Labelling Of Chemicals Research Articles

Ecotoxicity and Mutagenicity Assessment of Novel Antifungal Agents VT-1161 and T-2307.

Antifungal substances are essential for managing fungal infections in humans, animals, and plants, and their usage has significantly increased due to the global rise in fungal infections. However, the extensive application of antifungal agents in pharmaceuticals, personal care products, and agriculture has led to their widespread environmental dissemination through various pathways, such as excretion, improper disposal, and agricultural runoff. Despite advances in wastewater treatment, many antifungal compounds persist in the environment, affecting non-target organisms and contributing to resistance development. This study investigates the environmental impact of two novel antifungal agents, VT-1161 and T-2307, recently introduced as alternatives for treating resistant Candida spp. We assessed their ecotoxicity and mutagenicity using multiple bioassays: immobilization of Daphnia magna, growth inhibition of Raphidocelis subcapitata, luminescence inhibition of Aliivibrio fischeri, and mutagenicity on Salmonella typhimurium strain TA100. Results indicate that both VT-1161 and T-2307 exhibit lower toxicity compared to existing antifungal compounds, with effective concentrations (EC50) causing 50% response ranging from 14.34 to 27.92 mg L-1. Furthermore, both agents were classified as less hazardous based on the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals. Despite these favorable results, further research is needed to understand their environmental behavior, interactions, and potential resistance development among non-target species. Our findings highlight the importance of comprehensive environmental risk assessments to ensure the sustainable use of new antifungal agents.

Assessment of performance of the profilers provided in the OECD QSAR toolbox for category formation of chemicals

Growing restrictions and bans on animal testing for chemical safety assessment under different regulations have led to an increasing use of alternative methods. Read-across is one of the major approaches used for this purpose, which relies on the identification of toxicological hazards of a data-poor or untested (target) chemical from data on other already-tested (source) similar chemicals. This requires the target substance to be first assigned to a group or category of ‘similar’ chemicals. The ‘similarity’ may be in terms of structural features alone, or in combination with certain rules that are based on mechanistic and/or toxicological aspects. In this regard, the OECD QSAR toolbox—a major free-access in silico platform—is widely used to derive toxicity predictions for a range of (eco) toxicological endpoints. The Toolbox allows the user to identify a set of similar chemicals (analogues) by computational ‘profilers’ that incorporate different structural alerts, or a combination of structural alerts and physicochemical and/or toxicokinetic rules relevant to a specific toxicological endpoint. The overall aim of this study was to assess the performance of the in silico profilers provided in the OECD QSAR Toolbox for reliability for identifying chemical analogues for category formation in a number of high-quality databases on mutagenicity, carcinogenicity, and skin sensitisation. The study also aimed to identify the reasons for any limitations in the performance of the profilers, and propose ways to improve their overall accuracy. The results showed that whilst some structural alerts are fit-for-purpose as such within the acceptable limits, others need refinement or a consideration for their possible exclusion from the profiler. Such refinements are imperative for a reliable use of the profilers in read-across and grouping/categorisation for classification, labelling and risk assessment of chemicals.

Spray-dried microparticles of turmeric extract for improved delivery and low toxicity

This study aimed to enhance the delivery of turmeric by encapsulating its extract within microparticles using chitosan and mannitol through the spray drying technique and to assess their acute oral toxicity. The resulting microparticles were spherical, with an average diameter of 4 microns, and comprised 17% curcuminoids and 4% ar-turmerone. In vitro studies demonstrated that these microparticles had a higher release rate of curcuminoids compared to raw turmeric extract and preserved antioxidant activity. In the acute toxicity study, conducted in Wistar rats with a single dose of 2,000 mg/kg, no acute toxic symptoms were observed. According to the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals, the microparticles were categorized as having relatively low acute toxicity (category 5). These findings support the potential utility of the microparticles in dietary supplements and pharmaceutical applications due to their effective delivery properties and safety profile.

Single-Dose Oral Toxicity Study of Chloroform Extract of Kaffir Lime (Citrus hystrix DC.) Leaves in Wistar Rats (Rattus norvegicus Berkenhout, 1769)

Leaves of kaffir lime (Citrus hystrix) are commonly used as a seasoning in various Indonesian and Southeast Asian dishes. Phytochemical studies reported various secondary metabolites that possess medicinal properties. Before exploring their potential as therapeutic agent, a series of toxicity studies must be conducted to assess the toxicity and safety levels. This research aimed to study the single-dose acute oral toxicity of chloroform extract of kaffir lime leaves (CECHL) in female Wistar rats (Rattus norvegicus) as experimental animals. The procedure followed OECD Test Guideline No.420 with the dose 2000 mg/kg bw for 14 days (Sighting study). Parameters consisted of mortality, clinical signs of sublethal effect based on changes in general appearance and daily activity/behavior, hematological profile, and blood clinical biochemistry. Neither mortality nor sublethal effects were found during the experiment. All blood parameter values (erythrocytes, leukocytes, thrombocytes, ALT, AST, creatinine, BUN, glucose, cholesterol, and triglycerides) were within reference interval, indicating that CECHL is not harmful to normal physiology. In conclusion, single-dose oral administration of CECHL is safe, no-observed-adverse-effect-level (NOAEL) at dose 2000 mg/kg bw or included in Category 5 based on the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals (GHS).

