risk assessment Articles
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Re‐calibration of the earthworm tier 1 risk assessment of plant protection products
In the first step of the earthworm risk assessment for plant protection products the risk is assessed by comparing the no‐observed effect levels (NOEL) from the laboratory reproduction tests with the predicted exposure of the plant protection product in soil while applying a trigger value (assessment factor; AF) to cover uncertainties. If this indicates a potential risk, field studies are ...
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The epistemology of fault tree analysis: an ethical critique
Fault tree analysis (FTA) is one of the preeminent methods for testing the reliability, trustworthiness, and safety of engineered systems. Given their pervasiveness as a major tool for assessing the risks of technology, it is imperative that methodologies such as FTA are valid and sound. If a safety assessment based on an FTA is erroneous, the system may fail to work as expected. In this paper I ...
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EPA To Hold Public Meeting on Biotechnology Algae
On August 25, 2015, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published a notice in the Federal Register announcing a Public Meeting and Opportunity for Public Comment on Considerations for Risk Assessment of Genetically Engineered Algae. The public meeting, entitled "Workshop for Public Input on Considerations for Risk Assessment of Genetically Engineered Algae," is intended to receive ...
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Continued risk management of the diminishing bovine spongiform encephalopathy outbreak in the UK
The UK was the first country to detect bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) in 1986, and has reported the vast majority (over 97%) of the world's BSE cases. BSE resulted in large economic losses, disbanding of the lead government agency responsible for managing the outbreak and a loss of public trust in government. Despite a World Organization for Animal Health designation of 'controlled BSE ...
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Lethal and sublethal effects of three insecticides on two developmental stages of Xenopus laevis and comparison with other amphibians
It has been suggested that Xenopus laevis is less sensitive to some chemicals than other amphibians and therefore, the Frog Embryo Teratogenesis Assay‐Xenopus (FETAX) may have limited use in risk assessments for other amphibians. However, comparisons are mostly based on results of FETAX which emphasizes embryos. Larval X. laevis may be more sensitive to chemicals than embryos and may serve as ...
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Comparison of veterinary import risk analysis studies
Twenty-two veterinary import risk analyses (IRAs) were audited: a) for inclusion of the main elements of risk analysis; b) between different types of IRAs; c) between reviewers' scores. No significant differences were detected between different types of IRAs, although quantitative IRAs and IRAs published in peer-reviewed journals tended to have higher scores than qualitative and report-published ...
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Optimum short-term futures hedge using stochastic linear programming
Classical optimal hedge ratio concentrates on risk reduction and neglects strategic value maximisation. In this study, the authors use stochastic optimisation theories to formulate an optimal, short-term hedging scheme to mitigate risks while maximising portfolio value. Stochastic spot and futures price models are used to simulate prices. The periodic optimal hedge ratios are determined using the ...
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Risk assessment and risk management of bovine spongiform encephalopathy in Portugal
Portugal was one of the first countries outside of the UK to detect indigenous bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) cases. However, initial low compliance with control measures contributed to the occurrence of increasing numbers of cases. This resulted in Portugal being the only other country to be designated at a higher risk level (GBR IV) by the European Commission (EC). By 2003, Portugal had ...
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Quantitative risk assessment of acquiring listeriosis from consumption of minimally processed vegetables
Listeriosis is a serious invasive disease with high fatality rates especially among the vulnerable population. Although the causative pathogen had been detected in several foods in Malaysia, there have so far been no reported cases of listeriosis in Malaysia. The aim of this study was to carry out a quantitative risk assessment to estimate the risk of acquiring listeriosis through the consumption ...
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Glyphosate and AMPA chronic risk assessment for soil biota
Glyphosate is a broad‐spectrum herbicide used widely in agriculture, horticulture, private gardens and in public infrastructure, where it is applied to areas such as road sides, railway tracks and parks to control the growth of weeds. The exposure risk from glyphosate and the primary soil metabolite aminomethylphosphonic acid (AMPA) on representative species of earthworms, springtails, ...
