ART, Stoffenmanager, and TRA: a systematic comparison of exposure estimates using the TREXMO translation system

Several occupational exposure models are recommended under the EU's REACH legislation. Due to limited availability of high-quality exposure data, their validation is an ongoing process. It was shown, however, that different models may calculate significantly different estimates and thus lead to potentially dangerous conclusions about chemical risk. In this paper, the between-model translation rules defined in TREXMO were used to generate 319000 different in silico exposure situations in ART, Stoffenmanager, and ECETOC TRA v3. The three models' estimates were computed and the correlation and consistency between them were investigated. The best correlated pair was Stoffenmanager-ART (R, 0.52-0.90), whereas the ART-TRA and Stoffenmanager-TRA correlations were either lower (R, 0.36-0.69) or no correlation was found. Consistency varied significantly according to different exposure types (e.g. vapour versus dust) or settings (near-field versus far-field and indoors versus outdoors). The percentages of generated situations for which estimates differed by more than a factor of 100 ranged from 14 to 97%, 37 to 99%, and 1 to 68% for Stoffenmanager-ART, TRA-ART, and TRA-Stoffenmanager, respectively. Overall, the models were more consistent for vapours than for dusts and solids, near-fields than for far-fields, and indoor than for outdoor exposure. Multiple linear regression analyses evidenced the relationship between the models' parameters and the relative differences between the models' predictions. The relative difference can be used to estimate the consistency between the models. Furthermore, the study showed that the tiered approach is not generally applicable to all exposure situations. These findings emphasize the need for a multiple-model approach to assessing critical exposure scenarios under REACH. Moreover, in combination with occupational exposure measurements, they might also be used for future studies to improve prediction accuracy

TREXMO: a translation tool to support the use of regulatory occupational exposure models

Occupational exposure models vary significantly in their complexity, purpose, and the level of expertise required from the user. Different parameters in the same model may lead to different exposure estimates for the same exposure situation. This paper presents a tool developed to deal with this concern-TREXMO or TRanslation of EXposure MOdels. TREXMO integrates six commonly used occupational exposure models, namely, ART v.1.5, STOFFENMANAGER(®) v.5.1, ECETOC TRA v.3, MEASE v.1.02.01, EMKG-EXPO-TOOL, and EASE v.2.0. By enabling a semi-automatic translation between the parameters of these six models, TREXMO facilitates their simultaneous use. For a given exposure situation, defined by a set of parameters in one of the models, TREXMO provides the user with the most appropriate parameters to use in the other exposure models. Results showed that, once an exposure situation and parameters were set in ART, TREXMO reduced the number of possible outcomes in the other models by 1-4 orders of magnitude. The tool should manage to reduce the uncertain entry or selection of parameters in the six models, improve between-user reliability, and reduce the time required for running several models for a given exposure situation. In addition to these advantages, registrants of chemicals and authorities should benefit from more reliable exposure estimates for the risk characterization of dangerous chemicals under Regulation, Evaluation, Authorisation and restriction of CHemicals (REACH)

Skimmed Milk Applied as a Phytopharmaceutical Product: A Risk for Allergic Populations?

Milk allergy is among the most common food-related allergies. Milk-based products are recognized as plant protection products (PPPs) in several countries as alternatives to synthetic pesticides. The potential health risk for allergic workers, as well as the general population, is yet to be assessed. An investigation was conducted in the Vaud Canton of Switzerland, where milk-based products are sprayed by helicopter over vineyards. Air lactose concentration was measured at 14 locations via 25 mm IOM Multidust samplers. Residual lactose concentration was measured on the surface of leaves over 7 days following spraying. Surface contamination downwind from the treated area was estimated through computer-based modeling using AgDRIFT® software. The average milk protein concentration inside and outside the vineyard was 0.47 and 0.16 µg/m3, respectively. Milk residues persisted on the leaf surface for an average of three days. Modelling results revealed an estimated order of magnitude of 0.1–0.5 µg/m3 in milk proteins within one hour after the treatment in the close vicinity of the treated area. Our results reveal that the potential exposure to milk proteins in and around helicopter-treated vineyards is not negligible and that prevention messages targeted to individuals with severe allergies should be considered

Comparing the Advanced REACH Tool's (ART) estimates with Switzerland's occupational exposure data

The Advanced REACH Tool (ART) is the most sophisticated tool used for evaluating exposure levels under the European Union's Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and restriction of CHemicals (REACH) regulations. ART provides estimates at different percentiles of exposure and within different confidence intervals (CIs). However, its performance has only been tested on a limited number of exposure data. The present study compares ART's estimates with exposure measurements collected over many years in Switzerland. Measurements from 584 cases of exposure to vapours, mists, powders, and abrasive dusts (wood/stone and metal) were extracted from a Swiss database. The corresponding exposures at the 50th and 90th percentiles were calculated in ART. To characterize the model's performance, the 90% CI of the estimates was considered. ART's performance at the 50th percentile was only found to be insufficiently conservative with regard to exposure to wood/stone dusts, whereas the 90th percentile showed sufficient conservatism for all the types of exposure processed. However, a trend was observed with the residuals, where ART overestimated lower exposures and underestimated higher ones. The median was more precise, however, and the majority (≥60%) of real-world measurements were within a factor of 10 from ART's estimates. We provide recommendations based on the results and suggest further, more comprehensive, investigations

