Call for Comments
News & Views
3. it should elicit dioxin-specific biochemical and toxic responses; 4. it should be persistent a n d accumulate in the food chain. O n the basis of these criteria, the PCBs in T a b l e 1 were included (it is possible that certain di-ortho substituted congeners have not been included due to lack of data). Based on the available data base, a n d recognizing that the setting of interim TEFs dictates the choice of values which are m o r e - rather than less - conservative to protect public health, the TEF-values in T a b l e 1 were recommended. T E F s were based on studies with repeated dosing in vivo w h e n available. W h e n such data were lacking, TEFs were chosen based on single exposure studies, structure-activity considerations and data from in vitro studies. The interim T E F s proposed here are based o n molar comparisons, but are applicable on a weight basis for this class of compounds. It was recognized that the recommended TEFs have been developed for exposure scenarios, i.e. they are intake TEFs. These values may - or m a y n o t - be appropriate for body b u r d e n assessments. They m a y also be reexamined for ecotoxicity purposes. T h u s , there m a y be different classes of TEF-values depending u p o n whether the considerationsrelate to intake, body b u r d e n , or ecological concerns.
The consultation recommended that the data base should be expanded to include not only the PCDDs and PCDFs, but other dioxin-like c o m p o u n d s which meet the criteria of Ahreceptor binding, identity of effects, structural similarity, and persistence (brominated analogs of the biphenyls, dioxins, and furans, halogenated naphthalenes and diphenyl ethers, and other related compounds), a n d to be updated every 2 years.
Comments on the work as well as reprints of articles that contain data suitable for calculating TEFs will be appreciated. Please address communications to Prof. Ulf G. AHLBORG. There are obvious deficits in the data base which require additional experimental information.
Literature AHLBORG U.G.; G.C. BECKING;L.S. BIRNBAUM;A. BROUWER; H. J. G. M. DERKS;M. FEELEY;G. GOLOR;A. HANBERG;J. C. LARSEN;A. K. D. LIEM;S. H. SAFE;C. SCHLATTER;F. W~RN; M. YOUNES;E. YRfi~/HEIKKI:Toxic equivalency factors for dioxin-like PCBs. Report on a WHO-ECEH and IPCS consultation, December 1993. Chemosphere 28:6 p. 1049-1067 (1994)
News & Views News from T N O Reports from the Dutch Research Institutes for the A p p l i ed N a t u r a l Sciences OZONE DETECTOR FOR EUROPEAN SATELLITE USE The European satellite ERS-2, which is to be launched early next year in Kourou/Guyana, will be equipped with an ozone detector developed by the TNO Institutefor AppliedPhysics (TPD) in Holland. This device, which has been given the name GOME,* is a spectrometer which can be directed at the earth's atmosphere from space. GOME detects a particularly wide spectral area and possesses a relatively high resolution. As a result, the ozone distribution in the atmosphere can be measured. But GOME can also detect other gases which have an influence on the ozone concentration in the geosphere, includingchlorofluorocarbons. Spectroscopic techniques are excellently suited for the systematic study of the earth's atmospheric processes. However, the results are highly dependent on the precision of the calibration. TPD is equipped with a high-quality calibration system capable of achieving an accuracy of I percent on GOME*.
* GOME = GlobalOzoneMonitoringExperiment
68
Earth observation is a central program of the European Space Administration (ESA). Growing interest in the processes linked to the "greenhouse effect" have led to a new definition of numerous instruments. In addition to GOME, the Dutch research institute is also working on instruments for the subsequent research projects, MIPAS* and SCIAMACHY**, which are being developedfor the environmental satellite ENVISAT planned for 1998.
* MIPAS = MichelsonInterferometerPassiveAtmospheric Sounder ** SCIAMACHY = ScanningImage Absorption Spectrometer for AtmosphericCartography NETWORK LOOKING FOR MORE ECONOMICAL CLEAN-UP OF OLD TOXIC WASTE In the Netherlands contaminated soil must be cleaned up at numerous locations. As a result, there is a need for economical disposal tech~ niques. Biological decontamination methods seem particularly suitable. TNO promotes the use and further developmentof pertinent techniques, which are offered at competitivelylow cost. Target groups are public and private owners of contaminated soil, suppliers of innovative decontamination techniques, as well as engineering offices, contractors, and equipment manufacturers. The bringing together of as many parties as possible is intended to lead to a synergetic
transfer of know-how. All participants contribute an anonymous self-portrait on the network and also indicate what solutions are sought. They in turn receive detailed technical and financial information. This coming May an initial meeting will be organized in Holland for all interested parties. COMPUTER CALCULATESEXPLODING GAS CLOUD The Dutch TNO research institutes have developed a computer program which can simulate an exploding gas cloud. This allows a better calculation of risks, for example, in the construction of petrochemical plants and drilling platforms. The TNO Prins Maurits Laboratory will market the program together with the US/British-owned firm Century Dynamics. Complicated processes take place in a gas explosion. The new program, which bears the registered brand name AutoReaGas TM, calculates all physical variables for each point within the three-dimensional expansion and simultaneously for any point in time. Here it is mainly a matter of over-pressure, which results from the explosion, and the loading of constructionswithin the gas doud. Soon TNO will equip the software with an additional level in order to also be able to predict the affects of a gas cloud explosion on surrounding buildings. AutoReaGasTMwas recently demonstrated for the first time at the ExploRisk in Gent.
