Retrospective cumulative dietary risk assessment of craniofacial alterations by residues of pesticides.

In 2022, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) conducted a dietary cumulative risk assessment for active substances of plant protection products on two types of craniofacial alterations: 1) craniofacial alterations due to abnormal skeletal development and 2) head soft tissue alterations and brain neural tube defects. These effects were selected based on developmental biology knowledge and a hypothetical teratogenic process. Cumulative risk assessment was conducted for 14 European populations of women in childbearing age.

The 2022 European Union report on pesticide residues in food.

Under European Union legislation (Article 32, Regulation (EC) No 396/2005), the European Food Safety Authority provides an annual report assessing the pesticide residue levels in foods on the European market. In 2022, 96.3% of the overall 110,829 samples analysed fell below the maximum residue level (MRL), 3.

Prioritisation of pesticides and target organ systems for dietary cumulative risk assessment based on the 2019-2021 monitoring cycle.

Aiming at accelerating the implementation of cumulative risk assessment to pesticide residues, this report describes a two-step prioritisation analysis, on individual pesticides and on target organ systems, that allows to identify (i) low-priority substances expected to have a marginal contribution to cumulative risk, and (ii) high priority organ systems to be addressed in future cumulative risk assessments. The analysis encompassed 350 substances and 36 raw primary commodities of plant origin surveyed in the monitoring cycle 2019-2021, carried out in 30 population groups, covering 3 age classes, and 17 EU countries. Probabilistic exposure calculations, for chronic and acute effects, were executed on the occurrence and consumption data by a two-dimensional procedure, modelling variability and uncertainty.

The 2021 European Union report on pesticide residues in food.

Under European Union legislation (Article 32, Regulation (EC) No 396/2005), EFSA is to provide an annual report assessing the pesticide residue levels in foods on the European market. In 2021, 96.1% of the overall 87,863 samples analysed fell below the maximum residue level (MRL), 3.

Dietary exposure to heavy metals and iodine intake via consumption of seaweeds and halophytes in the European population.

EFSA assessed the relevance of seaweed and halophyte consumption to the dietary exposure to heavy metals (arsenic, cadmium, lead and mercury) and the iodine intake in the European population. Based on sampling years 2011-2021, there were 2,093 analytical data available on cadmium, 1,988 on lead, 1,934 on total arsenic, 920 on inorganic arsenic (iAs), 1,499 on total mercury and 1,002 on iodine. A total of 697 eating occasions on halophytes, seaweeds and seaweed-related products were identified in the EFSA Comprehensive European Food Consumption Database (468 subjects, 19 European countries).

Risk Assessment of Combined Exposure to Multiple Chemicals at the European Food Safety Authority: Principles, Guidance Documents, Applications and Future Challenges.

Human health and animal health risk assessment of combined exposure to multiple chemicals use the same steps as single-substance risk assessment, namely problem formulation, exposure assessment, hazard assessment and risk characterisation. The main unique feature of combined RA is the assessment of combined exposure, toxicity and risk. Recently, the Scientific Committee of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) published two relevant guidance documents.

Retrospective cumulative dietary risk assessment of craniofacial alterations by residues of pesticides.

EFSA established cumulative assessment groups and conducted retrospective cumulative risk assessments for two types of craniofacial alterations (alterations due to abnormal skeletal development, head soft tissue alterations and brain neural tube defects) for 14 European populations of women in childbearing age. Cumulative acute exposure calculations were performed by probabilistic modelling using monitoring data collected by Member States in 2017, 2018 and 2019. A rigorous uncertainty analysis was performed using expert knowledge elicitation.

Guidance Document on Scientific criteria for grouping chemicals into assessment groups for human risk assessment of combined exposure to multiple chemicals.

This guidance document provides harmonised and flexible methodologies to apply scientific criteria and prioritisation methods for grouping chemicals into assessment groups for human risk assessment of combined exposure to multiple chemicals. In the context of EFSA's risk assessments, the problem formulation step defines the chemicals to be assessed in the terms of reference usually through regulatory criteria often set by risk managers based on legislative requirements. Scientific criteria such as hazard-driven criteria can be used to group these chemicals into assessment groups.

