Initial Risk-Based Screening of Potential Brownfield Development Sites

Brownfield redevelopment is sustainable only when it is a transparent process protective of public health. The objective of the brownfield health risk screening matrix is to provide a scientifically based, transparent process to evaluate human health risks on proposed redevelopment sites as well as a framework that can be critically evaluated by both environmentalists and the community in general. Public discussion and understanding of current health risk assessment, as well as the risks specific to each brownfield redevelopment site, are essential for an effective brownfield redevelopment program.

The Brownfields Redevelopment Program was started by the EPA in 1995 and seeks to use already contaminated sites rather than contaminate even more greenfields. Two of the biggest difficulties are making redevelopment profitable and protecting human health. Traditional human health risk assessment evaluates single chemical exposures and identifies the level below which no adverse effect will occur to the most sensitive subgroups of the population. For cancer–causing chemicals the risk must be lower than 1:1,000,000. When brownfield redevelopment sites are associated with high cost, extensive time and unmanageable uncertainty, additional greenfield sites will become contaminated and the contamination on current brownfield sites will remain un-remediated.

The citizens' advisory group addressing brownfields in a southern New York county has developed a risk matrix to evaluate the uncertainty of the available data, the toxicity of the known or suspected contaminants and the likely exposure routes for each brownfield site in the county. The matrix categorizes sites as high, medium or low risk according to exposure groups. The risk matrix complements the triad approach currently being developed by EPA to identify and manage project decision uncertainties, addresses uncertainty as well as toxicity and has the potential to reduce the cost of traditional health risk assessment at brownfield redevelopment sites.     

Noncancer Risk Assessment: A Probabilistic Alternative to Current Practice

Based on imperfect data and theory, agencies such as the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) currently derive “reference doses” (RfDs) to guide risk managers charged with ensuring that human exposures to chemicals are below population thresholds. The RfD for a chemical is typically reported as a single number, even though it is widely acknowledged that there are significant uncertainties inherent in the derivation of this number.

In this article, the authors propose a probabilistic alternative to the EPA's method that expresses the human population threshold as a probability distribution of values (rather than a single RfD value), taking into account the major sources of scientific uncertainty in such estimates. The approach is illustrated using much of the same data that USEPA uses to justify their current RfD procedure.

Like the EPA's approach, our approach recognizes the four key extrapolations that are necessary to define the human population threshold based on animal data: animal to human, human heterogeneity, LOAEL to NOAEL, and subchronic to chronic. Rather than using available data to define point estimates of “uncertainty factors” for these extrapolations, the proposed approach uses available data to define a probability distribution of adjustment factors. These initial characterizations of uncertainty can then be refined when more robust or specific data become available for a particular chemical or class of chemicals.

Quantitative characterization of uncertainty in noncancer risk assessment will be useful to risk managers who face complex trade-offs between control costs and protection of public health. The new approach can help decision-makers understand how much extra control cost must be expended to achieve a specified increase in confidence that the human population threshold is not being exceeded.     

Impact assessment of risk parameters of underground coal mining on the environment

Coal is an important energy source but it has a significant negative impact on the environmental processes. This paper analyses the impact, measurement, and input of parameters representing potential environmental polluters in the information system (IS).

The methodology of recording and systematization includes the following parameters: coal deposits; climate parameters; roads; rivers; land and surrounding objects; air polluters; water polluters; and soil polluters. Methods for calculating land deformation, air polluter emissions, and noise impact are also presented.

Based on the number and specificity of analyzed data, the paper provides a concept of the IS and an overview of environmental impact of underground coal mine technological units. The concept was used to present the results of a research conducted at the underground coal mine “Soko” in Serbia.

The results of this research can help many potential users realize their goals. Those goals are preventive by nature, since negative environmental impact can be predicted, which enables the environmental protection experts to take appropriate measures.     

