Range of the perfluorooctanoate (PFOA) safe dose for human health: An international collaboration.

Many government agencies and expert groups have estimated a dose-rate of perfluorooctanoate (PFOA) that would protect human health. Most of these evaluations are based on the same studies (whether of humans, laboratory animals, or both), and all note various uncertainties in our existing knowledge. Nonetheless, the values of these various, estimated, safe-doses vary widely, with some being more than 100,000 fold different.

A Guideline Value for Dioxin-Like Compounds in Marine Sediments.

Sediments to be dredged as part of the installation of a harbor crossing in Sydney, Australia, contained measurable concentrations of dioxin-like compounds. To assess the suitability of these sediments for ocean disposal, a defensible sediment quality guideline value (SQGV) for dioxin-like compounds, expressed as pg toxic equivalent (TEQ) /g dry weight, was required. There were deemed to be too many uncertainties associated with a value derived using effects data from field studies.

Towards Sustainable Environmental Quality: Priority Research Questions for the Australasian Region of Oceania.

Environmental challenges persist across the world, including the Australasian region of Oceania, where biodiversity hotspots and unique ecosystems such as the Great Barrier Reef are common. These systems are routinely affected by multiple stressors from anthropogenic activities, and increasingly influenced by global megatrends (e.g.

Levels of PCDD/Fs and dioxin-like PCBs in seafood from Sydney Harbour, Australia.

Sydney Harbour, Australia is contaminated with polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and furans (PCDD/Fs) and dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls (dl-PCBs) due to a historical Union Carbide chemical manufacturing facility. We measured levels of PCDD/Fs and dl-PCBs in over 400 seafood samples (covering 20 species) collected throughout Sydney Harbour. Concentrations ranged from 0.

Lifetime PCB 153 bioaccumulation and pharmacokinetics in pilot whales: Bayesian population PBPK modeling and Markov chain Monte Carlo simulations.

Physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) models for wild animal populations such as marine mammals typically have a high degree of model uncertainty and variability due to the scarcity of information and the embryonic nature of this field. Parameters values used in marine mammals models are usually taken from other mammalian species (e.g.

Assessing levels of halogenated organic compounds in mass-stranded long-finned pilot whales (Globicephala melas) from Australia.

Pollution is a threat to the health of marine mammals worldwide. Mass-strandings are poorly understood, but often involve pilot whales. However, there is limited information regarding pollution in long-finned pilot whales from Australia.