Multiple exposures to indoor contaminants: Derivation of benchmark doses and relative potency factors based on male reprotoxic effects

International audienceSemi-Volatile Organic Compounds (SVOCs) are commonly present in dwellings and several are suspected of having effects on male reproductive function mediated by an endocrine disruption mode of action. To improve knowledge of the health impact of these compounds, cumulative toxicity indicators are needed. This work derives Benchmark Doses (BMD) and Relative Potency Factors (RPF) for SVOCs acting on the male reproductive system through the same mode of action. We included SVOCs fulfilling the following conditions: detection frequency (>10%) in French dwellings, availability of data on the mechanism/mode of action for male reproductive toxicity, and availability of comparable dose-response relationships. Of 58 SVOCs selected, 18 induce a decrease in serum testosterone levels. Six have sufficient and comparable data to derive BMDs based on 10 or 50% of the response. The SVOCs inducing the largest decrease in serum testosterone concentration are: for 10%, bisphenol A (BMD10= 7.72E-07 mg/kg bw/d; RPF10= 7033679); for 50%, benzo[a]pyrene (BMD50= 0.030 mg/kg bw/d; RPF50= 1630), and the one inducing the smallest one is benzyl butyl phthalate (RPF10 and RPF50= 0.095). This approach encompasses contaminants from diverse chemical families acting through similar modes of action, and makes possible a cumulative risk assessment in indoor environments. The main limitation remains the lack of comparable toxicological data

Transfluthrin indoor air concentration and inhalation exposure during application of electric vaporizers

International audienceDifferent household insecticide applications via two electric vaporizers emitting transfluthrin were realized in a full-scale experimental room under controlled air exchange rate conditions. On-line high-time resolved measurements of the gas-phase concentrations of the active substance during and immediately after the spreading periods were performed with a High Sensitivity Proton-Transfer-Reaction Mass Spectrometer (HS-PTR-MS). Experimental and modelled data from the ConsExpo 4.0 software were also compared to evaluate the sources of differences. Different application scenarios were also compared. Averaged inhaled concentrations over 1h, 1week, and 5months were estimated to be 8.3, 1.8, and 1.8μg.m(-3), respectively. Corresponding margins of exposures range from 1000 to 10,000, claiming for the absence of effect. Dermal and dust ingestion pathways, although roughly estimated, seems being non-negligible. This claims for a more in-depth integrated risk assessment

Cumulative indoor exposures to Semi-Volatile Organic Compounds (SVOCs) in France: the ECOS project.

International audienceSemivolatile organic compounds (SVOCs) are widely used indoor as plasticizers, flame retardants, or pesticides. They are present in indoor environments both in air (as gas and suspended particles) and settled dust. Thus exposition to possibly harmful agents: (phthalates, polybromodiphenylethers, organophosphorous compounds...) occurs (Mitchell et al. 2007;Wu et al. 2007). Here is presented the framework of the ECOS project, which objective is to assess domestic cumulative exposure to these substances and associated health risks

Childhood lead exposure in France: benefit estimation and partial cost-benefit analysis of lead hazard control

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Lead exposure remains a public health concern due to its serious adverse effects, such as cognitive and behavioral impairment: children younger than six years of age being the most vulnerable population. In Europe, the lead-related economic impacts have not been examined in detail. We estimate the annual costs in France due to childhood exposure and, through a cost benefit analysis (CBA), aim to assess the expected social and economic benefits of exposure abatement.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Monetary benefits were assessed in terms of avoided national costs. We used results from a 2008 survey on blood-lead (B-Pb) concentrations in French children aged one to six years old. Given the absence of a threshold concentration being established, we performed a sensitivity analysis assuming different hypothetical threshold values for toxicity above 15 μg/L, 24 μg/L and 100 μg/L. Adverse health outcomes of lead exposure were translated into social burden and economic costs based on literature data from literature. Direct health benefits, social benefits and intangible avoided costs were included. Costs of pollutant exposure control were partially estimated in regard to homes lead-based paint decontamination, investments aiming at reducing industrial lead emissions and removal of all lead drinking water pipes.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The following overall annual benefits for the three hypothetical thresholds values in 2008 are: €22.72 billion, €10.72 billion and €0.44 billion, respectively. Costs from abatement ranged from €0.9 billion to 2.95 billion/year. Finally, from a partial CBA of lead control in soils and dust the estimates of total net benefits were € 3.78 billion, € 1.88 billion and €0.25 billion respectively for the three hypothesized B-Pb effect values.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Prevention of childhood lead exposure has a high social benefit, due to reduction of B-Pb concentrations to levels below 15 μg/L or 24 μg/L, respectively. Reducing only exposures above 100 μg/L B-Pb has little economic impact due to the small number of children who now exhibit such high exposure levels. Prudent public policies would help avoiding future medical interventions, limit the need for special education and increase future productivity, and hence lifetime income for children exposed to lead.</p

Explicitation et réduction de l'incertitude liée à l'ingestion de sol en évaluation des expositions environnementales

International audienceEn raison de sa variabilité et de l'incertitude qui pèse sur son estimation, la quantité de sol ingérée est un paramètre critique de l'évaluation des expositions. Les différentes estimations (et incertitudes associées) de la quantité de sol ingérée sont décrites et nous proposons, dans une logique opérationnelle, un choix de paramètres adaptés aux différentes modalités d'exposition. Il est possible de réduire l'incertitude liée à une mauvaise utilisation des données, et notamment en évitant d'employer des estimateurs qui ne sont valides que pour de faibles durées d'exposition

Analysis and reduction of the uncertainty of the assessment of children's lead exposure around an old mine.

International audienceExposure to lead is a special problem in children, because they are more highly exposed than adults and because this pollutant, which accumulates in the body, induces neurobehavioral and cognitive effects. The objective of this study was to determine the probability density of the lead exposure dose of a 2-year-old child around an old mine site and to analyze its uncertainties, especially those associated with the bioavailability of lead in soil. Children's exposure was estimated indirectly from environmental samples (soils, domestic dust, water, air) and parameters (volume inhaled, body weight, soil intake rate, water intake, dietary intake) from the literature. Uncertainty and variability were analyzed separately in a two-dimensional Monte Carlo simulation with Crystal Ball software. Exposure doses were simulated with different methods for accessing the bioavailability of lead in soil. The exposure dose per kilogram of body weight varied from 2 microg/kgday at the 5th percentile to 5.5 microg/kgday at the 95th percentile (and from 2 to 10 microg/kgday, respectively, when ignoring bioavailability). The principal factors of variation were dietary intake, soil concentrations, and soil ingestion. The principal uncertainties were associated with the level of soil ingestion and the bioavailability of lead. Reducing uncertainty about the bioavailability of lead in soil by taking into account information about the type of mineral made it possible to increase our degree of confidence (from 25% to more than 95%) that the median exposure dose does not exceed the Tolerable Daily Intake. Knowledge of the mineral very substantially increases the degree of confidence in estimates of children's lead exposure around an old mining site by reducing the uncertainty associated with lead's bioavailability

Qualité de l'air dans les parkings couverts: utilité de l'expertise ?

Qualité de l'air dans les parkings couverts: utilité de l'expertise

Définitions et concepts en santé publique et santé-environnement

International audienceLa santé publique est la santé des populations dans leur ensemble, au-delà de la santé de chaque individu. Elle dépend de nombreux facteurs appelés « déterminants de santé », dont bon nombre sont indépendants du patrimoine génétique et biologique de départ : conditions politique (guerre ou paix…), géographique, sociale, économique, qui à leur tour vont jouer sur l’environnement physique et social des personnes..