scholarly journals Can a chemical be both readily biodegradable AND very persistent (vP)? Weight-of-evidence determination demonstrates that phenanthrene is not persistent in the environment

2020 ◽  
Vol 32 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher B. Hughes ◽  
David M. Brown ◽  
Louise Camenzuli ◽  
Aaron D. Redman ◽  
J. Samuel Arey ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Relevant Information ◽  
Weight Of Evidence ◽  
Regulatory Decision ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Polycyclic Aromatic ◽  
Data Points ◽  
Apex Model ◽  
Assessment And Testing ◽  
Soil And Sediment

Abstract Under the European REACH regulation, chemicals are assessed for persistence as part of weight-of-evidence determinations of persistence, bioaccumulation and toxicity (PBT), as required under Annex XIII and supported by an Integrated Assessment and Testing Strategy (ITS). This study describes the persistence assessment of phenanthrene, a data-rich polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH), in accordance with this framework. All available data from screening and simulation tests, for water, soil and sediment compartments, plus other relevant information, have been compiled. These have been evaluated for reliability and relevance, and a weight-of-evidence determination of persistence has been carried out. Aspects relevant to the assessment, such as degradation metabolites, non-extractable residues (NER), test temperature and bioavailability, have also been considered. The resulting assessment considered a wide range of evidence, including 101 experimental data points. Phenanthrene was demonstrated to be readily biodegradable, a first-tier screen for non-persistence in the ITS. Furthermore, weight-of-evidence assessment of data for water, soil and sediment compartments supported a conclusion of “not persistent” (not P). In non-standard soil studies with sludge-amended soils, longer half-lives were observed. This was attributable to pyrogenic sources of and significantly reduced bioavailability of phenanthrene, highlighting the importance of bioavailability as a major source of variability in persistence data. Available simulation test data for the sediment compartment were found to be unreliable due to the anoxic impact of the use of a biodegradable solvent in a closed system, and were inconsistent with the broader weight of evidence. Estimation of photodegradation using AOPWIN and the APEX model demonstrated this to be an important fate process not currently considered in persistence assessments under REACH. The assessment is not in agreement with a recent regulatory decision in which phenanthrene was determined to be very persistent (vP). This assessment provides a case study for persistence assessment using the REACH ITS and highlights the need for improved guidance to improve consistency and predictability of assessments. This is particularly important for complex cases with data-rich chemicals, such as phenanthrene.

scholarly journals Dispersive evaluation and surface chemistry of advanced, multifunctional silica/lignin hybrid biomaterials

2013 ◽  
Vol 11 (11) ◽  
pp. 1860-1873 ◽  
Author(s):  
Magdalena Nowacka ◽  
Łukasz Klapiszewski ◽  
Małgorzata Norman ◽  
Teofil Jesionowski
Keyword(s):  
Zeta Potential ◽  
Surface Charge ◽  
Electrochemical Sensors ◽  
Relevant Information ◽  
Structural Features ◽  
Kraft Lignin ◽  
Morphological Properties ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Hybrid Biomaterials

AbstractAdvanced silica/lignin hybrid biomaterials were obtained using hydrated or fumed silicas (Aerosil®200) and Kraft lignin as precursors, which is a cheap and biodegradable natural polymer. To extend the possible range of applications, the silicas were first modified with N-2-(aminoethyl)-3-aminopropyltrimethoxsysilane, and then with Kraft lignin, which had been oxidized with sodium periodate. The SiO2/lignin hybrids and precursors were characterised by means of determination of their physicochemical and dispersive-morphological properties. The effectiveness of silica binding to lignin was verified by FT-IR spectroscopy. The zeta potential value provides relevant information regarding interactions between colloid particles. Measurement of the zeta potential values enabled an indirect assessment of stability for the studied hybrid systems. Determination of zeta potential and density of surface charge also permitted the quantitative analysis of changes in surface charge, and indirectly confirmed the effectiveness of the proposed method for synthesis of SiO2/lignin hybrid materials. A particularly attractive feature for practical use is their stability, especially electrokinetic stability. It is expected that silica/lignin hybrids will find a wide range of applications (polymer fillers, biosorbents, electrochemical sensors), as they combine the unique properties of silica with the specific structural features of lignin. This makes these hybrids biomaterials advanced and multifunctional.

scholarly journals U.S. Supreme Court Brief of Professors of Conflict of Laws and Civil Procedure as Amici Curiae in Support of Petitioners, Animal Science Products, Inc. v. Hebei Welcome Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd.

