Documents test 8 results

"The aim of this discussion paper is to provide background information on widely accepted approaches for reducing animal testing and to initiate a multi-stakeholder discussion on the planning of future activities designed to apply these approaches in order to reduce animal testing under REACH. It is emphasised that the best way forward will be to develop “intelligent” testing strategies (ITS) for assessing the hazard and risk linked to regulatory endpoints, integrating multiple elements including in vitro tests, chemical categories (including read-across), in silico approaches (computational methods including QSARs), and exposure considerations. The strategies will need to be developed, assessed and refined in an iterative manner. Furthermore, the future development and refinement of all component methods and models should be driven by the gaps in the strategies. It is therefore not possible to anticipate in detail where future work will need to be focussed. However, it is clear that the benefits of integrating the use of all approaches will need to be continuously explored."

"REACH is a driving force for innovation. New business opportunities are currently being valuated all around Europe and companies providing REACH related services are developing innovative new concepts for future business. Some business, such as testing of chemicals, preparation of registration dossiers and exposure scenarios, and development of REACH data systems, are already relatively well defined. Others, like development of in vitro or in silico alternative testing methods, or new products and processes, may need much more innovative research work before they can be commercialised. The purpose of this discussion paper is to highlight those possibilities for research that are related to REACH and, if successful, can eventually form a basis for future business activity. Nowadays, a wide variety of existing data needs to be collected and used for risk assessment. And REACH requires physicochemical, toxicological and ecotoxicological information of substances and their use for the estimation of risk. Many of the testing methods authorised by, for example, the OECD Test Guidelines, are scientifically valid and the results are accurate. But some physicochemical parameters, such as the noctanol/ water partition coefficients, may need further research due to the data deviations. There is an undisputable trend in the development of alternative methods for replacing several standard animal tests used for the measurement of toxicological endpoints, and the greatest expectations lie on the development of in vitro and in silico testing methods. Environmental hazard classification in REACH requires the assessment of aquatic toxicity, degradation and bioaccumulation of substances. In order to develop new innovative molecules and processes, industry may also need fast screening tests for chemicals. ... "

"The lockdowns in place around the world to limit the contagion of Covid-19 have been implemented without reliable information on the spread of the disease or the prevalence of the novel coronavirus in the population. The IGM Forum at Chicago Booth invited its panel of leading US economists to express their views on the role of testing for infections and antibodies to inform decisions about easing measures on social distancing and allowing the return of public activities. This column reveals a strong consensus among the experts on the value of random testing to establish baseline levels of the virus, and near unanimity on the need for a massive increase in testing capacity as part of a clear strategy for an economic restart."

"This paper argues for the regular testing of people in groups that are more likely to be exposed to SARS-CoV-2, to reduce the spread of COVID-19 and resume economic activity. We call this ‘stratified periodic testing'. It is ‘stratified' as it is based on at-risk groups, and ‘periodic' as everyone in the group is tested at regular intervals. We argue that this is a better use of scarce testing resources than ‘universal random testing', as has been recently discussed globally. We find that, under reasonable assumptions and allowing for false negative results 30 per cent of the time, 17 per cent of a subgroup would need to be tested each day to lower the effective reproduction number R from 2.5 to 0.75, under stratified periodic testing. Using the same assumptions the universal random testing rate would need to be 27 per cent (as opposed to 7 per cent as argued by Romer (2020b)). We obtain this rate of testing using a corrected method for calculating the impact of an infectious person on others, and allowing for asymptomatic cases. We also find that the effect of one day's delay between testing positive and self-isolating is similar to having a test that is 30 per cent less accurate."

"Objective
To evaluate the performance of three measurement strategies to test compliance with occupational exposure limits of similarly exposed groups (SEGs): the old and new versions of EN689, and the BOHS-NVvA guidance on measuring compliance.
Methods
Respirable dust exposures concentrations (n = 1383) measured within the member companies of IMA-Europe were used to compare compliance decisions between the three measurement strategies. A total of 210 SEGs of which 158 with repeated measurements were analysed. An R studio OHcomplianceStrategies package was created for the purpose.
Results
The old EN689 strategy resulted in the highest number of compliant SEGs in the preliminary tests and statistical test (49–52% and 83%) with lower percentages of compliance with the new EN689 standard (32–44% and 71%). The percentage of non-compliant SEGs was relatively similar between the old and new EN689 for the preliminary tests (1–12% versus 6–11%). However, the new EN689 declared almost twofold more SEGs non-compliant when applying the statistical test (29% versus 17%). The BOHS-NVvA individual test showed results in between the 26% non-compliant SEGs.
Conclusion
This study showed differences in compliance decisions between the old and new EN689, with the new EN689 being considerably more stringent and resulting in more non-compliant SEGs."