Development of an Eye Irritation Test Method Using an In-House Fabrication of a Reconstructed Human Cornea-like Epithelium Model for Eye Hazard Identification.

In a previous study, a novel human corneal-like epithelium model utilizing an immortalized human corneal epithelial cell line (iHCE-NY1) was developed as an alternative to animal models to identify chemicals not classified under the United Nations Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals (GHS) and was evaluated following the criteria of Test Guideline 492 of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). In the present study, our aim was to establish an eye irritation test protocol using the iHCE-NY1 model to classify liquid chemicals under the GHS ocular hazard categories: no effect, no classification (No Cat.), Category 2 (Cat. 2) reversible effects, and Category 1 (Cat. 1) irreversible eye damage. The protocol involved exposing the iHCE-NY1 model to 31 liquid test chemicals for 5 min, followed by observation at post-incubation periods (PIPs) to assess recovery. Classification was based on cell viability, and histopathological findings on PIP days 7, 14, and 21. The outcomes were compared with an established database of classifications. All Cat. 1 liquid chemicals, 62.5% of No Cat., and 63.2% of Cat. 2 were correctly categorized. This study demonstrates that the iHCE-NY1 model can not only distinguish No Cat. test liquid chemicals but also differentiate between Cat. 2 and Cat. 1 liquid chemicals.

In Silico Prediction of Oral Acute Rodent Toxicity Using Consensus Machine Learning.

Acute oral toxicity (AOT) is required for the classification and labeling of chemicals according to the global harmonized system (GHS). Acute oral toxicity studies are optimized to minimize the use of animals. However, with the advent of the three Rs principles and machine learning in toxicology, alternative in silico methods became a reasonable alternative approach for addressing the AOT of new chemical matter. Here, we describe the compilation of AOT data from a commercial database and the development of a consensus classification model after evaluating different combinations of molecular representations and machine learning algorithms. The model shows significantly better performance compared to publicly available AOT models. Its performance was evaluated on an external validation data set, which was compiled from the literature, and an applicability domain was deduced.

Characterizing hazardous substances of shale gas wastewater from the upper Yangtze River: A focus on heavy metals and organic compounds

In the last decade, rapid shale gas exploration in upper Yangtze River ecological zone in China has led to increasing concerns about the environmental impact of shale gas wastewater (SGW). However, our understanding of the types of potential hazardous substances of SGW remains limited. In this study, eight SGW samples from three shale gas regions in upper Yangtze River: the Sichuan Basin, the Guizhou Plateau, and the Three Gorges Area were collected, and their general water quality, trace metals, and organic compounds were comprehensively analyzed. Our in-depth analysis detected 55 kinds of trace heavy metals, with 24 exceeding detection limits. Most of them were of the concentration below 100 μg/L. Concentrations of primary pollutants, including Cd, Cr, As, Pb, and Ni, remained below Integrated Wastewater Discharge Standard (GB 8978–1996), indicating minimal environmental risk. The organic analysis identified 45 to 104 kinds of volatile and semi-volatile organic compounds in SGW samples from different regions. SGW samples from the Sichuan Basin exhibited a balanced proportion of aliphatic and aromatic compounds, with oxygen and nitrogen-substituted heteroatomic compounds prevailing, while SGW samples from the Guizhou Plateau and the Three Gorges Area were dominated by aromatic compounds, particularly hydrocarbons. Several organic substances exhibited high response strengths across multiple SGW samples, including isoquinoline, dibenzylamine, 2,4-di-tert-butylphenol, 1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-naphthalene, and 1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-6-methyl-naphthalene. The Globally Harmonized System (GHS) of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals classified most high-response organics as high acute and chronic aquatic hazards. Our findings indicate that high salinity and a variety of high-risk organic pollutants, rather than heavy metals, are the primary pollutants in SGW, underscoring the urgency of safety management of SGW.

Toxicology study profile of Nicotinamide mononucleotide after acute and 90-day sub chronic dosing in Wistar rats and mutagenicity tests

Nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN) is an intermediate in biosynthesis pathway of Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+), an essential cofactor in all living cells involved in fundamental biological processes. Evidence stemming from recent studies have unveiled numerous roles of NAD+ metabolism on aging, longevity, delaying the progression of age-related diseases. A three-study genetic toxicity (genetox) battery (bacterial mutagenesis, in vitro cytogenetics, and in vivo mammalian test) is usually required to confirm safety of a new dietary ingredient and this study showed the data from in vivo mutagenicity test for the first time.The acute oral LD50 of NMN was greater than 2000 mg/kg body weight with 5000 mg/kg body weight as LD50 cut-off value and was classified under “Category 5 or Unclassified” as per Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS). Based on 90 days repeated dose toxicity test the NOAEL was considered to be NLT 800 mg NMN/kg body weight in Wistar rats. The bacterial reverse mutation test, the in vitro and in vivo chromosomal aberration test, found NMN to be non-mutagenic. In the mammalian bone marrow chromosomal aberration test, it was concluded that NMN is non clastogenic at and up to 2,000 mg/kg body weight in all the animals tested to confirm safety of a new dietary ingredient and this study showed the data from in vivo mutagenicity test for the first time.

