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Povzetek: A recent study has suggested that plastics may contain more than 16,000 chemicals, including additives, processing aids, starting substances, intermediates and Non-Intentionally Added Substances. Plastic chemicals are released throughout the plastic life cycle, from production, use, disposal and recycling. Most of these chemicals have not been studied for potential hazardous properties for humans and in the environment. To refine the risk assessment of these leachable chemicals, additional hazard data are needed. The PlasticLeach project within the EU co-funded Partnership for the Assessment of Risks from Chemicals (PARC) aims to address this data gap by screening several plastic products in daily use. Leachates will be prepared from a number of these plastic items, and these chemical mixtures will be further tested using several test guideline compliant assays and New Approach Methodologies covering both human health and environmental endpoints. The most toxic leachates will be characterized using a non-targeted analysis pipeline to identify chemicals in the leachate. When single chemicals of concern are identified, these will be further tested to determine hazardous properties and identify the respective potency factors to better understand their specific hazard profiles. A tiered approach for hazard testing will be followed. The experimental work will be complemented by in silico toxicological profiling, using publicly available toxicity databases and tools, including Artificial Intelligence tools that cover both human and environmental endpoints. A comprehensive array of endpoints, including cytotoxicity, endocrine disruption, genotoxicity, immunotoxicity, reproductive toxicity and effects related to ecotoxicity will be evaluated. In this paper, we outline the plastic products to be tested and the battery of assays that will be used to identify hazards relevant to both human health and the environment. Data generated from in silico, in vitro, and in vivo approaches will be reported using standardized formats, stored within a centralized repository, and harmonized to adhere to the FAIR data principles (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable). This integrated strategy will not only advance our understanding of the risks associated with plastic-derived chemicals but will also provide critical support for regulatory decision-making and facilitate the development of safer, and more ecofriendly plastic materials in the future.
Ključne besede: plastics, chemicals, leachables, PARC, new approach methodologies, hazard assessment, toxicity, risk assessment
Objavljeno v DiRROS: 19.12.2025; Ogledov: 172; Prenosov: 85
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Povzetek: Children’s lead exposure in three mining-impacted residential areas (Črna, Mežica and Žerjav) was modelled using the Integrated Exposure Uptake Biokinetic Model for Lead in Children (IEUBK). Site-specific environmental and dietary Pb source values were determined for modelling. For the first time, dietary exposure from both market and local foods was studied in detail. Children (Group 1: 24–36 and Group 2: 36–48 months) geometric mean blood lead levels (BLLs) were predicted and lead uptake from multiple sources was quantified according to the different dietary exposure scenarios. Biomonitoring data were used for validation. Site-specific soil, house dust and local food Pb contents are higher than legislative and background levels, remaining a cause for concern. Drinking tap water concentrations and outdoor air contents were found in acceptable levels. The determined dietary exposures, ranging from 0.7 to 3.3 µg/kg bw/day, were above the benchmark dose level of 0.5 µg/kg bw/day for developmental neurotoxicity set for Pb in children, indicating a health concern. In general, the estimated BLLs matched reasonably well with the observed BLLs in the Črna and Mežica area for both age groups and in the Žerjav area for Group 2. For Group 1, in the Žerjav area, the output of the IEUBK model overestimated the actual BLLs of the children. For both groups, the primary exposure pathway in Žerjav is from soil/dust, ranging from 55.3 to 84.8%. In Črna and Mežica, soil/dust exposure ranged between 24.2 and 57.8% and between 26.4 and 61.7%, respectively, indicating that dietary exposure predominates when local foods are included. The results of our study also suggest that using the IEUBK default diet value would reduce the dietary exposure up to 25.2% in Črna, 24.2% in Mežica and 8.6% in Žerjav. One of the main findings is that a diet containing local foods can be an important source of lead in mining-contaminated areas.
