Progress in human exposure assessment for biocidal products

An important shortcoming in our present knowledge required for risk assessment of biocidal products is the assessment of human exposure. This knowledge gap has been filled in a preliminary fashion with the TNsG on human exposure to biocidal products (available from the ECB website). Explicit User guidance has been developed by an expert group for a general approach of the exposure assessment and in appreciable detail for me first two product types wood preservatives and rodenticides. This User guidance is also available from the ECB website. Further additions for other product types are foreseen for the near future

Biocides steering group on human exposure assessment : a preliminary report

In a project granted by DG XI of the European Commission, it is attempted to collate experimental and theoretical data on human (workers and consumers) exposure assessment to biocidal products, and to outline the methodology for sampling and measurement. On the basis of the available evidence, approaches are presented for the exposure assessment to be used for estimation of risks in authorization procedures under the recently accepted Directive 98/8/EC. Gaps in knowledge are indicated, making it possible to study the issues involved in a comprehensive and cost-effective way. Some recommendations are given on how to best do this. The current project has been detailed in a final report. Copyright (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd

Inactivation of Escherichia coli by superoxide radicals and their dismutation products

E. coli cells are inactivated by the products of the reaction between dialuric acid and oxygen, of which the primary product is superoxide. The rate of inactivation is decreased by superoxide dismutase, by catalase, and by EDTA, whereas it is increased by addition of cupric ions or hydrogen peroxide. It is concluded that a toxic product is formed in a reaction involving superoxide, hydrogen peroxide, and metal ions, which might be the Haber-Weiss reaction, O2- + H2O2 → OH + OH- + O2. In radiation chemical experiments it is shown that this reaction does not occur in the absence of metal ions. Chemicals/CAS: catalase, 9001-05-2; dialuric acid, 444-15-5; edetic acid, 150-43-6, 60-00-4; hydrogen peroxide, 7722-84-1; oxygen, 7782-44-7; superoxide dismutase, 37294-21-6, 9016-01-7, 9054-89-1; superoxide, 11062-77-4; Catalase, EC 1.11.1.6; Edetic Acid, 60-00-4; Free Radicals; Hydrogen Peroxide, 7722-84-1; Oxygen, 7782-44-7; Superoxide Dismutase, EC 1.15.1.1; Superoxides, 11062-77-