1,721,138 research outputs found
A Bayesian approach to assessing the uncertainty in estimating bioconcentration factors in earthworms-the example of quinoxyfen
No full textBackground: Quinoxyfen is a fungicide of the phenoxyquinoline class used to control powdery mildew, Uncinula necator (Schw.) Burr. Owing to its high persistence and strong sorption in soil, it could represent a risk for soil organisms if they are exposed at ecologically relevant concentrations. The objective of this paper is to predict the bioconcentration factors (BCFs) of quinoxyfen in earthworms, selected as a representative soil organism, and to assess the uncertainty in the estimation of this parameter. Three fields in each of four vineyards in southern and northern Italy were sampled over two successive years. Results: The measured BCFs varied over time, possibly owing to seasonal changes and the consequent changes in behaviour and ecology of earthworms. Quinoxyfen did not accumulate in soil, as the mean soil concentrations at the end of the 2 year monitoring period ranged from 9.16 to 16.0 μg kg -1 dw for the Verona province and from 23.9 to 37.5 μg kg -1 dw for the Taranto province, with up to eight applications per season. To assess the uncertainty of the BCF in earthworms, a probabilistic approach was used, firstly by building with weighted bootstrapping techniques a generic probabilistic density function (PDF) accounting for variability and incompleteness of knowledge. The generic PDF was then used to derive prior distribution functions, which, by application of Bayes' theorem, were updated with the new measurements and a posterior distribution was finally created. Conclusion: The study is a good example of probabilistic risk assessment. The means of mean and SD posterior estimates of log BCFworm (2.06, 0.91) are the 'best estimate values'. Further risk assessment of quinoxyfen and other phenoxyquinoline fungicides and realistic representative scenarios for modelling exercises required for future authorization and post-authorization requirements can now use this value as input. © 2011 Society of Chemical Industry
Probabilistic and full-chain risk assessment of the chemical accumulation on human body using an integrated modeling tool
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Stato dell'arte dei progetti europei in relazione all'implementazione della Direttiva Quadro sulle acque (WFD): spunti per la gestione e il monitoraggio
No full textHigh-frequency ultrasounds for the decontamination and intensive stabilization of sewage sludge.
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Plant protection products in rice cultivation: critical issues in risk assessment and management to promote sustainable use
No full textWe review how the risks posed by PPPs are currently evaluated, and consider where current risk assessment practices require improvement. Section 2 offers an overview of the evidence-based approach to risk assessment used to inform government regulation, and focuses on the importance of multi-tier assessments and the availability of a range of simulation models. Section 3 explains why ethical, social and behavioural issues must also be considered in order for risks to be effectively assessed and managed. In Sections 4 and 5, we move on to a discussion of managing the risks associated with pesticides and encouraging more sustainable rice cultivation. Section 4 considers the example of the European Sustainable Use Directive (SUD), and explains how IPM is an essential part of SUD’s strategy. Section 5 then argues that for IPM to be implemented successfully, it is essential for farmers and other stakeholders to be involved in developing the IPM strategy for a given situation
Il progetto Edible Insect. Nutrire il pianeta con nuove fonti sostenibili
No full textI Capi di Stato e di Governo di 189 Paesi, riuniti nel 2000 al vertice di New York dell’ONU, sottoscrivendo la “United Nations Millennium Declaration”, hanno af- fermato la loro responsabilità verso l'intero Pianeta, ponendosi l’ambizioso obiet- tivo, entro il 2015, di ridurre in modo consistente la percentuale della popolazione mondiale che soffre la fame. La sfida per la comunità scientifica internazionale è rendere possibile l’aumento della produttività alimentare per mezzo di sistemi alimentari sostenibili, per garantire un’alimentazione sana, sicura e sufficiente per ogni essere umano. La FAO, sulla base di studi di prestigiosi enti di ricerca, suggerisce che gli insetti commestibili potrebbero avere un ruolo importante sia nell’alimentazione umana che in quella animale e rappresentare una risposta concreta alla sfida del millennio. Gli insetti rappresentano una fonte di proteine e amminoacidi più efficiente rispetto agli altri animali tradizionalmente allevati per l’alimentazione umana: a parità di proteine prodotte consumano quantità infinitamente più piccole di mangimi, di acqua potabile, di energia, di territorio e producono meno gas serra e possono essere utilizzati per decomporre i rifiuti, senza entrare in competizione alimentare con gli stessi esseri umani
Analysis of organophosphorus flame retardants in environmental and biotic matrices using on-line turbulent flow chromatography-liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry
No full textA fast on-line analytical method based on turbulent flow chromatography (TFC) in combination with tandem mass spectrometry (MS-MS) has been applied for the analysis of fourteen organophosphorus flame retardants (OPFRs) in sediment and fish samples. Applying this technique, time-consuming sample preparation steps were eliminated. The extraction was performed by ultrasound liquid extraction for biota and by pressurized liquid extraction for sediments. After extraction, environmental and biotic extracts were directly injected to the chromatographic system and analytes were concentrated into the cleanup loading column. Thereafter, analytes were transferred into the analytical column for subsequent detection by MS-MS. Analytical parameters showed acceptable recoveries (between 47 and 112% for sediment, and between 47 and 98% for fish) with very low relative standard deviations (always below 8.8% for sediment, and below 16% for fish). Moreover, mLODs and mLOQs are similar or even lower than those reported in other works using off-line methodologies. mLODs ranged between 0.02 and 1.25 ng/g dry weight (dw) and between 0.19 and 19.3 ng/g lipid weight (lw) for sediments and fish samples, respectively. The applicability of the developed methodology was demonstrated by the analysis of real samples, corresponding to river sediments as well as river and marine fish samples. OPFRs were detected in all samples, with values up to 549 ng/g dw, 15.8 ng/g lw and 646 ng/g lw for sediment, marine fish and river fish, respectively
Human exposure to endocrine disrupting compounds: Their role in reproductive systems, metabolic syndrome and breast cancer. A review
No full textEndocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) are released into the environment from different sources. They are mainly used in packaging industries, pesticides and food constituents. Clinical evidence, experimental models, and epidemiological studies suggest that EDCs have major risks for humans by targeting different organs and systems in the body (e.g. reproductive system, breast tissue, adipose tissue, pancreas, etc.). Due to the ubiquity of human exposure to these compounds the aim of this review is to describe the most recent data on the effects induced by phthalates, bisphenol A and parabens in a critical window of exposure: in utero, during pregnancy, infants, and children. The interactions and mechanisms of toxicity of EDCs in relation to human general health problems, especially those broadening the term of endocrine disruption to ‘metabolic disruption’, should be deeply investigated. These include endocrine disturbances, with particular reference to reproductive problems and breast, testicular and ovarian cancers, and metabolic diseases such as obesity or diabetes
Lotta al Punteruolo Rosso delle Palme (Rhynchophorus ferrugineus O.) tramite endoterapia microinvasiva in chioma
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