The 51st Congress of the European Societies of Toxicology is taking place at the Alfândega International Congress Center in Porto, Portugal. The topic of this Congress is referring to “Bridging Sciences for Safety”, that upholds the important role of Toxicology in bridging the knowledge of sciences like Biology, Chemistry, Pharmacology, Physiology, and many others, for the desired path of humankind towards a safer world. Check the detailed agenda of the event here.
Cefic’s LRI programme is sponsoring two sessions:
- Co-Exposure Risk Assessment: Approaches and Options for Prioritisation and Refinement: Assessing risks from concurrent exposures to multiple chemicals has been recognized as a critical issue for more than 50 years and the basic science in assessing exposure and risks from combined exposures has been presented in previous Eurotox sessions. This course is designed to proceed to the next step of addressing prioritisation tools and refinement options in cases where Tier 0 and Tier 1 assessments (tiers according to the IPCS/WHO scheme) are not suitable to alleviate concerns.Case studies for screening tier and higher tier assessments with monitoring and modelling data on concurrent exposures are evaluated to demonstrate the underlying concepts. The presenters will identify the technical challenges faced in the case studies and the tools and strategies used for solving the problems. These tools include, using the TTC to fill in data gaps in toxicology, strategies for addressing non-detects, and using the Maximum Cumulative Ratio (MCR) to evaluate the output from a Tier 1 Assessment, grouping components by target organs or mode of action.
See the presentation here.
- NonMonotonic DoseResponse Curve in Hormonally Active Substances: The European legislation on plant protection products (Regulation (EC) No. 1107/2009) and biocides (Directive 98/8/EC), as well as the regulation concerning chemicals (Regulation (EC) No. 1907/2006 ‘REACH’) only support the marketing and use of chemical products on the basis that they do not induce endocrine disruption in humans or non-target species. However, there is currently no agreed guidance on how to identify and evaluate endocrine activity and disruption. Endocrine effects are a mode of action potentially resulting in adverse effects; any classification should not be based on a mode of action, but on adverse effects. Non-monotonous dose–response curves that had been postulated from limited, exploratory studies could also not be reproduced in targeted studies with elaborate quality assurance. Advisory bodies continue to apply the safety-factor method or the concept of “margin-of-exposure” basedon no observed adverse effect levels (NOAELs).
Find enclosed the presentation of the workshop Dose-response relationship: monotone vs non-monotone curve by Emanuela Testai.
The Continuing Education Courses (CEC) held on the first day of the meeting are additional strong reasons to attend the 2015 EUROTOX Congress. Well-acknowledged scientists offer cutting-edge courses on dominant subjects of Toxicology, such as 3R methods in Toxicology, new recreational drugs, thresholds of toxicological concern, hazard characterization, co-exposure risk assessment, and risk assessment in food safety. CECs are usually well attended, not only by young researchers but also by teachers aiming to upgrade knowledge and skills.
For more information about the 51st EUROTOX Congress, visit: http://www.eurotox2015.com/home.
