Predictive value of multiple cytokines and chemokines for mortality in an admixed population: 15-year follow-up of the Bambui-Epigen (Brazil) cohort study of aging

Inflammation, particularly elevated IL-6 serum levels, has been associated with increased mortality risk, mostly in Caucasians. The influence of genetic ethno-racial background on this association is unknown. We examined associations between baseline serum levels of Interleukin-6 (IL-6) and other cytokines (IL1-2, TNF, IL-10, and IL1β) and chemokines (CCL2, CCL5, CXCL8, CXCL9 and CXCL10) with 15-year mortality in 1,191 admixed Brazilians aged 60 years and over. Elevated IL6 level (but not other biomarkers) was associated with increased risk of deaths with fully adjusted hazard ratios of 1.51 (95% CI = 1.15, 1.97), 1.54 (95% CI = 1.20, 1.96) and 1.79 (95% CI = 1.40, 2.29) for the 2nd, 3rd and the highest quartiles, respectively. Genomic African and Native American proportions did not modify the association (p > 0.05). The discriminatory ability to predict death of a model based on IL-6 alone was similar as that of a comprehensive morbidity score (C statistics = 0.59 and 0.60, respectively). The abilities of IL-6 and the morbidity score models to predict death remained stable for very long term after the baseline measurement. Our results indicate that genome-based African and Native American ancestries have no impact on the prognostic value of IL-6 for mortality

Current EU research activities on combined exposure to multiple chemicals

Humans and wildlife are exposed to an intractably large number of different combinations of chemicals via food, water, air, consumer products, and other media and sources. This raises concerns about their impact on public and environmental health. The risk assessment of chemicals for regulatory purposes mainly relies on the assessment of individual chemicals. If exposure to multiple chemicals is considered in a legislative framework, it is usually limited to chemicals falling within this framework and co-exposure to chemicals that are covered by a different regulatory framework is often neglected. Methodologies and guidance for assessing risks from combined exposure to multiple chemicals have been developed for different regulatory sectors, however, a harmonised, consistent approach for performing mixture risk assessments and management across different regulatory sectors is lacking. At the time of this publication, several EU research projects are running, funded by the current European Research and Innovation Programme Horizon 2020 or the Seventh Framework Programme. They aim at addressing knowledge gaps and developing methodologies to better assess chemical mixtures, by generating and making available internal and external exposure data, developing models for exposure assessment, developing tools for in silico and in vitro effect assessment to be applied in a tiered framework and for grouping of chemicals, as well as developing joint epidemiological-toxicological approaches for mixture risk assessment and for prioritising mixtures of concern. The projects EDC-MixRisk, EuroMix, EUToxRisk, HBM4EU and SOLUTIONS have started an exchange between the consortia, European Commission Services and EU Agencies, in order to identify where new methodologies have become available and where remaining gaps need to be further addressed. This paper maps how the different projects contribute to the data needs and assessment methodologies and identifies remaining challenges to be further addressed for the assessment of chemical mixtures.European Union's Seventh Framework Programme for research, technological development and demonstration

Milieurisicobeoordeling voor diergeneesmiddelen deel 4. Verspreidingsscenario's

Residuen van diergeneesmiddelen bereiken het milieu met de mest die op landbouwgronden wordt aangewend. In dit rapport worden veehouderij, mestbehandeling en milieuomstandigheden in Europa gekarakteriseerd en worden realistische scenarios voor deze parameters voorgesteld, in samenhang met geschikte verspreidingsmodellen. In verband met de variabiliteit in mestbehandeling is gekozen voor een eenvoudige benadering. Een scenario onder realistische 'worst-case' omstandigheden wordt voorgesteld, uitgaande van een enkele behandeling per dierverblijfplaats, een vastgestelde stikstofproductie, toediening van een stikstofgift van 170 kg N/ha/jaar met een hoeveelheid mest gelijk aan de productie in 1 maand, geen verdwijning van het residue tijdens de opslag, geen nabehandeling van de mest, en een inwerkdiepte van 5 cm in de bodem. Risicoreductiemaatregelen die betrekking hebben op mestbehandeling en mestgebruik kunnen met deze benadering niet worden geverifieerd. Scenario's en modellen voor distributie in het milieu zoals vastgesteld zijn door FOCUS worden geschikt geacht voor diergeneesmiddelen. In aanvulling wordt voor oppervlakkige afstroming en bodemerosie in mediterrane gebieden een toegespitst stroomgebiedenscenario en -model aangedragen.Residues of veterinary medicinal products reach the environment through spreading of slurry on agricultural soil. In this report animal husbandry, slurry handling and environmental conditions throughout Europe are considered in order to define realistic worst case scenarios, in conjunction with environmental distribution models. Given the variability in manure management a straightforward approach for the manure model was selected. Realistic worst case conditions are proposed in a simple scenario assuming single treatment per place, standard European nitrogen production values, application of the a manure application rate of 170 kg N/ha/year in one time, with a manure production volume of one month containing the full residue, no dissipation during storage, and incorporation into 5 cm soil. Risk reduction measures related to manure management and manure treatment cannot be assessed using the proposed methodology. Scenarios and models for distribution to surface and groundwater provided by FOCUS are considered suitable for veterinary drugs. Additionally, for run-off and erosion in Mediterranean regions a river-catchment model is designed.VROM-DGM-BW

Milieurisicobeoordeling voor diergeneesmiddelen deel 4. Verspreidingsscenario's

Residues of veterinary medicinal products reach the environment through spreading of slurry on agricultural soil. In this report animal husbandry, slurry handling and environmental conditions throughout Europe are considered in order to define realistic worst case scenarios, in conjunction with environmental distribution models. Given the variability in manure management a straightforward approach for the manure model was selected. Realistic worst case conditions are proposed in a simple scenario assuming single treatment per place, standard European nitrogen production values, application of the a manure application rate of 170 kg N/ha/year in one time, with a manure production volume of one month containing the full residue, no dissipation during storage, and incorporation into 5 cm soil. Risk reduction measures related to manure management and manure treatment cannot be assessed using the proposed methodology. Scenarios and models for distribution to surface and groundwater provided by FOCUS are considered suitable for veterinary drugs. Additionally, for run-off and erosion in Mediterranean regions a river-catchment model is designed.Residuen van diergeneesmiddelen bereiken het milieu met de mest die op landbouwgronden wordt aangewend. In dit rapport worden veehouderij, mestbehandeling en milieuomstandigheden in Europa gekarakteriseerd en worden realistische scenarios voor deze parameters voorgesteld, in samenhang met geschikte verspreidingsmodellen. In verband met de variabiliteit in mestbehandeling is gekozen voor een eenvoudige benadering. Een scenario onder realistische 'worst-case' omstandigheden wordt voorgesteld, uitgaande van een enkele behandeling per dierverblijfplaats, een vastgestelde stikstofproductie, toediening van een stikstofgift van 170 kg N/ha/jaar met een hoeveelheid mest gelijk aan de productie in 1 maand, geen verdwijning van het residue tijdens de opslag, geen nabehandeling van de mest, en een inwerkdiepte van 5 cm in de bodem. Risicoreductiemaatregelen die betrekking hebben op mestbehandeling en mestgebruik kunnen met deze benadering niet worden geverifieerd. Scenario's en modellen voor distributie in het milieu zoals vastgesteld zijn door FOCUS worden geschikt geacht voor diergeneesmiddelen. In aanvulling wordt voor oppervlakkige afstroming en bodemerosie in mediterrane gebieden een toegespitst stroomgebiedenscenario en -model aangedragen