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The United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals have been established to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure prosperity for all. Delivery of the Sustainable Development Goals will require a healthy and productive environment. An understanding of the impacts of chemicals which can negatively impact environmental health is therefore essential to the delivery of the Sustainable Development Goals. However, current research on and regulation of chemicals in the environment tend to take a simplistic view and do not account for the complexity of the real world, which inhibits the way we manage chemicals. There is therefore an urgent need for a step change in the way we study and communicate the impacts and control of chemicals in the natural environment. To do this requires the major research questions to be identified so that resources are focused on questions that really matter. We present the findings of a horizon-scanning exercise to identify research priorities of the European environmental science community around chemicals in the environment. Using the key questions approach, we identified 22 questions of priority. These questions covered overarching questions about which chemicals we should be most concerned about and where, impacts of global megatrends, protection goals, and sustainability of chemicals; the development and parameterization of assessment and management frameworks; and mechanisms to maximize the impact of the research. The research questions identified provide a first-step in the path forward for the research, regulatory, and business communities to better assess and manage chemicals in the natural environment.

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Cadmium (Cd) is abundantly documented as a metal mainly affecting tubular function both in workers and in the general population indirectly exposed via the environment. Results from epidemiological studies linking Cd exposure and risk of progression to chronic kidney disease (CKD) are, however, conflicting. To perform a systematic review of the association between Cd exposure and CKD. A systematic appraisal of publications found in MEDLINE (1946-2014), EMBASE (1974-2012) and an in-house database (1986-2013) was conducted. Additional studies were searched for by contacting experts and checking reference lists. Search terms used key and text words. No language restriction was applied. Cohort, case-control and case-series with follow-up including individual and objective assessment of occupational or environmental exposure were eligible. Studies were selected and data extracted by two independent reviewers using predefined forms. Study characteristics and results were extracted to structured tables. Synthesis was qualitative and results appraised with causality criteria. Thirty-four exposed groups, totaling more than 3000 participants, were eligible. Overall, results disclosed no convincing evidence supporting a risk of progression to CKD in populations exposed to Cd. Lack of information about methods, risk of bias and heterogeneity were identified as limitations and precluded conducting a meta-analysis. Publication bias did not appear as a major problem. This qualitative systematic review does not support the contention that human exposure to Cd leads to progressive CKD.

Cobalt metal and cobalt compounds are relatively rare elements of the earth’s crust, widely used in the industry and essential element for humans in the form of vitamin B12, provided in the diet. Excessive occupational or environmental exposure to cobalt is associated with health effects on various organs, including the respiratory tract, the skin, the hematopoietic system, the thyroid gland, the myocardium and the central nervous system. Some evidence of carcinogenic, mutagenic and reprotoxic potential of cobalt has also been suggested. This work focuses on potential effects of cobalt on thyroid function, red blood cells characteristics and myocardium parameters in the workplace. In this context, some studies have been performed but they are few and sometimes conflicting. Our objectives were therefore to assess, in one of the largest occupational populations worldwide (256 workers), the levels of exposure to cobalt and the possible relationship with incipient or established signs of adverse effects on the thyroid and the red blood cells, and with incipient or established signs of dilated cardiomyopathy. By generating a ‘point on the curve’ among other investigations, we aimed at providing additional data to help determining acceptable levels of exposure in the industry. We conclude from our investigations that, at a median short-term cobalturia of ~4 µg/gcreat and at a median long-term cobalturia, computed over 0.3 to 36 years, of ~100 µg/gcreat x years, cobalt exposure is not likely to interfere with thyroid metabolism or with the production of red blood cells, nor to induce dilated cardiomyopathy. The recommended biological limit of occupational exposure (15 µg/gcreat in urine) appears therefore sufficiently protective for the workers., (MED 3) -- UCL, 2012

Peritoneal endometriosis (PE) and deep endometriotic nodules (DEN) are gynecological diseases recently shown to be associated with elevated serum concentrations of organochlorines. The objective of the present study was to compare risk factors associated with both forms of the disease, with a particular attention to potential sources of organochlorine exposure. This matched case-control study with prospective recruitment included 88 triads (PE-DEN-control). All women were face-to-face interviewed with a standardized questionnaire, and serum dioxin and polychlorinated biphenyl measurements were available for 58 of them. Alcohol consumption (odds ratio (OR): 5.82 [confidence interval at 95% (95%CI) 1.20-28.3]) in DEN and low physical activity at work for DEN (OR: 4.58 [95%CI 1.80-11.62]) and PE (OR: 5.61 [95%CI 1.90-16.60]) were traced as significant risk factors. Organochlorine-related factors (use of tampons, occupational or environmental exposure) were not related to the disease. The current consumption of foodstuffs that were more likely to contribute to organochlorine body burden did not differ among the groups. Only some of these fatty foodstuffs (marine fish, pig meat) were traced by multiple regression analysis as significant determinants of organochlorine body burden, explaining only a small fraction (20%) of the interindividual variation of organochlorine body burden. We conclude that PE and DEN share similar patterns of risk or protective factors.

OBJECTIVES: Cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb) have been demonstrated to exert endocrine disrupting activities. Their possible role in endometriosis, an oestrogen-dependent disease, is unknown. METHODS: We compared cadmium urinary excretion (CdU) and blood concentration of cadmium (CdB) and lead (PbB) in 119 patients with peritoneal endometriosis and/or deep endometriotic (adenomyotic) nodules of the rectovaginal septum and 25 controls. RESULTS: The mean levels of cadmium in urine and blood did not differ among the groups. Women suffering from endometriotic diseases showed lower levels of PbB than controls. CONCLUSIONS: These data do not support a role for cadmium in the onset or the growth of endometriotic diseases but suggest a possible relationship with lead.

