Decreased olfactory discrimination is associated with impulsivity in healthy volunteers

In clinical populations, olfactory abilities parallel executive function, implicating shared neuroanatomical substrates within the ventral prefrontal cortex. In healthy individuals, the relationship between olfaction and personality traits or certain cognitive and behavioural characteristics remains unexplored. We therefore tested if olfactory function is associated with trait and behavioural impulsivity in nonclinical individuals. Eighty-three healthy volunteers (50 females) underwent quantitative assessment of olfactory function (odour detection threshold, discrimination, and identifcation). Each participant was rated for trait impulsivity index using the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale and performed a battery of tasks to assess behavioural impulsivity (Stop Signal Task, SST; Information Sampling Task, IST; Delay Discounting). Lower odour discrimination predicted high ratings in non-planning impulsivity (Barratt Non-Planning impulsivity subscale); both, lower odour discrimination and detection threshold predicted low inhibitory control (SST; increased motor impulsivity). These fndings extend clinical observations to support the hypothesis that defcits in olfactory ability are linked to impulsive tendencies within the healthy population. In particular, the relationship between olfactory abilities and behavioural inhibitory control (in the SST) reinforces evidence for functional overlap between neural networks involved in both processes. These fndings may usefully inform the stratifcation of people at risk of impulse-control-related problems and support planning early clinical interventions

Workshop on acceleration of the validation and regulatory acceptance of alternative methods and implementation of testing strategies

This report describes the proceedings of the BfR-RIVM workshop on validation of alternative methods which was held 23 and 24 March 2017 in Berlin, Germany. Stakeholders from governmental agencies, regulatory authorities, universities, industry and the OECD were invited to discuss current problems concerning the regulatory acceptance and implementation of alternative test methods and testing strategies, with the aim to develop feasible solutions. Classical validation of alternative methods usually involves one to one comparison with the gold standard animal study. This approach suffers from the reductionist nature of an alternative test as compared to the animal study as well as from the animal study being considered as the gold standard. Modern approaches combine individual alternatives into testing strategies, for which integrated and defined approaches are emerging at OECD. Furthermore, progress in mechanistic toxicology, e.g. through the adverse outcome pathway approach, and in computational systems toxicology allows integration of alternative test battery results into toxicity predictions that are more fine-tuned to the human situation. The road towards transition to a mechanistically-based human-focused hazard and risk assessment of chemicals requires an open mind towards stepping away from the animal study as the gold standard and defining human biologically based regulatory requirements for human hazard and risk assessment

Workshop on acceleration of the validation and regulatory acceptance of alternative methods and implementation of testing strategies.

This report describes the proceedings of the BfR-RIVM workshop on validation of alternative methods which was held 23 and 24 March 2017 in Berlin, Germany. Stakeholders from governmental agencies, regulatory authorities, universities, industry and the OECD were invited to discuss current problems concerning the regulatory acceptance and implementation of alternative test methods and testing strategies, with the aim to develop feasible solutions. Classical validation of alternative methods usually involves one to one comparison with the gold standard animal study. This approach suffers from the reductionist nature of an alternative test as compared to the animal study as well as from the animal study being considered as the gold standard. Modern approaches combine individual alternatives into testing strategies, for which integrated and defined approaches are emerging at OECD. Furthermore, progress in mechanistic toxicology, e.g. through the adverse outcome pathway approach, and in computational systems toxicology allows integration of alternative test battery results into toxicity predictions that are more fine-tuned to the human situation. The road towards transition to a mechanistically-based human-focused hazard and risk assessment of chemicals requires an open mind towards stepping away from the animal study as the gold standard and defining human biologically based regulatory requirements for human hazard and risk assessment

Integrated Criteria Document Chlorobenzenes

Bij dit rapport behoort een appendix onder hetzelfde nummer getiteld: "Integrated Criteria Document Chlorobenzenes: Effects" Auteurs: Hesse JM; Speijers GJA; Taalman RDFM<br>This document contains data on chlorobenzenes with regard to sources and distribution, the risks based on a consideration of exposure levels and harmful concentrations and the technical possibilities to reduce these risks. Chlorobenzenes form a group of 12 compounds in total. They are unnatural ; often they are produced by humans by chlorating benzenes, but it is possible that they are formed by integration of substreams of waste water and/or by degradation of chlorinated hydrocarbons. In the Netherlands there are standards and guidelines for soil and groundwater and for surface water, water and soil.DGM/SR / (Zorge JA van

Basisdocument Chloorbenzenen : [met appendix]

NB The pdf contains also the Appendix to the report. The Appendix starts at page 149.<br>Bij dit rapport behoort een appendix onder hetzelfde nummer getiteld: "Integrated Criteria document chlorobenzenes: Effects" Auteurs: Hesse JM; Speijers GJA; Taalman RDFM.<br>Dit rapport is de Engelse vertaling van 710401005<br>NB!! De pdf bevat zowel het rapport als de appendix! De appendix begint in de pdf op pagina 149<br>This document contains data on chlorobenzenes with regard to sources and distribution, the risks based on a consideration of exposure levels and harmful concentrations and the technical possibilities to reduce these risks. Chlorobenzenes form a group of 12 compounds in total. They are unnatural ; often they are produced by humans by chlorating benzenes, but it is possible that they are formed by integration of substreams of waste water and/or by degradation of chlorinated hydrocarbons. In the Netherlands there are standards and guidelines for soil and groundwater and for surface water, water and soil.DGM/SR (Zorge JA van

Appendix to Report no. 710401005 - Integrated Criteria Document Chlorobenzenes

Deze appendix heeft hetzelfde nummer als het rapport. De pdf heeft nummer 710401005A<br>Appendix lijkt dezelfde als bij de Engelse vertaling van het hoofdrapport. Engelstalige versie verschenen onder nummer 710401015<br>This document contains data on chlorobenzenes with regard to sources and distribution, the risks based on a consideration of exposure levels and harmful concentrations and the technical possibilities to reduce these risks. Chlorobenzenes form a group of 12 compounds in total. They are unnatural ; often they are produced by humans by chlorating benzenes, but it is possible that they are formed by integration of substreams of waste water and/or by degradation of chlorinated hydrocarbons. In the Netherlands there are standards and guidelines for soil and groundwater and for surface water, water and soil.DGM/SR / (Zorge JA van

Basisdocument Chloorfenolen

Bij dit rapport behoort een bijlage onder hetzelfde nummer getiteld: "Integrated Criteria document Chlorophenols: Effects:" Auteurs : Janus JA<br>Taalman RDFM; Theelen RMC en is de engelse editie van 710401003<br>This report contains data on chlorophenols concerning its sources and distribution pattern (soil, water, air, biota), the risks based on a careful consideration of exposure levels and toxic concentrations, the technical possibilities of reducing these risks and the financial consequences for the industries concerned of any measures to be taken. Chlorophenols are mainly brought into the environment via man (directly or indirectly). There is no industrial production of chlorophenols in the Netherlands. The damaging effects of chlorophenols to the environment has generally decreased in the past years. This decrease is the direct result of a sharp reduction of the use of chlorophenols in the last decennium.DGM/SR / Zorge JA va