Importance of anti-SARS-CoV-2 assay antigenic composition as revealed by the results of the Belgian external quality assessment (EQA) scheme.

We report on sample IS/17575 since it generated highly divergent results in the Belgian SARS-CoV-2 serology external quality assessment scheme. Sample IS/17575 was serum originating from a 30 years old male patient. 124 diagnostic laboratories analysed this sample.

Cumulative dietary risk assessment of chronic acetylcholinesterase inhibition by residues of pesticides.

A retrospective cumulative risk assessment of dietary exposure to pesticide residues was conducted for chronic inhibition of acetylcholinesterase. The pesticides considered in this assessment were identified and characterised in a previous scientific report on the establishment of cumulative assessment groups of pesticides for their effects on the nervous system. The exposure assessments used monitoring data collected by Member States under their official pesticide monitoring programmes in 2016, 2017 and 2018, and individual food consumption data from 10 populations of consumers from different countries and from different age groups.

Comparison of cumulative dietary exposure to pesticide residues for the reference periods 2014-2016 and 2016-2018.

Retrospective dietary exposure assessments were conducted for pesticides that have chronic effects on the thyroid and pesticides that have acute effects on the nervous system. Exposure assessments were performed using monitoring data collected by Member States under their official pesticide monitoring programmes in 2016, 2017 and 2018. Exposure estimates were obtained for 10 populations of consumers (i.

Cumulative dietary risk characterisation of pesticides that have chronic effects on the thyroid.

A retrospective chronic cumulative risk assessment of dietary exposure to pesticide residues, supported by an uncertainty analysis based on expert knowledge elicitation, was conducted for two effects on the thyroid, hypothyroidism and parafollicular cell (C-cell) hypertrophy, hyperplasia and neoplasia. The pesticides considered in this assessment were identified and characterised in the scientific report on the establishment of cumulative assessment groups of pesticides for their effects on the thyroid. Cumulative exposure assessments were conducted through probabilistic modelling by EFSA and the Dutch National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) using two different software tools and reported separately.

Cumulative dietary risk characterisation of pesticides that have acute effects on the nervous system.

A retrospective acute cumulative risk assessment of dietary exposure to pesticide residues, supported by an uncertainty analysis based on expert knowledge elicitation, was conducted for two effects on the nervous system: brain and/or erythrocyte acetylcholinesterase inhibition, and functional alterations of the motor division. The pesticides considered in this assessment were identified and characterised in the scientific report on the establishment of cumulative assessment groups of pesticides for their effects on the nervous system. Cumulative exposure assessments were conducted through probabilistic modelling by EFSA and the Dutch National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) using two different software tools and reported separately.

Cumulative dietary exposure assessment of pesticides that have acute effects on the nervous system using SAS software.

Retrospective dietary exposure assessments were conducted for two groups of pesticides that have acute effects on the nervous system: brain and/or erythrocyte acetylcholinesterase inhibition, and functional alterations of the motor division. The pesticides considered in this assessment were identified and characterised in the scientific report on the establishment of cumulative assessment groups of pesticides for their effects on the nervous system. The exposure assessments used monitoring data collected by Member States under their official pesticide monitoring programmes in 2014, 2015 and 2016 and individual food consumption data from 10 populations of consumers from different countries and from different age groups.

Cumulative dietary exposure assessment of pesticides that have chronic effects on the thyroid using SAS software.

Retrospective dietary exposure assessments were conducted for two groups of pesticides that have chronic effects on the thyroid: hypertrophy, hyperplasia and neoplasia of C-cells, and hypothyroidism. The pesticides considered in this assessment were identified and characterised in the scientific report on the establishment of cumulative assessment groups of pesticides for their effects on the thyroid. The exposure assessments used monitoring data collected by Member States under their official pesticide monitoring programmes in 2014, 2015 and 2016, and individual food consumption data from 10 populations of consumers from different countries and from different age groups.

Guidance on harmonised methodologies for human health, animal health and ecological risk assessment of combined exposure to multiple chemicals.

This Guidance document describes harmonised risk assessment methodologies for combined exposure to multiple chemicals for all relevant areas within EFSA's remit, i.e. human health, animal health and ecological areas.

Scientific opinion on pesticides in foods for infants and young children.

