Primjena bioraspoloživosti u postavljanju standarda za procjenu rizika: sugestije temeljene na seminaru s naglaskom na metale

Bioavailability is increasingly recognised as the key issue linking increased levels of toxicants with actually occurring adverse effects in ecosystems, whilst taking the modifying effects of the abiotic components of the environment into account. Various factors may affect bioavailability in the field, and often these factors are time- and space-dependent. This is one of the main reasons why legislators have been reluctant in implementing bioavailability in risk assessment procedures. Over the last few years, however, considerable scientific progress has been made with regard to better understanding of chemical and ecological mechanisms responsible for rendering chemicals available for uptake and toxicity. As a consequence, legislators face the challenge to anticipate the scientific progress and to implement bioavailability in legislation. This paper discusses the possibilities of implementing various methodologies within a maximum period of time of three years.Biološka dostupnost sve se više smatra ključnim problemom vezanim s povećanom razinom toksičnih tvari što izazivaju neželjene učinke u ekosustavima pri čemu se uzimaju u obzir promjenljivi učinci abiotičkih sustava okoliša. Mnogi čimbenici mogu utjecati na biološku dostupnost u prirodi. Ovi su čimbenici i vremenski i prostorno ovisni. To je i glavni razlog zašto su zakonodavci oklijevali primijeniti biološku dostupnost u procese procjene rizika. Proteklih je godina, međutim, napravljen značajan napredak s obzirom na bolje razumijevanje kemijskih i ekoloških mehanizama odgovornih za dostupnost kemikalija apsorpciji i za njihovu toksičnost. Kao posljedica toga zakonodavci se suočavaju s izazovom da prihvate znanstveni napredak i primijene biološku dostupnost u zakonima. Ovaj članak raspravlja mogućnosti raznih metodologija u razdoblju od tri godine

Lung Cancer Risk and Past Exposure to Emissions from a Large Steel Plant

We studied the spatial distribution of cancer incidence rates around a large steel plant and its association with historical exposure. The study population was close to 600,000. The incidence data was collected for 1995–2006. From historical emission data the air pollution concentrations for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) and metals were modelled. Data were analyzed using Bayesian hierarchical Poisson regression models. The standardized incidence ratio (SIR) for lung cancer was up to 40% higher than average in postcodes located in two municipalities adjacent to the industrial area. Increased incidence rates could partly be explained by differences in socioeconomic status (SES). In the highest exposure category (approximately 45,000 inhabitants) a statistically significant increased relative risk (RR) of 1.21 (1.01–1.43) was found after adjustment for SES. The elevated RRs were similar for men and women. Additional analyses in a subsample of the population with personal smoking data from a recent survey suggested that the observed association between lung cancer and plant emission, after adjustment for SES, could still be caused by residual confounding. Therefore, we cannot indisputably conclude that past emissions from the steel plant have contributed to the increased risk of lung cancer