Advances in transgenic animal models and techniques

On May 11th and 12th 2017 was held in Nantes, France, the international meeting “Advances in transgenic animal models and techniques” (http://www.trm.univ-nantes.fr/). This biennial meeting is the fifth one of its kind to be organized by the Transgenic Rats ImmunoPhenomic (TRIP) Nantes facility (http://www.tgr.nantes.inserm.fr/). The meeting was supported by private companies (SONIDEL, Scionics computer innovation, New England Biolabs, MERCK, genOway, Journal Disease Models and Mechanisms) and by public institutions (International Society for Transgenic Technology, University of Nantes, INSERM UMR 1064, SFR François Bonamy, CNRS, Région Pays de la Loire, Biogenouest, TEFOR infrastructure, ITUN, IHU-CESTI and DHU-Oncogeffe and Labex IGO). Around 100 participants, from France but also from different European countries, Japan and USA, attended the meeting.     

Evaluating Human and Ecological Impacts of a Product Life Cycle: The Complementary Roles of Life-Cycle Assessment and Risk Assessment

Life-cycle assessment (LCA) is a tool for evaluating various health and environmental impacts throughout a product's life. When used as a screening tool, LCA can potentially identify the processes and materials most likely to pose a threat to human health and the environment, and to determine where a risk assessment is warranted. The European Union has issued a ban on lead-based solder from use in electronic equipment beginning in July 2006. In response, the Lead-Free Solder Partnership, involving the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, several electronics manufacturers, and the University of Tennessee afforded a vehicle for conducting a thorough LCA of leaded and lead-free solders used in the electronics industry. Sixteen impact categories were evaluated in the LCA, including human toxicity.

A primary conclusion of the assessment for human and aquatic toxicity, across the entire life cycle of tin-lead solder, was the potential for impacts derived from the landfilling of lead. These results, based on broad assumptions about exposure, suggest that a more detailed risk assessment of the landfilling process would assist in better understanding the potential for health and environmental risks. We believe LCA data can be used to identify the need for focused risk assessments, allowing the two tools to effectively complement one another. Use of both methods could assist in understanding the effectiveness of the European ban on lead solder and its potential to improve public health.     

Effect of pesticide exposure on the cholinesterase activity of the occupationally exposed tea garden workers of northern part of West Bengal,India

Context: Pesticide poisoning and related deaths are a global concern, but there is little information about its effect on the occupationally exposed tea garden workers of North Bengal.

Objective: This study investigates the level of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BuChE) in the blood of the tea garden workers at risk of exposure to a mixture of pesticides.

Materials and methods: The study sample consisted of pesticide exposed workers, non-exposed (control), smokers and alcoholics. AChE and BuChE activity was measured and tested for significance.

Results: Results showed that AChE activity was half in the pesticide exposed individuals than controls (p≤ 0.001). BuChE activity was also significantly decreased in the pesticide exposed individuals than controls (p≤ 0.001), while AChE and BuChE activity in smokers and alcoholics were not different from that of controls. However, significantly decreased AChE and BuChE activities were recorded in pesticide exposed workers compared to smokers and alcoholics.

Conclusions: The results indicated that the decrease in enzyme activities in tea garden workers was due to mixed pesticides (containing organophosphates) exposure. Age was not found to influence the enzyme activities. However, the gender had little effect on the enzyme activities but the effect was not so prominent.     

Quandaries and complexities of ecological risk assessment: Viable options to reduce humanistic arrogance

Ecological risk assessment has been used to support decisions regarding human‐generated actions which affect natural “resources”; and indigenous ecosystems. Often, the logical and scientific input serve as rationalization to legitimize the process. Though widely accepted as the realistic and sole paradigm, Ecological Risk Assessments do not address the complexities of the natural world, are humanistically arrogant, and disregard or do not consider alternatives which offer imagination and realistic attempts to reduce human impact to the land.

Ecological Alternatives Assessment practices would place the highest priority on: (a) continued temporal and spatial evolution of existing complex ecological relationships, (b) acknowledgment of the inherent rights of all species, and (c) examination of alternatives to reduce effects of anthropogenic actions. These steps, as discussed, are not impossible to accomplish and are necessary for favorable short‐term (50–500 years) anthropocentric alternatives and maintenance of long‐term (+1,000 years) biodiversity of species and ecosystems.     