Efikasnost fungicida za suzbijanje prouzrokovača rđaste mrežavosti plodova breskve u Srbiji

Rusty Spot has long been known as a harmful peach disease in many parts of the world. During the past several years, rusty spot infection of the late-maturing peach cultivars (Summerset, Suncrest, Fayette and O’Henry) caused significant yield losses in Serbia. Although the etiology of the disease is still unknown, there are numerous studies attempting to set a strategy for its control and recommend appropriate chemical and other peach protection methods. However, because of specific environmental conditions in Serbia, recommended protection method using repeated fungicide treatments, starting from petal fall, did not prove to be efficient and the rate of infection in some susceptible peach cultivars reached 100%. In 2003 and 2004 a field trial was conducted in order to test the efficacy of fungicides (a.i. kresoxim-methyl, flusilazole and sulfur) for the efficient control of Rusty Spot epidemics. The trial was carried out under conditions of natural infection on the peach cv. Summerset at the locality of Bela Crkva, Serbia. In the untreated control plots, high disease incidence was recorded with the percentage of affected fruit surface ranging from 33.5% in the first, up to the 35.4% in the second year of the trail. Among fungicides included in the trial, kresoxim-methyl proved to be the most efficient (90.25% in the first and 91.12% in the second year of the trial), flusilazole exhibited lower efficacy (87.28% and 80.61%, respectively) while sulfur was the least efficient (82.33% and 80.30%, respectively). Determination of the most efficient fungicide for the peach rusty spot control in Serbia provides basic information for further investigations which will include optimization of treatment terms, as well as additional agro-technical control measures.Rđasta mrežavost plodova breskve odavno je poznato i ekonomski značajno oboljenje u mnogim delovima sveta. U Srbiji tokom proteklih godina ovo oboljenje nanosi značajne štete na poznim sortama breskve (Summerset, Suncrest, Fayette i O’Henry). Mada etiologija bolesti nije poznata, brojna istraživanja u mnogim delovima sveta pokušavaju da uspostave strategiju za kontrolu i preporuče odgovarajuće hemijske i druge metode zaštite breskve. U agroekološkim uslovima Srbije strategija primenjena u svetu, da suzbijanje prouzrokovača rđaste mrežavosti treba sprovoditi u višekratnim tretmanima od fenofaze precvetavanja, nije dala zadovoljavajuće rezultate. U pojedinim godinama zaraza plodova osetljivih sorti breskve dostiže 100%. U periodu od 2003. do 2004. godine, ispitivana je efikasnost tri fungicida (kresoksim-metil, fluzilazol i elementarni sumpor) u cilju iznalaženja mogućnosti uspešnije zaštite breskve od prouzrokovača rđaste mrežavosti plodova. Ogled je izveden na breskvi, sorte Summerset, u uslovima prirodne zaraze na lokalitetu Bela Crkva. Intenzitet zaraze rđaste mrežavosti plodova na osnovu procenta zahvaćene površine plodova, u kontrolnim parcelama kretao se od 33,5% u prvoj do 35,4% u drugoj godini ispitivanja. Tokom obe godine ispitivanja kresoksim-metil ispoljio je najveću efikasnost (90,25% u prvoj, odnosno 91,12% u drugoj godini ispitivanja), nižu fluzilazol (87,28%, odnosno 87,61%) i najnižu elementarni sumpor (82,33%, odnosno 80,30%). Određivanje fungicida sa najefikasnijim delovanjem prema prouzrokovaču rđaste mrežavosti plodova breskve u Srbiji predstavlja preduslov za dalja ispitivanja koja će uključiti pre svega optimizaciju rokova fungicidnih tretmana kao i određivanje drugih agrotehničkih mera kontrole

TWENTY YEARS OF THE FACTA UNIVERSITATIS, SERIES PHYSICAL EDUCATION AND SPORT: THE HISTORICAL ASPECTS OF RESEARCH METHODOLOGY IN SPORT AND PHYSICAL EDUCATION

The aim of this paper was to use the analysis of all the articles published in the journal Facta Universitatis – series: Physical Education and Sport since it was first published  in 1994, up to 2013 to gain insight into the research methodology used in sport and physical education. For the purpose of this analysis, the authors classified the articles based on various criteria which are considered good methodological indicators (type of article, research design, field of study, characteristics of the sample of participants, measuring instruments, data processing methods). By monitoring the individual methodological characteristics of the research done in sport and physical education, we were able to explain the development of research methodology in this field, as well as the trends of research methodology both in theory and practice, including whether there is a possible imbalance between the number of published articles in various fields of study, what the relationship between the longitudinal and transversal studies is and so on. By gaining insight into the improvements made in the applied testing procedures, study design, choice of participants and methods of statistical data processing in the articles published in the journal Facta Universitatis - series: Physical Education and Sport, we can conclude that our science over the past twenty years has achieved a significant improvement in terms of research methodology

