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Schlüter U, Spinazzè A. Understanding the limitations and application of occupational exposure models in a REACH context. JOURNAL OF OCCUPATIONAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL HYGIENE 2023; 20:336-349. [PMID: 37159939 DOI: 10.1080/15459624.2023.2208188] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
Exposure modeling plays a significant role for regulatory organizations, companies, and professionals involved in assessing and managing occupational health risks in workplaces. One context in which occupational exposure models are particularly relevant is the REACH Regulation in the European Union (Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006). This commentary describes the models for the occupational inhalation exposure assessment of chemicals within the REACH framework, their theoretical background, applications, and limitations, as well as the latest developments and priorities for model improvement. Summing up the debate, despite its relevance and importance in the context of REACH not being in question, occupational exposure modeling needs to be improved in many respects. There is a need to reach a wide consensus on several key issues (e.g., the theoretical background and the reliability of modeling tools), to consolidate and monitor model performance and regulatory acceptance, and to align practices and policies regarding exposure modeling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Urs Schlüter
- Unit "Exposure Assessment", Exposure Science, Federal Institute for Occupational Safety and Health-BAuA, Dortmund, Germany
| | - Andrea Spinazzè
- Department of Science and High Technology, University of Insubria, Como, Italy
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Koivisto AJ, Jayjock M, Hämeri KJ, Kulmala M, Van Sprang P, Yu M, Boor BE, Hussein T, Koponen IK, Löndahl J, Morawska L, Little JC, Arnold S. Evaluating the Theoretical Background of STOFFENMANAGER® and the Advanced REACH Tool. Ann Work Expo Health 2021; 66:520-536. [PMID: 34365499 PMCID: PMC9030124 DOI: 10.1093/annweh/wxab057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2021] [Revised: 06/07/2021] [Accepted: 07/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
STOFFENMANAGER® and the Advanced REACH Tool (ART) are recommended tools by the European Chemical Agency for regulatory chemical safety assessment. The models are widely used and accepted within the scientific community. STOFFENMANAGER® alone has more than 37 000 users globally and more than 310 000 risk assessment have been carried out by 2020. Regardless of their widespread use, this is the first study evaluating the theoretical backgrounds of each model. STOFFENMANAGER® and ART are based on a modified multiplicative model where an exposure base level (mg m−3) is replaced with a dimensionless intrinsic emission score and the exposure modifying factors are replaced with multipliers that are mainly based on subjective categories that are selected by using exposure taxonomy. The intrinsic emission is a unit of concentration to the substance emission potential that represents the concentration generated in a standardized task without local ventilation. Further information or scientific justification for this selection is not provided. The multipliers have mainly discrete values given in natural logarithm steps (…, 0.3, 1, 3, …) that are allocated by expert judgements. The multipliers scientific reasoning or link to physical quantities is not reported. The models calculate a subjective exposure score, which is then translated to an exposure level (mg m−3) by using a calibration factor. The calibration factor is assigned by comparing the measured personal exposure levels with the exposure score that is calculated for the respective exposure scenarios. A mixed effect regression model was used to calculate correlation factors for four exposure group [e.g. dusts, vapors, mists (low-volatiles), and solid object/abrasion] by using ~1000 measurements for STOFFENMANAGER® and 3000 measurements for ART. The measurement data for calibration are collected from different exposure groups. For example, for dusts the calibration data were pooled from exposure measurements sampled from pharmacies, bakeries, construction industry, and so on, which violates the empirical model basic principles. The calibration databases are not publicly available and thus their quality or subjective selections cannot be evaluated. STOFFENMANAGER® and ART can be classified as subjective categorization tools providing qualitative values as their outputs. By definition, STOFFENMANAGER® and ART cannot be classified as mechanistic models or empirical models. This modeling algorithm does not reflect the physical concept originally presented for the STOFFENMANAGER® and ART. A literature review showed that the models have been validated only at the ‘operational analysis’ level that describes the model usability. This review revealed that the accuracy of STOFFENMANAGER® is in the range of 100 000 and for ART 100. Calibration and validation studies have shown that typical log-transformed predicted exposure concentration and measured exposure levels often exhibit weak Pearson’s correlations (r is <0.6) for both STOFFENMANAGER® and ART. Based on these limitations and performance departure from regulatory criteria for risk assessment models, it is recommended that STOFFENMANAGER® and ART regulatory acceptance for chemical safety decision making should be explicitly qualified as to their current deficiencies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antti Joonas Koivisto