Scientific and Public Perception of Plant Genetic Manipulation — A Critical Review

Scientific views on the importance and potential risks of plant genetic engineering are summarized and the ecological and economic consequences of the large scale release of engineered crops is discussed. The difference between scientific risk assessment and the public's perception of risk due to modification of the former by outrage factors is explained. Polls, media, and literature sources show that the public supports plant genetic engineering activity, but has some concerns. These concerns fall within two categories: (1) it is risky, (2) it is morally wrong. Polls show a lack of knowledge about GE by the public and that outrage factors play a major role; their effects on perception are described in detail. Ethical considerations also exercise a powerful influence over GE's acceptance, but the complementary roles of Religion and Science are emphasized. Different attitudes to nature are described and it is concluded that if the world is to be fed and life support systems sustained, active management of nature is required.

Lastly, the need for scientists to communicate with the public and the basis of effective presentation is discussed.     

A Deterministic Method for Deriving Site-Specific Human Health Assessment Criteria for Contaminants in Soil

A method for deriving Site-Specific Assessment Criteria (SSAC) for use when considering risk to human health from chronic exposure to heavy metals (except lead), metalloids, and organic substances in soil, with application to the United Kingdom (UK), is described. The SSAC represents the soil concentration above which an unacceptable risk to human health may be indicated.

The method considers the UK standard land uses (residential with and without plant uptake, allotment gardens, and commercial/industrial) by applying the default exposure factors and algorithms provided. Non-standard land uses can be also considered. Site-specific determinations of contaminant bioaccessibility or of plant-to-soil concentration factors may be used if available.

The method adopts the risk-based source-pathway-receptor pollutant linkage framework and a deterministic methodology. Exposure pathways considered are direct ingestion of soil and dust, consumption of home grown or allotment vegetables, ingestion of soil attached to such vegetables, inhalation of soil vapors outdoors and inhalation of soil vapors indoors. A test for the significance of the dermal pathway is also included.

It is not intended that the method be used to generate or replace UK Soil Guideline Values, because this can only be done by the appropriate authoritative bodies within the UK (Department of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and the Environment Agency).     

The relationship of single-strand breaks in DNA to breast cancer risk and to tissue concentrations of oestrogens

Context: Clinical study of breast cancer patients in Chicago, IL, USA.

Objective: Ascertain the utility of measurements of single-strand breaks (SSB) in DNA for assessment of breast cancer risk.

Methods: Fine-needle aspirates of the breast, SSB by nick translation, percent breast density (PBD), Gail model risk, cumulative methylation index (CMI), enzymes of DNA repair and tissue antioxidants.

Results: DNA repair enzymes and 4-hydroxyestradiol were negatively associated with SSB; CMI and PBD were positively associated.

Conclusions: Quantitative measurement of SSBs by this procedure indicates the relative number of SSBs and is related to promoter methylation, antioxidant availability and percent breast density.     

Ecotoxicity evaluation of PFBSK for the whole environmental compartments and comprehensive comparison of hazard and risk to PFOS

A series of perfluorobutane sulfonate (PFBS)-related substances are produced as the alternatives to corresponding perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS). However, there is little reliable information about PFBS available for the whole ecotoxicology compartments. At present, its ecotoxicity of perfluorobutane sulfonate potassium (PFBSK) was selected as a typical PFBS chemical to investigate and evaluate its aquatic, terrestrial, microorganism and sediment toxicity according to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) guideline under the framework of the REACH regulation. Meanwhile, the ecotoxicology hazard and risk for PFBSK and PFOS were compared comprehensively.

PFBSK did not show acute and chronic aquatic, microorganisms and terrestrial animal toxicity, while exhibited some terrestrial plants toxicity. The ecotoxicology of PFBSK decreased sharply except for terrestrial plants compared with PFOS. Especially, for acute and chronic aquatic ecotoxicity, PFBSK is lower than 100 times those of PFOS.

Although the similar terrestrial plants toxicity level was observed for PFBSK and PFOS, the lower risk of PFBSK was deduced for the reason that there was far less chances to be exposed and retained in the soil and sediment for its high water solubility and low adsorption.