ESPR-Environ. Sci. & Pollut. Res. 1 (2) 1994
News & Views
3. it should elicit dioxin-specific biochemical and toxic responses; 4. it should be persistent a n d accumulate in the food chain. O n the basis of these criteria, the PCBs in T a b l e 1 were included (it is possible that certain di-ortho substituted congeners have not been included due to lack of data). Based on the available data base, a n d recognizing that the setting of interim TEFs dictates the choice of values which are m o r e - rather than less - conservative to protect public health, the TEF-values in T a b l e 1 were recommended. T E F s were based on studies with repeated dosing in vivo w h e n available. W h e n such data were lacking, TEFs were chosen based on single exposure studies, structure-activity considerations and data from in vitro studies. The interim T E F s proposed here are based o n molar comparisons, but are applicable on a weight basis for this class of compounds. It was recognized that the recommended TEFs have been developed for exposure scenarios, i.e. they are intake TEFs. These values may - or m a y n o t - be appropriate for body b u r d e n assessments. They m a y also be reexamined for ecotoxicity purposes. T h u s , there m a y be different classes of TEF-values depending u p o n whether the considerationsrelate to intake, body b u r d e n , or ecological concerns.
The consultation recommended that the data base should be expanded to include not only the PCDDs and PCDFs, but other dioxin-like c o m p o u n d s which meet the criteria of Ahreceptor binding, identity of effects, structural similarity, and persistence (brominated analogs of the biphenyls, dioxins, and furans, halogenated naphthalenes and diphenyl ethers, and other related compounds), a n d to be updated every 2 years.
Comments on the work as well as reprints of articles that contain data suitable for calculating TEFs will be appreciated. Please address communications to Prof. Ulf G. AHLBORG. There are obvious deficits in the data base which require additional experimental information.
Literature AHLBORG U.G.; G.C. BECKING;L.S. BIRNBAUM;A. BROUWER; H. J. G. M. DERKS;M. FEELEY;G. GOLOR;A. HANBERG;J. C. LARSEN;A. K. D. LIEM;S. H. SAFE;C. SCHLATTER;F. W~RN; M. YOUNES;E. YRfi~/HEIKKI:Toxic equivalency factors for dioxin-like PCBs. Report on a WHO-ECEH and IPCS consultation, December 1993. Chemosphere 28:6 p. 1049-1067 (1994)
News & Views News from T N O Reports from the Dutch Research Institutes for the A p p l i ed N a t u r a l Sciences OZONE DETECTOR FOR EUROPEAN SATELLITE USE The European satellite ERS-2, which is to be launched early next year in Kourou/Guyana, will be equipped with an ozone detector developed by the TNO Institutefor AppliedPhysics (TPD) in Holland. This device, which has been given the name GOME,* is a spectrometer which can be directed at the earth's atmosphere from space. GOME detects a particularly wide spectral area and possesses a relatively high resolution. As a result, the ozone distribution in the atmosphere can be measured. But GOME can also detect other gases which have an influence on the ozone concentration in the geosphere, includingchlorofluorocarbons. Spectroscopic techniques are excellently suited for the systematic study of the earth's atmospheric processes. However, the results are highly dependent on the precision of the calibration. TPD is equipped with a high-quality calibration system capable of achieving an accuracy of I percent on GOME*.
* GOME = GlobalOzoneMonitoringExperiment
68
Earth observation is a central program of the European Space Administration (ESA). Growing interest in the processes linked to the "greenhouse effect" have led to a new definition of numerous instruments. In addition to GOME, the Dutch research institute is also working on instruments for the subsequent research projects, MIPAS* and SCIAMACHY**, which are being developedfor the environmental satellite ENVISAT planned for 1998.
* MIPAS = MichelsonInterferometerPassiveAtmospheric Sounder ** SCIAMACHY = ScanningImage Absorption Spectrometer for AtmosphericCartography NETWORK LOOKING FOR MORE ECONOMICAL CLEAN-UP OF OLD TOXIC WASTE In the Netherlands contaminated soil must be cleaned up at numerous locations. As a result, there is a need for economical disposal tech~ niques. Biological decontamination methods seem particularly suitable. TNO promotes the use and further developmentof pertinent techniques, which are offered at competitivelylow cost. Target groups are public and private owners of contaminated soil, suppliers of innovative decontamination techniques, as well as engineering offices, contractors, and equipment manufacturers. The bringing together of as many parties as possible is intended to lead to a synergetic
transfer of know-how. All participants contribute an anonymous self-portrait on the network and also indicate what solutions are sought. They in turn receive detailed technical and financial information. This coming May an initial meeting will be organized in Holland for all interested parties. COMPUTER CALCULATESEXPLODING GAS CLOUD The Dutch TNO research institutes have developed a computer program which can simulate an exploding gas cloud. This allows a better calculation of risks, for example, in the construction of petrochemical plants and drilling platforms. The TNO Prins Maurits Laboratory will market the program together with the US/British-owned firm Century Dynamics. Complicated processes take place in a gas explosion. The new program, which bears the registered brand name AutoReaGas TM, calculates all physical variables for each point within the three-dimensional expansion and simultaneously for any point in time. Here it is mainly a matter of over-pressure, which results from the explosion, and the loading of constructionswithin the gas doud. Soon TNO will equip the software with an additional level in order to also be able to predict the affects of a gas cloud explosion on surrounding buildings. AutoReaGasTMwas recently demonstrated for the first time at the ExploRisk in Gent.
ESPR-Environ. Sci. & Pollut. Res. 1 (2) 1994