- ARCHE Consulting, Liefkensstraat 35D, B-9032 Wondelgem, Belgium.,Institute for Atmospheric and Earth System Research (INAR), University of Helsinki, PL 64, FI-00014 UHEL, Helsinki, Finland.,Air Pollution Management, Willemoesgade 16, st tv, Copenhagen DK-2100, Denmark
| | | | - Kaarle J Hämeri
- Institute for Atmospheric and Earth System Research (INAR), University of Helsinki, PL 64, FI-00014 UHEL, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Markku Kulmala
- Institute for Atmospheric and Earth System Research (INAR), University of Helsinki, PL 64, FI-00014 UHEL, Helsinki, Finland
| | | | - Mingzhou Yu
- Laboratory of Aerosol Science and Technology, China Jiliang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Brandon E Boor
- Lyles School of Civil Engineering, Purdue University, 550 Stadium Mall Drive, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA.,Ray W. Herrick Laboratories, Center for High Performance Buildings, Purdue University, 177 South Russell Street, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA
| | - Tareq Hussein
- Institute for Atmospheric and Earth System Research (INAR), University of Helsinki, PL 64, FI-00014 UHEL, Helsinki, Finland.,Department of Physics, The University of Jordan, Amman 11942, Jordan
| | | | - Jakob Löndahl
- Division of Ergonomics and Aerosol Technology, Lund University, PO Box 118, SE-221 00 Lund, Sweden
| | - Lidia Morawska
- International Laboratory for Air Quality and Health, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD 4001, Australia.,Ingham Institute of Applied Medical Research, Liverpool, NSW 2170, Australia
| | - John C Little
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24060, USA
| | - Susan Arnold
- University of Minnesota Twin Cities, Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, 420 Delaware St SE, Minneapolis, MN, USA
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Savic N, Lee EG, Gasic B, Vernez D. Inter-assessor Agreement for TREXMO and Its Models Outside the Translation Framework. Ann Work Expo Health 2020; 63:814-820. [PMID: 31120098 DOI: 10.1093/annweh/wxz040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2019] [Revised: 04/23/2019] [Accepted: 05/03/2019] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Within the framework of Registration, Evaluation, Authorization, and restriction of CHemicals (REACH), occupational exposure models are often used to predict the levels of exposure at a workplace. Poor inter-assessor agreement with their use poses a concern that may lead to different and dangerous risk conclusions. TREXMO (v1, 2016), a web tool providing parameter translations between six exposure models under REACH, is expected to improve the inter-assessor agreement. In this study, 18 assessors performed exposure assessment for six exposure situations within and outside the framework of this translation tool. In more than half of the evaluated cases, the results showed better agreement between assessors selecting the exposure parameters within the framework of TREXMO than when manually coding. The most affected were the parameters related to activity (such as "handling types" of Stoffenmanager) and exposure control (such as local controls). Furthermore, the agreement between the estimates calculated by different assessors was also improved when performing the translations between the models. For Stoffenmanager, for example, the relative standard deviation of 70-121%, obtained for vapors without applying the translation system, was 29-94% with the translations from ART. These findings showed a potential of TREXMO to impact the inter-assessor agreement. Because the study was limited to 18 assessors and only six exposure situations were assessed, further investigations are suggested.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nenad Savic
- Centre for Primary Care and Public Health (Unisanté), University of Lausanne, Epalinges-Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Eun Gyung Lee
- National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), Health Effects Laboratory Division (HELD), Exposure Assessment Branch (EAB), Morgantown, WV, USA
| | - Bojan Gasic
- Chemicals and Occupational Health Unit, Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO), Holzikofenweg, Bern, Switzerland
| | - David Vernez
- Centre for Primary Care and Public Health (Unisanté), University of Lausanne, Epalinges-Lausanne, Switzerland
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Heussen H, Arnone M, van der Haar R, Borghi F, Spinazzè A, Hollander A. Response to Savic et al. on: Inter-assessor Agreement for TREXMO and Its Models Outside the Translation Framework. Ann Work Expo Health 2019; 64:217-219. [DOI: 10.1093/annweh/wxz094] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Henri Heussen
- Cosanta BV, Laan van Kronenburg, AS Amstelveen, The Netherlands
| | - Mario Arnone
- Institute of Occupational Safety and Health of the DGUV (IFA), Sankt Augustin, Germany
| | | | - Francesca Borghi
- Department of Science and High Technology, University of Insubria, Como, Italy
| | - Andrea Spinazzè
- Department of Science and High Technology, University of Insubria, Como, Italy