In conclusion, PFBSK showed lower ecotoxicity hazard and risk than those of PFOS. PFBSK could be an environmental friendly alternative to PFOS.     

Use of meta‐analysis to predict degradation of carbaryl and malathion in freshwater for exposure assessment

Carbaryl (1‐naphthyl methylcarbamate) and malathion (diethyl mercaptosuccinate, S‐ester with O, O‐dimethyl phosphorodithioate) are insecticides used to control grasshopper infestations on rangeland. Insecticides used to control grasshopper infestations pose a hazard to aquatic organisms because although no‐spray buffer zones are observed around aquatic habitats, pesticide may be deposited by drift or mobilized from upland areas by runoff. A number of processes may affect the fate of carbaryl and malathion in the aquatic environment, but no method is available for estimating degradation over the range of conditions that occur in the field. We used results of published studies in meta‐analyses to estimate degradation models that predict half‐life of carbaryl and malathion in freshwater over temperature and pH ranges relevant to western grasshopper‐management programs. Estimated degradation models were:

In (half‐life carbaryl) = 24.3 ‐ 2.36(pH) ‐ 0.0788(t)

and In (half‐life malathion) = 5.98 + 2.84(pH) ‐ 0.326(pH ²) ‐ 0.202(t) + 0.00135(t ²)

where half‐life has units of hours, and temperature (t) has units °C. Both models accounted for a significant amount of total variation (P<0.0001) and had r²>0.97. Accuracy of these degradation models was evaluated by comparing predicted degradation of carbaryl and malathion to field and laboratory data. We suggest that use of these degradation models be restricted to conditions where water has 7 ≤. pH ≤. 10 for carbaryl, and 7 ≤ pH ≤ 8.2 for malathion.     

Lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2, and subsequent cardiovascular events and mortality among patients with coronary heart disease

Objective: The objective of this study is to evaluate the relevance of Lp-PLA₂ to risk prediction among coronary heart disease (CHD) patients.

Methods: Lp-PLA₂ activity was measured in 2538 CHD patients included in the Bezafibrate Infarction Prevention (BIP) study.

Results: Adjusting for patient characteristics and traditional risk factors, 1 standard deviation of Lp-PLA₂ was associated with a hazard ratio (HR) of 1.12 (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.00–1.25) for mortality and 1.03 (0.93–1.14) for cardiovascular events. Lp-PLA₂ did not significantly improve model discrimination, or calibration nor result in noteworthy reclassification.

Conclusions: Our results do not support added value of Lp-PLA₂ for predicting cardiovascular events or mortality among CHD patients beyond traditional risk factor.     

Science in Risk Assessment and Policy (SciRAP): An Online Resource for Evaluating and Reporting In Vivo (Eco)Toxicity Studies

(Eco)toxicity studies conducted according to internationally standardized test guidelines are often considered reliable by default and preferred as key evidence in regulatory risk assessment. At the same time regulatory agencies emphasize the use of all relevant (eco)toxicity data in the risk assessment process, including non-standard studies. However, there is a need to facilitate the use of such studies in regulatory risk assessment. Therefore, we propose a framework that facilitates a systematic and transparent evaluation of the reliability and relevance of (eco)toxicity in vivo studies for health and environmental risk assessment. The framework includes specific criteria to guide study evaluation, as well as a color-coding tool developed to aid the application of these criteria. In addition we provide guidance intended for researchers on how to report non-standard studies to ensure that they meet regulatory requirements. The intention of the evaluating and reporting criteria is to increase the usability of all relevant data that may fill information gaps in chemical risk assessments. The framework is publically available online, free of charge, at the Science in Risk Assessment and Policy (SciRAP) website: www.scirap.org. The aim of this article is to present the framework and resources available at the SciRAP website.     

Bile: miRNA pattern and protein-based biomarkers may predict acute cellular rejection after liver transplantation

Context: Bile rather than blood depicts the local inflammation in the liver and may improve prediction and diagnosis of acute cellular rejection (ACR) after liver transplantation (OLT).