Following a request from the European Commission, the EFSA Panel on Plant Protection Products and their Residues (PPR Panel) prepared a scientific opinion to provide a comprehensive evaluation of pesticide residues in foods for infants and young children. In its approach to develop this scientific opinion, the EFSA PPR Panel took into account, among the others, (i) the relevant opinions of the Scientific Committee for Food setting a default maximum residue level (MRL) of 0.01 mg/kg for pesticide residues in foods for infants and young children; (ii) the recommendations provided by EFSA Scientific Committee in a guidance on risk assessment of substances present in food intended for infants below 16 weeks of age; (iii) the knowledge on organ/system development in infants and young children.

Hypertrophic osteoarthropathy: estrogens, prostaglandinE, prostaglandin A, and the inflammatory reflex.

It has been claimed that hyperestrogenism occurs in hypertrophic osteoarthropathy (HOA), but not in simple clubbing. However, one of our patients had simple clubbing and hyperestrogenism. We therefore measured estrogens, androgens, sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG), and gonadotropins in five patients with HOA and in 18 patients with simple clubbing.

Effect on public health of a possible increase of the maximum level for 'aflatoxin total' from 4 to 10 μg/kg in peanuts and processed products thereof, intended for direct human consumption or use as an ingredient in foodstuffs.

EFSA was asked to deliver a scientific opinion regarding the effect on public health of a possible increase of the maximum level (ML) for 'aflatoxin total' (AFT; sum of aflatoxin B1, aflatoxin B2, aflatoxin G1 and aflatoxin G2) from 4 to 10 μg/kg in peanuts and processed products thereof. Aflatoxins are genotoxic and cause hepatocellular carcinomas in humans. The Panel on Contaminants in the Food Chain (CONTAM Panel) evaluated 8,085 samples of peanuts and 472 samples of peanut butter, with > 60% left-censored.

Risks for public health related to the presence of furan and methylfurans in food.

The European Commission asked EFSA for a scientific evaluation on the risk to human health of the presence of furan and methylfurans (2-methylfuran, 3-methylfuran and 2,5-dimethylfuran) in food. They are formed in foods during thermal processing and can co-occur. Furans are produced from several precursors such as ascorbic acid, amino acids, carbohydrates, unsaturated fatty acids and carotenoids, and are found in a variety of foods including coffee and canned and jarred foods.

Guidance on the assessment of the safety of feed additives for the consumer.

Unlabelled: [Table: see text].

Abstract: This guidance document is intended to assist the applicant in the preparation and the presentation of an application, as foreseen in Article 7.6 of Regulation (EC) No 1831/2003, for the authorisation of additives for use in animal nutrition.

[Quality of caesarean delivery: A cross-sectional study in 12 hospitals in Benin].

Background: Caesarean section (CS) is a major obstetric intervention, widely recognized as an effective means to reduce maternal and perinatal mortality, when appropriately performed. CS numbers and rates are regularly published but quality is rarely taken into account. This study aims to describe the quality of caesarean delivery in selected hospitals in Benin.

Access to Treatment for Diabetes and Hypertension in Rural Cambodia: Performance of Existing Social Health Protection Schemes.

Background: Non-communicable diseases (NCD) pose challenges to Cambodia's health system. Medicines for NCD are on the National Essential Medicines List but no clinical guidelines support their utilization. Two social health protection schemes aimed at the informal sector population exist (Health Equity Funds and Insurance) together with two disease-specific interventions (a Peer Educator Network and Chronic Diseases Clinics) targeted at NCD patients.

[Health workers’ involvement for data quality improvement in Benin].

Objective: In developing countries, the poor quality of data derived from Health Information Systems constitutes a problem that limits use of these data and contributes to the recurrent difficulties of health system management. The low level of involvement of health workers directly responsible for data may contribute to this poor quality. This study documents a Health Information System collection tool design experience by health workers and assesses its effect on data quality.

Consequences of severe obstetric complications on women's health in Morocco: please, listen to me!

Objective: In Morocco, medical care for women with severe obstetric complications (near-miss cases) ends at discharge from the hospital. Little information exists regarding what happens after returning home. The aim of the study was to assess the physical and mental health consequences of near-miss events on Moroccan women 8 months after childbirth.