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Spinazzè A, Borghi F, Campagnolo D, Rovelli S, Keller M, Fanti G, Cattaneo A, Cavallo DM. How to Obtain a Reliable Estimate of Occupational Exposure? Review and Discussion of Models' Reliability. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2019; 16:ijerph16152764. [PMID: 31382456 PMCID: PMC6695664 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph16152764] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2019] [Revised: 07/24/2019] [Accepted: 07/30/2019] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Evaluation and validation studies of quantitative exposure models for occupational exposure assessment are still scarce and generally only consider a limited number of exposure scenarios. The aim of this review was to report the current state of knowledge of models’ reliability in terms of precision, accuracy, and robustness. A systematic review was performed through searches of major scientific databases (Web of Science, Scopus, and PubMed), concerning reliability of Tier1 (“ECETOC TRA”-European Centre for Ecotoxicology and Toxicology of Chemicals Targeted Risk Assessment, MEASE, and EMKG-Expo-Tool) and Tier2 models (STOFFENMANAGER® and “ART”-Advanced Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) Tool). Forty-five studies were identified, and we report the complete information concerning model performance in different exposure scenarios, as well as between-user reliability. Different studies describe the ECETOC TRA model as insufficient conservative to be a Tier1 model, in different exposure scenarios. Contrariwise, MEASE and EMKG-Expo-Tool seem to be conservative enough, even if these models have not been deeply evaluated. STOFFENMANAGER® resulted the most balanced and robust model. Finally, ART was generally found to be the most accurate and precise model, with a medium level of conservatism. Overall, the results showed that no complete evaluation of the models has been conducted, suggesting the need for correct and harmonized validation of these tools.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Spinazzè
- Dipartimento di Scienza e Alta Tecnologia, Università degli Studi dell'Insubria, Via Valleggio 11, 22100 Como, Italy.
| | - Francesca Borghi
- Dipartimento di Scienza e Alta Tecnologia, Università degli Studi dell'Insubria, Via Valleggio 11, 22100 Como, Italy.
| | - Davide Campagnolo
- Dipartimento di Scienza e Alta Tecnologia, Università degli Studi dell'Insubria, Via Valleggio 11, 22100 Como, Italy
| | - Sabrina Rovelli
- Dipartimento di Scienza e Alta Tecnologia, Università degli Studi dell'Insubria, Via Valleggio 11, 22100 Como, Italy
| | - Marta Keller
- Dipartimento di Scienza e Alta Tecnologia, Università degli Studi dell'Insubria, Via Valleggio 11, 22100 Como, Italy
| | - Giacomo Fanti
- Dipartimento di Scienza e Alta Tecnologia, Università degli Studi dell'Insubria, Via Valleggio 11, 22100 Como, Italy
| | - Andrea Cattaneo
- Dipartimento di Scienza e Alta Tecnologia, Università degli Studi dell'Insubria, Via Valleggio 11, 22100 Como, Italy
| | - Domenico Maria Cavallo
- Dipartimento di Scienza e Alta Tecnologia, Università degli Studi dell'Insubria, Via Valleggio 11, 22100 Como, Italy
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Koivisto AJ, Jensen ACØ, Koponen IK. The general ventilation multipliers calculated by using a standard Near-Field/Far-Field model. JOURNAL OF OCCUPATIONAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL HYGIENE 2018; 15:D38-D43. [PMID: 29494272 DOI: 10.1080/15459624.2018.1440084] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
In conceptual exposure models, the transmission of pollutants in an imperfectly mixed room is usually described with general ventilation multipliers. This is the approach used in the Advanced REACH Tool (ART) and Stoffenmanager® exposure assessment tools. The multipliers used in these tools were reported by Cherrie (1999; http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/104732299302530 ) and Cherrie et al. (2011; http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/annhyg/mer092 ) who developed them by positing input values for a standard Near-Field/Far-Field (NF/FF) model and then calculating concentration ratios between NF and FF concentrations. This study revisited the calculations that produce the multipliers used in ART and Stoffenmanager and found that the recalculated general ventilation multipliers were up to 2.8 times (280%) higher than the values reported by Cherrie (1999) and the recalculated NF and FF multipliers for 1-hr exposure were up to 1.2 times (17%) smaller and for 8-hr exposure up to 1.7 times (41%) smaller than the values reported by Cherrie et al. (2011). Considering that Stoffenmanager and the ART are classified as higher-tier regulatory exposure assessment tools, the errors is general ventilation multipliers should not be ignored. We recommend revising the general ventilation multipliers. A better solution is to integrate the NF/FF model to Stoffenmanager and the ART.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antti J Koivisto
- a National Research Centre for the Working Environment , Copenhagen , Denmark
| | | | - Ismo K Koponen
- a National Research Centre for the Working Environment , Copenhagen , Denmark
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