The aim of this study was to estimate occupational exposure to inhalable wood dust by country, industry, the level of exposure and type of wood dust in 25 member states of the European Union (EU-25) for the purposes of hazard control, exposure surveillance and assessment of health risks. National labour force statistics, a country questionnaire (in 15 member states, EU-15), a company survey (in Finland, France, Germany and Spain), exposure measurements (from Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, The Netherlands and the United Kingdom) and expert judgements were used to generate preliminary estimates of exposure to different types of wood dust. The estimates were generated according to industrial class (six wood industries, four other sectors) and level of exposure (five classes). These estimates were reviewed and finalized by national experts from 15 member states. Crude estimates were generated also for 10 new member states (EU-10). The basic data and final estimates were included in the WOODEX database. In 2000-2003, about 3.6 million workers (2.0% of the employed EU-25 population) were occupationally exposed to inhalable wood dust. Of those, construction employed 1.2 million exposed workers (33%), mostly construction carpenters. The numbers of exposed workers were 700000 (20%) in the furniture industry, 300000 (9%) in the manufacture of builders' carpentry, 200000 (5%) in sawmilling,150000 (4%) in forestry and < 100000 in other wood industries. In addition, there were 700000 exposed workers (20%) in miscellaneous industries employing carpenters, joiners and other woodworkers. The numbers of exposed workers varied by country ranging from < 3000 in Luxembourg and Malta to 700000 in Germany. The highest exposure levels were estimated to occur in the construction sector and furniture industry. Due to limited exposure data there was considerable uncertainty in the estimates concerning construction woodworkers. About 560000 workers (16% of the exposed) may be exposed to a

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the possible association between the body burden of dioxin-like compounds and endometriotic disease. DESIGN: Case-control study. SETTING: Gynecology ward in a university hospital. PATIENT(S): Seventy-one women with peritoneal endometriosis (n = 25) or deep endometriotic (adenomyotic) nodules (n = 25) and controls (n = 21). INTERVENTION(S): Collection of 200 mL of blood (fasted) and face-to-face interview. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Assessment of dioxin (PCDD), furan (PCDF), and dioxin-like PCB serum concentrations (picograms toxic equivalent [TEQ]/g lipids). RESULT(S): Age and body mass index were traced by linear multiple regression as determinants of total TEQ levels. After standardization for these variables (30 years and 22.5 kg/m2), the mean TEQ levels were 24.21 (controls), 30.62 (peritoneal endometriosis), and 37.60 (deep endometriotic [adenomyotic] nodules) pg TEQ/g lipids. Logistic regression analysis indicated a significantly increased risk of deep endometriotic (adenomyotic) nodules (odds ratio [OR], 3.3; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.4-7.6) for an increment of 10 pg in total TEQ levels/g lipids. An increased risk was also found for peritoneal endometriosis (OR, 1.9; 95% CI, 0.9-3.8) for total TEQ levels and for dioxins alone (OR, 3.2; 95% CI, 1.0-9.9). CONCLUSION(S): The results provide the first epidemiological evidence of an association between increased PCDD/PCDF and PCB body burden and endometriosis.

Background: Several health hazards have been associated with cadmium exposure. In workers, mainly exposed by inhalation to cadmium compounds, toxic effects affecting the lung, kidney and skeleton have been reported. For the general population primarily exposed through the diet, main target organs are the kidney and the bone. Results from experimental and epidemiological studies have also suggested that cadmium may be genotoxic and carcinogenic. For some of these effects, the huge amount of literature available on cadmium did not allow to elucidate definitely outcomes associated with cadmium exposure or their mechanisms. As exposure to cadmium and its compounds still exists and as it cumulates in the human body over the years, a thorough evaluation of the health risk associated with cadmium exposure is required in order to identify if and where risk reduction strategies should be applied. Objective: The main objective of the work was to address three pending issues of public health relevance. Aim was to focus on the remaining uncertainties about effects of most concern, expected to occur upon repeated, long-term exposure to cadmium. Research questions are summarised as follows: What is the evidence that cadmium exerts genotoxic effects in humans? What is the evidence that cadmium is a carcinogen in humans? What is the evidence that cadmium is a cause of clinically relevant chronic renal disease? To address these questions, we have reviewed and synthesised the existing literature using the principles and methods of the systematic review, which we consider to be an interesting tool in the risk assessment of chemicals. After applying principles and methodology of the systematic review to the three reseach questions, interests and limitations of the systematic review were discussed. Results: Regarding genotoxic and carcinogenic effects associated with cadmium exposure, reviewing systematically the available data allowed to identify the sources of diversity across the var, Thèse de doctorat en sciences de la santé publique (toxicologie industrielle) (ESP 3)--UCL, 2005

Environmental chemicals with oestrogen-like activity are suspected aetiological factors of endometriosis. In animal experiments, cadmium was recently shown to possess oestrogen-like properties. In the frame of a case-control study designed to investigate environmental risk factors for endometriosis, we compared cadmium urinary excretion (CdU) and blood concentration in 59 patients with peritoneal endometriosis, deep endometriotic (adenomyotic) nodules of the recto-vaginal septum and controls. After standardisation for age (30 years) and smoking status, the mean levels of cadmium in urine were (geometric mean [geometric S.D.]) 0.25 [1.50], 0.29 [1.76] and 0.26 [1.46] microg/g creatinine, respectively. Cadmium concentrations in blood did not differ among the three groups. These data, therefore, do not support a role for cadmium in the onset or the growth of endometriosis or deep endometriotic (adenomyotic) nodules of the recto-vaginal septum.