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Risk considerations in the economic assessment of low–input crop production techniques: an example from Swiss wheat production
The role of risks in the adoption of low–input wheat production in Switzerland is investigated using farm–level panel data. Due to governmental support with environmental payments, low–input wheat production is found to be on average more profitable. However, low–input production is also more risky, in particular due to higher yield variability. The here presented analysis reveals that these ...
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Augmenting aquatic species sensitivity distributions with interspecies toxicity estimation models
Species sensitivity distributions (SSD) are cumulative distribution functions of species toxicity values. The SSD approach is increasingly being used in ecological risk assessment, but is often limited by available toxicity data necessary for diverse species representation. In this study we evaluate augmenting aquatic species databases limited to standard test species with toxicity values ...
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An occupational health and safety programme for crop farm workers in the Mangaung municipal district, Free State
The occupational hygiene of South African farm workers have been largely neglected because of the emphasis specifically put on the industrial environment. The aim of the study was to compile an applicable occupational hygiene programme for Mangaung crop farm workers. Twenty-five farms were selected and a list that included the different farm activities, number of workers and work hours was ...
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Beyond inclusion: effects and limits of institutionalised public participation
European institutions as well as member states have been recently promoting participatory procedures that are proclaimed to contribute to the legitimacy of political regimes and decision-making processes. Discussing three cases in the controversy over GMOs in the Czech Republic and France, this paper analyses participatory procedures as a power technique, and argues that they have a tendency to ...
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Mapping the risky decision space of commercial rock lobster fishermen
This article explores how commercial rock lobster fishermen from a small fishing town in South Eastern Australia make decisions about two important issues: whether to fish on a particular day and when to wear a life jacket. The analysis of the decisions integrates personal, social and cultural factors into a display of the fishermen's 'decision-space'. The outcome of these decisions has the ...
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Bats at risk? Bat activity and insecticide residue analysis of food items in an apple orchard
Although bats are reported as being threatened by pesticides, they are currently not considered in European Union pesticide risk assessments. The reason for that contradiction is probably related to the scarcity of information on bat activity in pesticide‐treated fields and the pesticide residues on their food items. The authors recorded bat activity and measured pesticide residues on ...
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Bioaccumulation and distribution of perfloroalkyl acids in seafood products from Bohai Bay, China
Ten perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) were measured in the seafood collected from Bohai Bay, China, in 2010. The summed concentrations of the PFAAs were in the ranges of ND–194 and 4.0 to 304 ng/g dry weight for invertebrates and fish, respectively. The levels of perflurooctanesulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) in the seafood were lower than those from North America, the Mediterranean ...
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Enantioselective toxicity and degradation of the chiral insecticide fipronil in Scenedesmus obliguus suspension system
Fipronil is an effective insecticide, but it present high toxic effect to non‐target aquatic organisms. The enantioselective toxicity and degradation of fipronil enantiomers in the freshwater algae Scenedesmus obliguus suspension were studied in the present study. There was great difference in the acute toxicity of the enantiomers to Scenedesmus obliguus with 72 h median effective ...
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The biotechnological food revolution: exploring the governance issues
Although advocates of genetically modified (GM) crops argue that such technology can enhance food output volumes, critics of the technology raise a number of concerns about the long-term effects of introducing GM inputs into the food chain. This paper reviews the evolution of GM food technology and identifies the scientific risks – to the consumer and the environment – arising from the ...
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Wings as a new route of exposure to pesticides in the honey bee
In pesticide risk assessment, the estimation of the routes and levels of exposure is critical. For honey bees, the toxicity of pesticides is assessed by thorax contact to account for all possible contact exposures of bees subjected to a pesticide spray. In this study, we tested 6 different active substances with different hydrophobicity, and for the first time, we demonstrated that it is ...
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