1
|
Escher BI, Altenburger R, Blüher M, Colbourne JK, Ebinghaus R, Fantke P, Hein M, Köck W, Kümmerer K, Leipold S, Li X, Scheringer M, Scholz S, Schloter M, Schweizer PJ, Tal T, Tetko I, Traidl-Hoffmann C, Wick LY, Fenner K. Modernizing persistence-bioaccumulation-toxicity (PBT) assessment with high throughput animal-free methods. Arch Toxicol 2023; 97:1267-1283. [PMID: 36952002 PMCID: PMC10110678 DOI: 10.1007/s00204-023-03485-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2022] [Accepted: 03/13/2023] [Indexed: 03/24/2023]
Abstract
The assessment of persistence (P), bioaccumulation (B), and toxicity (T) of a chemical is a crucial first step at ensuring chemical safety and is a cornerstone of the European Union's chemicals regulation REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorization, and Restriction of Chemicals). Existing methods for PBT assessment are overly complex and cumbersome, have produced incorrect conclusions, and rely heavily on animal-intensive testing. We explore how new-approach methodologies (NAMs) can overcome the limitations of current PBT assessment. We propose two innovative hazard indicators, termed cumulative toxicity equivalents (CTE) and persistent toxicity equivalents (PTE). Together they are intended to replace existing PBT indicators and can also accommodate the emerging concept of PMT (where M stands for mobility). The proposed "toxicity equivalents" can be measured with high throughput in vitro bioassays. CTE refers to the toxic effects measured directly in any given sample, including single chemicals, substitution products, or mixtures. PTE is the equivalent measure of cumulative toxicity equivalents measured after simulated environmental degradation of the sample. With an appropriate panel of animal-free or alternative in vitro bioassays, CTE and PTE comprise key environmental and human health hazard indicators. CTE and PTE do not require analytical identification of transformation products and mixture components but instead prompt two key questions: is the chemical or mixture toxic, and is this toxicity persistent or can it be attenuated by environmental degradation? Taken together, the proposed hazard indicators CTE and PTE have the potential to integrate P, B/M and T assessment into one high-throughput experimental workflow that sidesteps the need for analytical measurements and will support the Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability of the European Union.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Beate I Escher
- Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research-UFZ, Permoserstr. 15, E04318, Leipzig, Germany.
- Environmental Toxicology, Department of Geosciences, Eberhard Karls University Tübingen, Schnarrenbergstr. 94-96, E72076, Tübingen, Germany.
| | - Rolf Altenburger
- Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research-UFZ, Permoserstr. 15, E04318, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Matthias Blüher
- Helmholtz Institute for Metabolic, Obesity and Vascular Research (HI-MAG) of the Helmholtz Munich-German Research Centre for Environmental Health (GmbH) at the University of Leipzig and University Hospital Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - John K Colbourne
- Environmental Genomics Group, School of Biosciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK
| | - Ralf Ebinghaus
- Institute of Coastal Environmental Chemistry, Helmholtz Zentrum Hereon, Max-Planck-Straße 1, 21502, Geesthacht, Germany
| | - Peter Fantke
- Quantitative Sustainability Assessment, Department of Environmental and Resource Engineering, Technical University of Denmark, Produktionstorvet 424, 2800, Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Michaela Hein
- Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research-UFZ, Permoserstr. 15, E04318, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Wolfgang Köck
- Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research-UFZ, Permoserstr. 15, E04318, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Klaus Kümmerer
- Institute of Sustainable and Environmental Chemistry, Leuphana University Lüneburg, Universitätsallee 1, 21335, Lüneburg, Germany
- International Sustainable Chemistry Collaboration Centre (ISC3), Friedrich-Ebert-Allee 32 + 36, D-53113, Bonn, Germany
| | - Sina Leipold
- Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research-UFZ, Permoserstr. 15, E04318, Leipzig, Germany
- Department for Political Science, Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena, Bachstr. 18k, 07743, Jena, Germany
| | - Xiaojing Li
- Environmental Genomics Group, School of Biosciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK
| | - Martin Scheringer
- Institute of Biogeochemistry and Pollutant Dynamics, ETH Zürich, 8092, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Stefan Scholz
- Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research-UFZ, Permoserstr. 15, E04318, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Michael Schloter
