France’s proposal for Guidelines about setting Maximum Residue Limits in honey

contribution to session I Regulatory issues Background: Honey is produced in an environment potentially polluted by different sources of contamination, so it is necessary to set Maximum Residue Limits (MRLs). These MRLs should be fixed as low as possible in relation to Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs). The guidance provided in this Draft Working Document gives advice on: • when and for what kind of active substance a MRL has to be set in honey • how to propose a temporary MRL for a given active substance • how to design, prepare and realise supervised residue trials when necessary Results: The proposed approach is based on using the available data before an active substance or product is registered, and is divided into several successive steps, represented in a global decision-making scheme. The MRL will be set depending on the results obtained at each different step. Besides, the applicants will have the choice between different methods to set a provisional MRL in preregistration. Conclusion: The initial proposal was a protocol on field residue trials proposed by Germany. The approach used in this guidance document proposes also other possibilities for fixing MRL without conducting systematically field trials. This proposition will be discussed at European level. Keywords: Regulation 396/2005, MRL, honey, plant protection produc

Les soins apportés aux personnes atteintes de la maladie d'Alzheimer ou d'une maladie apparentée: perspectives et enjeux

Cette publication offre un tour d’horizon des soins aux personnes souffrant de démence : un inventaire de l’offre de soins, un aperçu des problèmes, une sélection de quelques initiatives novatrices et enjeux pour l’avenir. Le premier chapitre dépeint le contexte général au sein duquel se déroulent les soins aux personnes atteintes de démence. Il décrit d’abord les évolutions démographiques en cours. Parmi ces dernières, le vieillissement de la population joue évidemment un rôle important, auquel viennent s’ajouter des phénomènes tels que la diminution de la taille des ménages ou le nombre croissant de personnes isolées. Il traite ensuite de sept tendances sociétales et scientifiques qui déterminent dans une large mesure la forme que prendront, à l’avenir, les soins aux personnes atteintes de démence. Le deuxième chapitre dresse un état des lieux de l’offre de soins disponible en termes de services, d’intervenants et de structures pour personnes souffrant de démence. L’offre de services ou de structures tant extra-muraux, trans-muraux qu’intra-muraux est riche et variée. Certains d’entre eux sont nés des besoins des personnes souffrant de démence et de ceux de leurs aidants proches et leur sont spécifiquement destinés. D’autres services s’adressent à un groupe cible plus vaste, mais s’avèrent dans la pratique d’un grand secours dans le cas de la démence. La programmation de ces soins doit suffisante. Le troisième chapitre complète le chapitre précédent, davantage axé sur l’aspect qualitatif, par des informations quantitatives. Les données chiffrées sur la programmation de l’offre de soins mettent en lumière les services réalisés en Belgique, mais aussi en Région flamande, en Région wallonne et dans la Région de Bruxelles-Capitale. Les soins aux personnes atteintes de démence constituent aussi une préoccupation pour nos décideurs politiques. Le quatrième chapitre décrit les compétences et les mesures politiques prises aux différents niveaux de pouvoir (fédéral et régional). Il présente également les principales études qui ont été menées en vue de préparer et de soutenir les politiques en matière de démence. Dans le cinquième chapitre du rapport, les auteurs se tournent vers l’avenir. Quels projets créatifs, quelles initiatives innovantes peuvent constituer des sources d’inspiration pour les soins de demain ? Une petite sélection de bonnes pratiques dans les soins aux personnes souffrant de démence y est présentée. Il s’agit de formes d’habitat et de soins à petite échelle, de groupes de rencontre pour personnes présentant un début de démence et d’initiatives novatrices dans les soins de santé mentale

Adult lung function and long-term air pollution exposure. ESCAPE : a multicentre cohort study and meta-analysis

