Facilitation of risk assessment with evidence-based methods - A framework for use of systematic mapping and systematic reviews in determining hazard, developing toxicity values, and characterizing uncertainty

A framework for integrating evidence to assess hazards and risk

To accurately characterize human health hazards, human, animal, and mechanistic data must be integrated and the relevance to the research question of all three lines of evidence must be considered. Mechanistic data are often critical to the full integration of animal and human data and to characterizing relevance and uncertainty. This novel evidence integration framework (EIF) provides a method for synthesizing data from comprehensive, systematic, quality-based assessments of the epidemiological and toxicological literature, including in vivo and in vitro mechanistic studies. It organizes data according to both the observed human health effects and the mechanism of action of the chemical, providing a method to support evidence synthesis. The disease-based component uses the evidence of human health outcomes studied in the best quality epidemiological literature to organize the toxicological data according to authors' stated purpose, with the pathophysiology of the disease determining the potential relevance of the toxicological data. The mechanism-based component organizes the data based on the proposed mechanisms of effect and data supporting events leading to each endpoint, with the epidemiological data potentially providing corroborating information. The EIF includes a method to cross-classify and describe the concordance of the data, and to characterize its uncertainty. At times, the two methods of organizing the data may lead to different conclusions. This facilitates identification of knowledge gaps and shows the impact of uncertainties on the strength of causal inference.

Cannabidiol Safety Data: A Systematic Mapping Study

Robust assessment of potential adverse outcomes is needed to determine a safe cannabidiol (CBD) intake level for consumer use. To assist in identifying knowledge gaps and inform future decision making regarding systematic development of health-based benchmarks, we have developed the first systematic map of the safety-related information available for CBD in the peer-reviewed literature. Literature searching conducted according to a published protocol yielded a total of 4186 unique titles and abstracts published through 2020. These were screened using DistillerSR for studies that evaluated at least one potential health outcome following exposure to CBD and/or other hemp-derived substances. Additional categorization was conducted for a subset of 1001 studies in which CBD was administered alone. Studies that investigated CBD most frequently reported on neurological outcomes (532), carcinogenic outcomes (129), and pharmacokinetics (118). Less frequently studied categories included developmental and reproductive, hepatic, and gastrointestinal outcomes. The primary outcomes associated with the most adverse events reported in the literature were neurological (13) and developmental and reproductive (12). Based on the studies identified, reproductive and developmental toxicity was identified as a data gap that warrants conducting a well-designed, guideline-compliant reproductive toxicity study on CBD. In addition, immune outcomes were noted as a potential emerging research area for CBD. This systematic map provides an important baseline from which to identify topics that may be suitable for further research related to the safe use of CBD. Implications for future potential work and limitations of the mapping exercise are discussed.

A human biomonitoring (HBM) Global Registry Framework: Further advancement of HBM research following the FAIR principles

Data generated by the rapidly evolving human biomonitoring (HBM) programmes are providing invaluable opportunities to support and advance regulatory risk assessment and management of chemicals in occupational and environmental health domains. However, heterogeneity across studies, in terms of design, terminology, biomarker nomenclature, and data formats, limits our capacity to compare and integrate data sets retrospectively (reuse). Registration of HBM studies is common for clinical trials; however, the study designs and resulting data collections cannot be traced easily. We argue that an HBM Global Registry Framework (HBM GRF) could be the solution to several of challenges hampering the (re)use of HBM (meta)data. The aim is to develop a global, host-independent HBM registry framework based on the use of harmonised open-access protocol templates from designing, undertaking of an HBM study to the use and possible reuse of the resulting HBM (meta)data. This framework should apply FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable and Reusable) principles as a core data management strategy to enable the (re)use of HBM (meta)data to its full potential through the data value chain. Moreover, we believe that implementation of FAIR principles is a fundamental enabler for digital transformation within environmental health. The HBM GRF would encompass internationally harmonised and agreed open access templates for HBM study protocols, structured web-based functionalities to deposit, find, and access harmonised protocols of HBM studies. Registration of HBM studies using the HBM GRF is anticipated to increase FAIRness of the resulting (meta)data. It is also considered that harmonisation of existing data sets could be performed retrospectively. As a consequence, data wrangling activities to make data ready for analysis will be minimised. In addition, this framework would enable the HBM (inter)national community to trace new HBM studies already in the planning phase and their results once finalised. The HBM GRF could also serve as a platform enhancing communication between scientists, risk assessors, and risk managers/policy makers. The planned European Partnership for the Assessment of Risk from Chemicals (PARC) work along these lines, based on the experience obtained in previous joint European initiatives. Therefore, PARC could very well bring a first demonstration of first essential functionalities within the development of the HBM GRF.