- Comparative Microbiome Analysis, Environmental Health Centre, Helmholtz Munich - German Research Centre for Environmental Health (GmbH), Ingolstädter Landstr. 1, 85764, Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Pia-Johanna Schweizer
- Research Institute for Sustainability-Helmholtz Centre Potsdam, Berliner Strasse 130, 14467, Potsdam, Germany
| | - Tamara Tal
- Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research-UFZ, Permoserstr. 15, E04318, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Igor Tetko
- Institute of Structural Biology, Molecular Targets and Therapeutics Centre, Helmholtz Munich - German Research Centre for Environmental Health (GmbH), Ingolstädter Landstr. 1, 85764, Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Claudia Traidl-Hoffmann
- Environmental Medicine Faculty of Medicine, University of Augsburg, Stenglinstrasse 2, 86156, Augsburg, Germany
- Institute of Environmental Medicine, Environmental Health Centre, Helmholtz Munich - German Research Centre for Environmental Health (GmbH), Ingolstädter Landstr. 1, 85764, Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Lukas Y Wick
- Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research-UFZ, Permoserstr. 15, E04318, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Kathrin Fenner
- Department of Environmental Chemistry, Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology (Eawag), 8600, Dübendorf, Switzerland
- Department of Chemistry, University of Zürich, 8057, Zurich, Switzerland
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Bajard L, Adamovsky O, Audouze K, Baken K, Barouki R, Beltman JB, Beronius A, Bonefeld-Jørgensen EC, Cano-Sancho G, de Baat ML, Di Tillio F, Fernández MF, FitzGerald RE, Gundacker C, Hernández AF, Hilscherova K, Karakitsios S, Kuchovska E, Long M, Luijten M, Majid S, Marx-Stoelting P, Mustieles V, Negi CK, Sarigiannis D, Scholz S, Sovadinova I, Stierum R, Tanabe S, Tollefsen KE, van den Brand AD, Vogs C, Wielsøe M, Wittwehr C, Blaha L. Application of AOPs to assist regulatory assessment of chemical risks - Case studies, needs and recommendations. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2023; 217:114650. [PMID: 36309218 PMCID: PMC9850416 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2022.114650] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 25.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2022] [Revised: 10/18/2022] [Accepted: 10/21/2022] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
While human regulatory risk assessment (RA) still largely relies on animal studies, new approach methodologies (NAMs) based on in vitro, in silico or non-mammalian alternative models are increasingly used to evaluate chemical hazards. Moreover, human epidemiological studies with biomarkers of effect (BoE) also play an invaluable role in identifying health effects associated with chemical exposures. To move towards the next generation risk assessment (NGRA), it is therefore crucial to establish bridges between NAMs and standard approaches, and to establish processes for increasing mechanistically-based biological plausibility in human studies. The Adverse Outcome Pathway (AOP) framework constitutes an important tool to address these needs but, despite a significant increase in knowledge and awareness, the use of AOPs in chemical RA remains limited. The objective of this paper is to address issues related to using AOPs in a regulatory context from various perspectives as it was discussed in a workshop organized within the European Union partnerships HBM4EU and PARC in spring 2022. The paper presents examples where the AOP framework has been proven useful for the human RA process, particularly in hazard prioritization and characterization, in integrated approaches to testing and assessment (IATA), and in the identification and validation of BoE in epidemiological studies. Nevertheless, several limitations were identified that hinder the optimal usability and acceptance of AOPs by the regulatory community including the lack of quantitative information on response-response relationships and of efficient ways to map chemical data (exposure and toxicity) onto AOPs. The paper summarizes suggestions, ongoing initiatives and third-party tools that may help to overcome these obstacles and thus assure better implementation of AOPs in the NGRA.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lola Bajard
- RECETOX, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Kotlarska 2, 611 37 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Ondrej Adamovsky
- RECETOX, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Kotlarska 2, 611 37 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Karine Audouze
- Université Paris Cité, T3S, Inserm UMR S-1124, F-75006 Paris, France
| | - Kirsten Baken
- Unit Health, Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO NV), Boeretang 200, 2400 Mol, Belgium
| | - Robert Barouki
- Université Paris Cité, T3S, Inserm UMR S-1124, F-75006 Paris, France
| | - Joost B Beltman