The chronic impact of ambient air pollutants on lung function in adults is not fully understood. The objective of this study was to investigate the association of long-term exposure to ambient air pollution with lung function in adult participants from five cohorts in the European Study of Cohorts for Air Pollution Effects (ESCAPE). Residential exposure to nitrogen oxides (NO2, NOx) and particulate matter (PM) was modelled and traffic indicators were assessed in a standardised manner. The spirometric parameters forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) and forced vital capacity (FVC) from 7613 subjects were considered as outcomes. Cohort-specific results were combined using meta-analysis. We did not observe an association of air pollution with longitudinal change in lung function, but we observed that a 10 μg·m(-3) increase in NO2 exposure was associated with lower levels of FEV1 (-14.0 mL, 95%CI -25.8- -2.1) and FVC (-14.9 mL, 95% CI -28.7- -1.1). An increase of 10 μg·m(-3) in PM10, but not other PM metrics (PM2.5, coarse fraction of PM, PM absorbance), was associated with a lower level of FEV1 (-44.6 mL, 95% CI -85.4- -3.8) and FVC (-59.0 mL, 95% CI -112.3- -5.6). The associations were particularly strong in obese persons. This study adds to the evidence for an adverse association of ambient air pollution with lung function in adults at very low levels in Europe

Adult lung function and long-term air pollution exposure. ESCAPE : a multicentre cohort study and meta-analysis

The chronic impact of ambient air pollutants on lung function in adults is not fully understood. The objective of this study was to investigate the association of long-term exposure to ambient air pollution with lung function in adult participants from five cohorts in the European Study of Cohorts for Air Pollution Effects (ESCAPE). Residential exposure to nitrogen oxides (NO2, NOx) and particulate matter (PM) was modelled and traffic indicators were assessed in a standardised manner. The spirometric parameters forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) and forced vital capacity (FVC) from 7613 subjects were considered as outcomes. Cohort-specific results were combined using meta-analysis. We did not observe an association of air pollution with longitudinal change in lung function, but we observed that a 10 μg·m(-3) increase in NO2 exposure was associated with lower levels of FEV1 (-14.0 mL, 95%CI -25.8- -2.1) and FVC (-14.9 mL, 95% CI -28.7- -1.1). An increase of 10 μg·m(-3) in PM10, but not other PM metrics (PM2.5, coarse fraction of PM, PM absorbance), was associated with a lower level of FEV1 (-44.6 mL, 95% CI -85.4- -3.8) and FVC (-59.0 mL, 95% CI -112.3- -5.6). The associations were particularly strong in obese persons. This study adds to the evidence for an adverse association of ambient air pollution with lung function in adults at very low levels in Europe

Adult lung function and long-term air pollution exposure. ESCAPE a multicentre cohort study and meta-analysis

The chronic impact of ambient air pollutants on lung function in adults is not fully understood. The objective of this study was to investigate the association of long-term exposure to ambient air pollution with lung function in adult participants from five cohorts in the European Study of Cohorts for Air Pollution Effects (ESCAPE). Residential exposure to nitrogen oxides (NO₂, NOx) and particulate matter (PM) was modelled and traffic indicators were assessed in a standardised manner. The spirometric parameters forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV₁) and forced vital capacity (FVC) from 7613 subjects were considered as outcomes. Cohort-specific results were combined using meta-analysis. We did not observe an association of air pollution with longitudinal change in lung function, but we observed that a 10 μg·m(-3) increase in NO₂ exposure was associated with lower levels of FEV₁ (-14.0 mL, 95% CI -25.8 to -2.1) and FVC (-14.9 mL, 95% CI -28.7 to -1.1). An increase of 10 μg·m(-3) in PM10, but not other PM metrics (PM2.5, coarse fraction of PM, PM absorbance), was associated with a lower level of FEV₁ (-44.6 mL, 95% CI -85.4 to -3.8) and FVC (-59.0 mL, 95% CI -112.3 to -5.6). The associations were particularly strong in obese persons. This study adds to the evidence for an adverse association of ambient air pollution with lung function in adults at very low levels in Europe