Methods: Secretome and miRNAs were analyzed during the first two weeks and on clinical suspicion of ACR in the bile of 45 OLT recipients.

Results: Levels of CD44, CXCL9, miR-122, miR-133a, miR-148a and miR-194 were significantly higher in bile of patients who developed ACR within the first 6 months after OLT and during ACR.

Conclusion: Analysis of secretome and miRNA in bile could improve our understanding of the local inflammatory process during rejection.     

Mediante: a web-based microarray data manager

Mediante is a MIAME-compliant microarray data manager that links together annotations and experimental data. Developed as a J2EE three-tier application, Mediante integrates a management system for production of long oligonucleotide microarrays, an experimental data repository suitable for home made or commercial microarrays, and a user interface dedicated to the management of microarrays projects. Several tools allow quality control of hybridizations and submission of validated data to public repositories. AVAILABILITY: http://www.microarray.fr. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: http://www.microarray.fr/SP/lebrigand2007/     

Can adipokines serum levels be used as biomarkers of hand osteoarthritis?

Purpose: To evaluate serum levels of visfatin, resistin and adiponectin in patients with erosive (E) and non-erosive (NE) osteoarthritis (OA) of the hand (HOA) compared to normal controls (NC).

Methods: 94 outpatients with E HOA and NE HOA and 21 NC were enrolled. The radiological assessment of both hands was performed according to the Kellgren–Lawrence and Kallman score. Patients were divided into two subsets (lone HOA or generalized OA) based on clinically OA involvement of knee and hip. Serum visfatin, resistin and adiponectin levels were determined by ELISA assay.

Results: Visfatin was significantly higher in E HOA patients in comparison to NC and NE HOA group. Resistin showed a significant increase in both E HOA and NE HOA groups versus NC, in particular in generalized OA. No significant differences among groups were found in adiponectin. The Kallman score was more severe in the two subsets of E HOA patients compared to NE HOA.

Conclusions: This study showed increased levels of resistin in erosive and non-erosive HOA, and higher visfatin levels in E HOA in comparison to NE HOA. These data suggest the adipokines possible role in the pathogenesis of HOA and their potential usefulness as biomarkers of the disease.     

Trolox-equivalent antioxidant capacity and composition of five alpine plant species growing at different elevations on the Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau

Background: Alpine plants on the Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau are exposed to an extremely harsh environment, namely severe cold, strong ultraviolet radiation, hypoxia and low CO₂ partial pressure. These conditions are sources of oxidative stress, which increase in severity with increasing elevation.

Aims: To examine whether antioxidant capacity and chemical composition of alpine plants change with increasing elevation.

Methods: We measured the Trolox-equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC) and chemical composition of five alpine plant species at 3016, 3814 and 4621 m a.s.l.

Results: With increasing elevation: (1) the TEAC increased and total phenols and tannins tended to increase in two forb and two shrub species but not in a sedge species; (2) concentrations of protein and fat increased in all five plant species; (3) polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) increased and (4) mineral concentrations tended to decrease, but trends were inconsistent.

Conclusions: We conclude that with increasing elevation, TEAC and total phenols and tannins increased which we interpreted as an adaptation to higher oxidative stress; and protein and fat contents increased to support high metabolic activity. The increase in PUFA and the trend for minerals to decrease with increasing elevation require further investigation.     

Low YKL-40 in chronic heart failure may predict beneficial effects of statins: analysis from the controlled rosuvastatin multinational trial in heart failure (CORONA)

Context and objective: To evaluate if YKL-40 can provide prognostic information in patients with ischemic heart failure (HF) and identify patients who may benefit from statin therapy.

Materials and methods: The association between serum YKL-40 and predefined outcome was evaluated in 1344 HF patients assigned to rosuvastatin or placebo.

Results: YKL-40 was not associated with outcome in adjusted analysis. In YKL-40 tertile 1, an effect on the primary outcome (HR 0.50, p?=?0.006) and CV death (HR 0.54, p?=?0.040) was seen by rosuvastatin in adjusted analysis.

Conclusions: A beneficial modification of outcome was observed with statin therapy in patients with low YKL-40 levels.