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher A. Whytock ◽  
Zachary D. Clopton
Keyword(s):  
Relevant Information ◽  
Civil Procedure ◽  
Choice Of Law ◽  
Conflict Of Laws ◽  
Foreign Law ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
American Law ◽  
Foreign Governments ◽  
Court Proceedings

The Second Circuit held that “when a foreign government, acting through counsel or otherwise, directly participates in U.S. court proceedings by providing a sworn evidentiary proffer regarding the construction and effect of its laws and regulations, which is reasonable under the circumstances presented, a U.S. court is bound to defer to those statements.” In re Vitamin C Antitrust Litigation, 837 F.3d 175, 189 (2d Cir. 2016). This “bound-to-defer” rule is incorrect and unwise.First, the “bound-to-defer” rule is inconsistent with basic American conflict-of-laws principles governing the determination of foreign law. It is inconsistent with Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 44.1’s broad authorization for U.S. courts to “consider any relevant material or source” when determining foreign law. It is inconsistent with the principle that determinations of foreign law should be accurate. And it is inconsistent with the principle of judicial independence in the determination of foreign law.Second, the “bound-to-defer” rule is inconsistent with foreign and international practice. In most other countries, information about foreign law is not binding on courts. Moreover, the world’s two main treaties on the interpretation of foreign law expressly provide that information supplied by foreign governments in accordance with those treaties is not binding on courts. Simply put, foreign governments do not expect each other’s courts to be “bound to defer” to each other’s interpretations of foreign law, much less the interpretation of one executive agency of a foreign government.Third, there are important reasons why deference principles should be kept separate from the principles governing the determination of foreign law. The Second Circuit’s “bound-to-defer” rule would inappropriately delegate to foreign governments power to influence the application of domestic law — and hence the implementation of domestic policy — in a wide range of cases in which the proper application of U.S. law depends on the determination of foreign law. In addition, international comity does not require U.S. courts to defer to foreign governments in the determination of foreign law. International comity is a traditional rationale for choice-of-law rules that require the application of foreign law as a rule of decision under specified circumstances. But in this case, foreign law is at issue because the application of U.S. law depends on the interpretation of foreign law, not because choice-of-law rules require the application of foreign law. Therefore, this case does not implicate the comity rationale for choice-of-law rules. Moreover, the concerns that animate comity doctrines are not the same as those that animate the rules governing the determination of foreign law. The former are concerned with the respect owed between governments, whereas the latter are concerned with ensuring that U.S. courts independently and accurately determine the content of foreign law. In fact, the “bound-to-defer” rule raises issues that are likely to pose significant comity concerns that the ordinary Rule 44.1 approach avoids. U.S. courts can still address comity concerns — separately from their independent determination of foreign law.To be sure, U.S. courts should give respectful consideration to a foreign government’s statements about its law. But as a matter of law, a foreign government’s statements cannot be binding on U.S. courts. Instead, U.S. courts should accurately and independently determine the meaning of foreign law taking into account not only the foreign government’s own statements, but also other relevant information about that law. This independent approach is especially important when — as in this U.S. antitrust case and many other cases — the proper application of American law depends on a determination of foreign law.

scholarly journals Application of QuEChERS for Determining Xenobiotics in Foods of Animal Origin

2017 ◽  
Vol 2017 ◽  
pp. 1-13 ◽  
Author(s):  
Coralia V. Garcia ◽  
Ahmed Gotah
Keyword(s):  
Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons ◽  
Aromatic Hydrocarbons ◽  
Veterinary Drugs ◽  
Small Samples ◽  
Animal Origin ◽  
Animal Products ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Recent Developments ◽  
Polycyclic Aromatic

The use of pesticides and veterinary drugs results in the appearance of residues of xenobiotics in foods. Thus, several methods have been developed for monitoring them; however, most are tedious and expensive. By contrast, the QuEChERS (Quick, Easy, Cheap, Effective, Rugged, and Safe) methodology involves a microextraction that yields small samples and has been applied for the analysis of various xenobiotics including pesticides, antibiotics, and mycotoxins. QuEChERS has shown advantages over other techniques including fast sample preparation, reduced needs for reagents and labware, and versatility. This approach allows the simultaneous determination of pesticides with various polarities and volatilities and can be easily modified for the analysis of a wide range of xenobiotics in various matrices including animal products rich in fat. Nevertheless, to attain high recoveries, the extraction, cleanup, and concentration steps have to be optimized according to the target compounds and matrix. Hence, QuEChERS is a promising and environmentally friendly methodology for the high-throughput routine analysis of xenobiotics in animal products. This review focuses on the application of QuEChERS to foods of animal origin and describes recent developments for the optimization of the analysis of veterinary drugs, pesticides, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and other compounds of concern.

