospholipid monolayers on microfabricated Pt/Hg electrodes in an on-line high throughput flow system are demonstrated by recording capacitance current peak changes as rapid cyclic voltammograms (RCV). Detection limits of the compounds’ effects on the layer have been estimated from the data. Compounds studied include steroids, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, tricyclic antidepressants and tricyclic phenothiazines. The results show that the extent and type of interaction depends on the—(a) presence and number of aromatic rings and substituents, (b) presence and composition of side chains and, (c) molecular shape. Interaction is only indirectly related to compound hydrophobicity. For a selection of tricyclic antidepressants and tricyclic phenothiazines the detection limit in water is related to their therapeutic normal threshold. The sensing assay has been tested in the presence of humic acid as a potential interferent and in a tap water matrix. The system can be applied to the screening of putative hazardous substances and pharmaceuticals allowing for early detection thereof in the water supply. The measurements are made in real time which means that potentially toxic compounds are detected rapidly within <10 min per assay. This technology will contribute greatly to environment safety and health.     

Microbiological quality of Italian beach sands

The paper deals with the potential sanitary risk of the human presence on the seaside. The levels of microbial contamination of beach sands are generally higher than those observed in the waters due to bioaccumulation phenomena. The diseases, which could be contracted through skin contact, are related to the potential infecting dose and the most widespread illnesses are a consequence of several species of fungi and bacteria inhabiting the coastline. Despite few studies have been performed to determine Guideline Values, preventive measures and health risk assessments should be considered.     

Rapid headspace solid-phase microextraction/gas chromatographic/mass spectrometric assay for the quantitative determination of some of the main odorants causing off-flavours in wine

In this study we present a rapid and simultaneous assay method using headspace (HS) solid-phase microextraction (SPME)/gas chromatography (GC)/electron impact (EI) mass spectrometry (MS) (selected ion monitoring) for contaminants causing the principal organoleptic defects of wine (2,4,6-trichloroanisole, 2,3,4,6-tetrachloroanisole, pentachloroanisole, 2,4,6-tribromoanisole, 1-octen-3-ol, geosmin, 2-methylisoborneol, 3-isopropyl-2-methoxypyrazine, fenchol, fenchone, 2-methoxy-3,5-dimethylpyrazine, 4-ethylphenol, 4-ethylguaiacol, 4-vinylphenol, 4-vinylguaiacol, 3-isobutyl-2-methoxypyrazine, guaiacol and ethyl acetate). The method was validated according to protocols NF ISO 5725-1, 2 and NF V03-110. Its characteristics (limit of detection (LOD), limit of quantification (LOQ), uncertainties) were determined after having optimised the SPME parameters. The target contaminants were quantified in the wines below their threshold of perception with a satisfactory relative standard deviation for all the analytes except ethyl acetate (RSD=36%); for that, the assay method permits clear differentiation of the wines that are at risk of presenting an acescent character, i.e. containing more than 120mgL(-1) ethyl acetate. The target volatile and odorous substances were determined at concentrations significantly below their threshold of perception in a hydroalcoholic context and their threshold of recovery in wines.     

Chromato-spectrophotometric determination of psoberan and psoralen in blood plasma

A procedure has been developed for the quantitative determination of the natural photosensitizers psoberan and psoralen in blood plasma. The furocoumarins are extracted from the plasma with chloroform and are separated from accompanying substances by the TLC method. The quantitative determination is made spectrophotometrically. The sensitivity threshold of the method is 1 µg/ml.Institute of the Chemistry of Plant Substances, Academy of Sciences of the Uzbek SSR, Tashkent. Translated from Khimiya Prirodnykh Soedinenii, No. 5, pp. 628–629, September–October, 1985.