- Division of Drug Discovery and Safety, Leiden Academic Centre for Drug Research, Leiden University, Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Anna Beronius
- Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Nobels väg 13, Solna, Sweden
| | - Eva Cecilie Bonefeld-Jørgensen
- Centre for Arctic Health & Molecular Epidemiology, Department of Public Health, Aarhus University, Bartholins Allé 2, 8000 Aarhus, Denmark; Greenland Centre for Health Research, University of Greenland, Manutooq 1, 3905 Nuussuaq, Greenland
| | | | - Milo L de Baat
- KWR Water Research Institute, Groningenhaven 7, 3433 PE Nieuwegein, the Netherlands
| | - Filippo Di Tillio
- Division of Drug Discovery and Safety, Leiden Academic Centre for Drug Research, Leiden University, Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Mariana F Fernández
- Center for Biomedical Research (CIBM) & School of Medicine, University of Granada, 18016 Granada, Spain; Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria (ibs. GRANADA), 18012, Granada, Spain; Consortium for Biomedical Research in Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), 28029 Madrid, Spain
| | - Rex E FitzGerald
- Swiss Centre for Applied Human Toxicology SCAHT, University of Basel, Missionsstrasse 64, CH-4055 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Claudia Gundacker
- Institute of Medical Genetics, Center for Pathobiochemistry and Genetics, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Antonio F Hernández
- Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria (ibs. GRANADA), 18012, Granada, Spain; Department of Legal Medicine and Toxicology, University of Granada School of Medicine, Avda. de la Investigación, 11, 18016, Granada, Spain; Consortium for Biomedical Research in Epidemiology & Public Health, CIBERESP, Madrid, Spain
| | - Klara Hilscherova
- RECETOX, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Kotlarska 2, 611 37 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Spyros Karakitsios
- Environmental Engineering Laboratory, Department of Chemical Engineering, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece; HERACLES Research Centre on the Exposome and Health, Center for Interdisciplinary Research and Innovation, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Eliska Kuchovska
- IUF-Leibniz Research Institute for Environmental Medicine, Auf'm Hennekamp 50, 40225, Duesseldorf, Germany
| | - Manhai Long
- Centre for Arctic Health & Molecular Epidemiology, Department of Public Health, Aarhus University, Bartholins Allé 2, 8000 Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Mirjam Luijten
- National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Centre for Health Protection, Bilthoven, the Netherlands
| | - Sanah Majid
- KWR Water Research Institute, Groningenhaven 7, 3433 PE Nieuwegein, the Netherlands
| | - Philip Marx-Stoelting
- German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, Dept. Pesticides Safety, Berlin, Germany
| | - Vicente Mustieles
- Center for Biomedical Research (CIBM) & School of Medicine, University of Granada, 18016 Granada, Spain; Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria (ibs. GRANADA), 18012, Granada, Spain; Consortium for Biomedical Research in Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), 28029 Madrid, Spain
| | - Chander K Negi
- RECETOX, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Kotlarska 2, 611 37 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Dimosthenis Sarigiannis
- Environmental Engineering Laboratory, Department of Chemical Engineering, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece; HERACLES Research Centre on the Exposome and Health, Center for Interdisciplinary Research and Innovation, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Stefan Scholz
- UFZ Helmholtz Center for Environmental Research, Dept Bioanalyt Ecotoxicol, D-04318 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Iva Sovadinova
- RECETOX, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Kotlarska 2, 611 37 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Rob Stierum
- Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research, Risk Analysis for Products in Development, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Shihori Tanabe
- Division of Risk Assessment, Center for Biological Safety and Research, National Institute of Health Sciences, Kawasaki, Japan
| | - Knut Erik Tollefsen
- Norwegian Institute for Water Research (NIVA), Section of Ecotoxicology and Risk Assessment, Gaustadalléen, Oslo, Norway; Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU), Faculty of Environmental Sciences and Natural Resource Management (MINA), Norway
| | - Annick D van den Brand
- Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Centre for Nutrition, Prevention and Health Services, 3720 BA Bilthoven, the Netherlands
| | - Carolina Vogs
- Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Nobels väg 13, Solna, Sweden; Department of Biomedical Sciences and Veterinary Public Health, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, SE-75007 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Maria Wielsøe
- Centre for Arctic Health & Molecular Epidemiology, Department of Public Health, Aarhus University, Bartholins Allé 2, 8000 Aarhus, Denmark
| | | | - Ludek Blaha
- RECETOX, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Kotlarska 2, 611 37 Brno, Czech Republic.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Luijten M, Sprong RC, Rorije E, van der Ven LTM. Prioritization of chemicals in food for risk assessment by integrating exposure estimates and new approach methodologies: A next generation risk assessment case study. FRONTIERS IN TOXICOLOGY 2022; 4:933197. [PMID: 36199824 PMCID: PMC9527283 DOI: 10.3389/ftox.2022.933197] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2022] [Accepted: 08/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Next generation risk assessment is defined as a knowledge-driven system that allows for cost-efficient assessment of human health risk related to chemical exposure, without animal experimentation. One of the key features of next generation risk assessment is to facilitate prioritization of chemical substances that need a more extensive toxicological evaluation, in order to address the need to assess an increasing number of substances. In this case study focusing on chemicals in food, we explored how exposure data combined with the Threshold of Toxicological Concern (TTC) concept could be used to prioritize chemicals, both for existing substances and new substances entering the market. Using a database of existing chemicals relevant for dietary exposure we calculated exposure estimates, followed by application of the TTC concept to identify substances of higher concern. Subsequently, a selected set of these priority substances was screened for toxicological potential using high-throughput screening (HTS) approaches. Remarkably, this approach resulted in alerts for a selection of substances that are already on the market and represent relevant exposure in consumers. Taken together, the case study provides proof-of-principle for the approach taken to identify substances of concern, and this approach can therefore be considered a supportive element to a next generation risk assessment strategy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mirjam Luijten
- Centre for Health Protection, Bilthoven, Netherlands
- *Correspondence: Mirjam Luijten,
| | - R. Corinne Sprong
- Centre for Nutrition, Prevention and Health Services, Bilthoven, Netherlands
| | - Emiel Rorije
- Centre for Safety of Substances and Products, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Bilthoven, Netherlands
| | | |
Collapse
|
5
|
Luijten M, Wackers PFK, Rorije E, Pennings JLA, Heusinkveld HJ. Relevance of In Vitro Transcriptomics for In Vivo Mode of Action Assessment. Chem Res Toxicol 2020; 34:452-459. [PMID: 33378166 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrestox.0c00313] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Recently, we reported an in vitro toxicogenomics comparison approach to categorize chemical substances according to similarities in their proposed toxicological modes of action. Use of such an approach for regulatory purposes requires, among others, insight into the extent of biological concordance between in vitro and in vivo findings. To that end, we applied the comparison approach to transcriptomics data from the Open TG-GATEs database for 137 substances with diverging modes of action and evaluated the outcomes obtained for rat primary hepatocytes and for rat liver. The results showed that a relatively small number of matches observed in vitro were also observed in vivo, whereas quite a large number of matches between substances were found to be relevant solely in vivo or in vitro. The latter could not be explained by physicochemical properties, leading to insufficient bioavailability or poor water solubility. Nevertheless, pathway analyses indicated that for relevant matches the mechanisms perturbed in vitro are consistent with those perturbed in vivo. These findings support the utility of the comparison approach as tool in mechanism-based risk assessment.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mirjam Luijten
- Centre for Health Protection, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), 3720 BA Bilthoven, The Netherlands
| | - Paul F K Wackers
- Centre for Health Protection, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), 3720 BA Bilthoven, The Netherlands
| | - Emiel Rorije
- Centre for Safety of Substances and Products, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), 3720 BA Bilthoven, The Netherlands
| | - Jeroen L A Pennings
- Centre for Health Protection, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), 3720 BA Bilthoven, The Netherlands
| | - Harm J Heusinkveld
- Centre for Health Protection, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), 3720 BA Bilthoven, The Netherlands
| |
Collapse
|