Explicit Wiener–Hopf factorization and nonlinear Riemann–Hilbert problems

2002 ◽  
Vol 132 (1) ◽  
pp. 45-74 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. C. Câmara ◽  
A. F. dos Santos ◽  
M. P. Carpentier
Keyword(s):  
Linear Transformation ◽  
Relevant Information ◽  
The Other ◽  
Factorization Problem ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Complete Determination ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
Class Of Functions

A method for explicit Wiener–Hopf factorization of 2 × 2 matrix-valued functions is presented together with an abstract definition of a class of functions, C(Q1, Q2), to which it applies. The method involves the reduction of the original factorization problem to certain nonlinear scalar Riemann–Hilbert problems, which are easier to solve. The class C(Q1, Q2) contains a wide range of classes dealt with in the literature, including the well-known Daniele–Khrapkov class. The structure of the factors in the factorization of any element of the class C(Q1, Q2) is studied and a relation between the two columns of the factors, which gives one of the columns in terms of the other through a linear transformation, is established. This greatly simplifies the complete determination of the factors and gives relevant information on the nature of the factorization. Two examples suggested by applications are completely worked out.

Determination of the International Sensitivity Index of a New Near-Patient Testing Device to Monitor Oral Anticoagulant Therapy

1997 ◽  
Vol 78 (02) ◽  
pp. 855-858 ◽  
Author(s):  
Armando Tripodi ◽  
Veena Chantarangkul ◽  
Marigrazia Clerici ◽  
Barbara Negri ◽  
Pier Mannuccio Mannucci
Keyword(s):  
Linear Relationship ◽  
Whole Blood ◽  
Oral Anticoagulant ◽  
Oral Anticoagulant Therapy ◽  
Oral Anticoagulants ◽  
Calibration Model ◽  
Testing Device ◽  
Data Points ◽  
Near Patient Testing

SummaryA key issue for the reliable use of new devices for the laboratory control of oral anticoagulant therapy with the INR is their conformity to the calibration model. In the past, their adequacy has mostly been assessed empirically without reference to the calibration model and the use of International Reference Preparations (IRP) for thromboplastin. In this study we reviewed the requirements to be fulfilled and applied them to the calibration of a new near-patient testing device (TAS, Cardiovascular Diagnostics) which uses thromboplastin-containing test cards for determination of the INR. On each of 10 working days citrat- ed whole blood and plasma samples were obtained from 2 healthy subjects and 6 patients on oral anticoagulants. PT testing on whole blood and plasma was done with the TAS and parallel testing for plasma by the manual technique with the IRP CRM 149S. Conformity to the calibration model was judged satisfactory if the following requirements were met: (i) there was a linear relationship between paired log-PTs (TAS vs CRM 149S); (ii) the regression line drawn through patients data points, passed through those of normals; (iii) the precision of the calibration expressed as the CV of the slope was <3%. A good linear relationship was observed for calibration plots for plasma and whole blood (r = 0.98). Regression lines drawn through patients data points, passed through those of normals. The CVs of the slope were in both cases 2.2% and the ISIs were 0.965 and 1.000 for whole blood and plasma. In conclusion, our study shows that near-patient testing devices can be considered reliable tools to measure INR in patients on oral anticoagulants and provides guidelines for their evaluation.

DISCHARGE WATERS: DETERMINATION OF POLYCYCLIC AROMATIC HYDROCARBON (PAH) LEVELS BY A GC-MS/MS METHOD

2015 ◽  
Vol 14 (5) ◽  
pp. 1195-1202 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nadia Crini ◽  
Coline Druart ◽  
Caroline Amiot ◽  
Sophie Gavoille ◽  
Gregorio Crini
Keyword(s):  
Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon ◽  
Aromatic Hydrocarbon ◽  
Polycyclic Aromatic
Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document