Trauma of the frontal region is influenced by the volume of frontal sinuses. A finite element study

Anatomy of frontal sinuses varies individually, from differences in volume and shape to a rare case when the sinuses are absent. However, there are scarce data related to influence of these variations on impact generated fracture pattern. Therefore, the aim of this study was to analyse the influence of frontal sinus volume on the stress distribution and fracture pattern in the frontal region. The study included four representative Finite Element models of the skull. Reference model was built on the basis of computed tomography scans of a human head with normally developed frontal sinuses. By modifying the reference model, three additional models were generated: a model without sinuses, with hypoplasic, and with hyperplasic sinuses. A 7.7 kN force was applied perpendicularly to the forehead of each model, in order to simulate a frontal impact. The results demonstrated that the distribution of impact stress in frontal region depends on the frontal sinus volume. The anterior sinus wall showed the highest fragility in case with hyperplasic sinuses, whereas posterior wall/inner plate showed more fragility in cases with hypoplasic and undeveloped sinuses. Well-developed frontal sinuses might, through absorption of the impact energy by anterior wall, protect the posterior wall and intracranial contents.This work was supported in part by grants from the Serbian Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development III45005, III41007, ON174028 and EU project FP7 ICT SIFEM 600933

Zn concentrations in wheat grains along the gradient of native Zn soil availability in Serbia

Zinc (Zn) is an essential microelement for plants and also an important nutritional and health factor in humans. As a consequence of low Zn availability in soils, nearly half of the world's population suffers from Zn malnutrition. Zn deficiency has serious implications for human health (e.g. impairments in physical development, immune system, brain function and learning ability) and thus for the overall economy of a country; it is most severe in nations who depend on cereals as the main staple food. A critical Zn concentration in the whole grain for humans that depend on cereal based diets is 24 mg kg-1 dry matter. Research focused on increase of Zn content in cereals (biofortification), is the strategic priority in many countries. In Serbia however, the awareness of this problem is lacking, and no systematic survey of Zn availability in soi ls and concentrations in cereal grains has been undertaken so far. Our study included 156 grain samples of the two major bread wheat varieties (Simonida and NS 40S) collected at 89 localities throughout Serbia. We analyzed soil pH, available Zn and grain Zn concentration together by principle component analysis and multiple linear regression. Wheat varieties did not differ in ability to accumulate Zn in grains. Both soil pH and available Zn concentration were the nominally significant predictors for grain Zn concentration and explained about 12 and 9% of the encountered variation, respectively. Zn concentration below the critical limit (24 mg kg-1) was found in 58% of grain samples (values in the range 11-61 mg kg-1, median only 21.3 mg kg-1), while in only 14% of soil samples the available Zn was below the critical value (05 mg kg-1). The most severe lack of Zn in grains (below 18 mg kg-1) was observed in samples from the major production regions of bread wheat (e.g. Pancevo, Vrbas and Sremska Mitrovica). The alarming results of this survey indicate that Serbia urgently needs a strategy for Zn biofortification, primarily through a breeding program to enhance Zn efficiency as a sustainable alternative to application of Zn fertilizers

Exposure modelling in Europe : how to pave the road for the future as part of the European Exposure Science Strategy 2020-2030

Exposure models are essential in almost all relevant contexts for exposure science. To address the numerous challenges and gaps that exist, exposure modelling is one of the priority areas of the European Exposure Science Strategy developed by the European Chapter of the International Society of Exposure Science (ISES Europe). A strategy was developed for the priority area of exposure modelling in Europe with four strategic objectives. These objectives are (1) improvement of models and tools, (2) development of new methodologies and support for understudied fields, (3) improvement of model use and (4) regulatory needs for modelling. In a bottom-up approach, exposure modellers from different European countries and institutions who are active in the fields of occupational, population and environmental exposure science pooled their expertise under the umbrella of the ISES Europe Working Group on exposure models. This working group assessed the state-of-the-art of exposure modelling in Europe by developing an inventory of exposure models used in Europe and reviewing the existing literature on pitfalls for exposure modelling, in order to identify crucial modelling-related strategy elements. Decisive actions were defined for ISES Europe stakeholders, including collecting available models and accompanying information in a living document curated and published by ISES Europe, as well as a long-term goal of developing a best-practices handbook. Alongside these actions, recommendations were developed and addressed to stakeholders outside of ISES Europe. Four strategic objectives were identified with an associated action plan and roadmap for the implementation of the European Exposure Science Strategy for exposure modelling. This strategic plan will foster a common understanding of modelling-related methodology, terminology and future research in Europe, and have a broader impact on strategic considerations globally.Peer reviewe