Ključne besede: IEUBK model, blood lead level, soil, house dust, dietary exposure, risk assessment
Objavljeno v DiRROS: 18.09.2025; Ogledov: 392; Prenosov: 124
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Povzetek: Assessing landslide risk is a fundamental requirement to plan suitable prevention actions. To date, most risk studies focus on individual slopes or catchments. Whereas regional, national or continental scale assessments are hardly available because of methodological and/or data limitations. In this contribution, we present an overview of all requirements and limitations in landslide risk studies across all spatial scales, by means of a hybrid form that combines elements of original research with the comprehensive characteristics of a review study. The review critically analyses each component in the landslide risk analysis providing a detailed explanation of their state-of-the-art, with dedicated sections on susceptibility, hazard, exposure, and vulnerability. To put the theoretical framework to test, we also dive into a case study, expressed at the continental scale. Specifically, we take the main European mountain ranges and provide the reader with a textbook example of risk assessment for such a large territory. In doing so, we take into account issues associated with cross-national differences in landslide mapping. As a result, we identify landslide-prone European landscape and explore the associated possible economic consequences (human settlements and agricultural areas). We also analyze the population at risk during daytime and nighttime. Moreover, a modern view of the problem is explored in the form of how risk outcomes should be delivered to master planners and geoscientific personnel alike. Specifically, we convert our output into an interactive Web Application (https://pan-european-landslide-risk.github.io/) to include notions of scientific communication both to a large public as well as to a technical audience.
Ključne besede: landslides, natural disasters, risk assessment
Objavljeno v DiRROS: 08.04.2025; Ogledov: 821; Prenosov: 372
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Povzetek: Amphibians and reptiles are among the most threatened vertebrate taxa worldwide. About 41% (34%- 51%) of amphibians and 21% (18%-33%) of reptiles are included in the IUCN categories of threatened species (Critically Endangered, Endangered or Vulnerable; IUCN, 2021; Cox et al., 2022). In Europe, nearly a quarter of amphibians and one fifth of reptiles are threatened and a further 17% of amphibians and 13% of reptiles are included among the Near Threatened species (IUCN, 2021). There are multiple reasons why amphibians and reptiles are declining, but habitat loss and degradation, followed by chemical pollution, both mainly attributable to the expansion of intensive agriculture, are commonly indicated among the major causes of herpetofauna decline worldwide as well as in the European region (Gibbons et al., 2000; Collins and Storfer, 2003; Ribeiro et al., 2009; Todd et al., 2010; Böhm et al., 2013, Arntzen et al., 2017).
Ključne besede: reptiles, amphibians, pesticides, risk assessment, environmental protection
Objavljeno v DiRROS: 02.09.2024; Ogledov: 1144; Prenosov: 400

Povzetek: Muscle tissues of Mullus barbatus and Merluccius merluccius were analyzed for the presence of selected trace elements (As, Hg, Cd, and Pb) to determine the value of the daily intake of trace elements from fish consumption and to assess the risk to human health. The mean concentrations of As in the muscle tissue of M. barbatus and M. merluccius for the entire period were 19.689 mg/kg wet weight (ww) and 8.356 mg/kg ww, Hg 0.497 mg/kg ww and 0.153 mg/kg ww, and Pb 0.031 mg/kg ww and 0.025 mg/kg ww, respectively. The concentrations of Cd in all fish sampled were below the detection limit (<0.02 mg/kg ww). The evaluation of the potential health risk assessments based on the target hazard quotient (THQ) and estimated daily intake (EDI) indicated that the intake of As in both fish species and Hg for M. barbatus could pose an appreciable risk to human health. The calculated hazard index (HI) was higher than 1 for both fish species. The continuous monitoring of trace elements’ concentrations in fish is strongly recommended, as the results demonstrate potential health risks due to the presence of As and Hg.
Ključne besede: trace elements, Mullus barbatus, Merluccius merluccius, human health risk assessment, Montenegro, Adriatic Sea, hydrobiology
Objavljeno v DiRROS: 12.07.2024; Ogledov: 1141; Prenosov: 654
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