Ocular irritation reversibility assessment of a laundry detergent using the Porcine Corneal Opacity Reversibility Assay (PorCORA): a focused study

Consumer product manufacturers utilise a spectrum of alternative ocular irritation assays, as these tests do not require the use of live animals. Despite their usefulness, no regulatory-accepted assay assesses the reversibility of ocular damage, a key criterion of GHS ocular classification, like the rabbit eye test (i.e., Draize Rabbit Eye Test [DRET]) . The Porcine Corneal Opacity Reversibility Assay (PorCORA), an ex vivo intact corneal tissue culture model, predicts the reversibility of damage by ocular irritants. Inclusion of the damage reversibility endpoint in the PorCORA supplements other alternative test methods for ocular irritation, by assessing induced eye damage and the ability of this damage to reverse (heal) without the use of live animals to distinguish between Globally Harmonised System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS) ocular classifications. In this focused study, results of a Bovine Corneal Opacity and Permeability (BCOP) test of a laundry detergent, neat and 10% dilution, (product mixture from S.C. Johnson & Son, Inc. [SCJ]) classified the product into GHS Category 1; however, the BCOP test cannot assess the reversibility of ocular damage. The laundry detergent was evaluated using the PorCORA, where ocular damage induced by the detergent was fully reversed within seven days. Evaluation of the reversibility of ocular damage using the PorCORA in this focused study can add strength to the weight-of-evidence (WoE) analysis approach in ocular hazard assessment. This WoE approach strengthens the argument that the PorCORA can be used to supplement BCOP data, and that this laundry detergent is not an irreversible eye irritant.

Retrospective evaluation of the eye irritation potential of agrochemical formulations

Multiple in vitro eye irritation methods have been developed and adopted as OECD health effects test guidelines. However, for predicting the ocular irritation/damage potential of agrochemical formulations there is an applicability domain knowledge gap for most of the methods. To overcome this gap, a retrospective evaluation of 192 agrochemical formulations with in vivo (OECD TG 405) and in vitro (OECD TG 437, 438, and/or 492) data was conducted to determine if the in vitro methods could accurately assign United Nations Globally Harmonized System for Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS) eye irritation hazard classifications. In addition, for each formulation the eye irritation classification was derived from the classification of the contained hazardous ingredients and their respective concentration in the product using the GHS concentration threshold (CT) approach. The results herein suggest that the three in vitro methods and the GHS CT approach were highly predictive of formulations that would not require GHS classification for eye irritation. Given most agrochemical formulations fall into this category, methods that accurately identify non-classified agrochemical formulations could significantly reduce the use of animals for this endpoint.

Refinement of the acute inhalation limit test for inert, nano-sized dusts by an in silico dosimetry-based evaluation: case study for the dissolution of a regulatory dilemma.

This case study aims to describe the dilemma faced when exposing rats to very high concentrations of fine, pulverulent materials for acute inhalation studies and to address the regulatory question of whether the effects seen here are relevant to humans and the subject of classification according to the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals (GHS). Many powders match the definition of nanomaterials in the EU; therefore, information on acute inhalation testing of powders up to the GHS cutoff of 5mg/L is required. However, testing rats at such a high aerosol concentration can cause physical obstruction of the airways and even mortality by suffocation. Therefore, to evaluate whether the physical effects on airway obstruction in rats exposed to 5mg/L for 4hours and alternative exposures to 1 and 2mg/L are relevant for humans, an in silico evaluation of aerosol deposition was conducted using the multiple-path particle dosimetry (MPPD) model. For this evaluation, actual exposure conditions for an organic, nano-sized pigment which produced 100% lethality in rats at 5mg/L, but not at 1mg/L, were used to assess the potential for airway obstruction in rats and accordingly in humans. As an indicator of the potential for airway obstruction, the ratio of the diameter of the deposited, aggregated aerosol to airway diameter was calculated for each exposure condition. For rats exposed to 5mg/L for 4h, approximately 75% of tracheobronchial and 22% of pulmonary/alveolar airways were considered vulnerable to significant or complete obstruction (ratios >0.5). In humans, an equivalent exposure resulted in just over 96% of human tracheobronchial airways that received deposited mass to airway diameter ratios between 0.3 and 0.4 (nasal) or 0.4 and 0.5 (oral), with no airways with ratios >0.5. For the pulmonary/alveolar region, ∼88% of the airways following nasal or oral breathing were predicted to have deposited aerosol diameter to airway diameter ratios <0.1, with no airways with ratios >0.5. Thus, the in silico results obtained for rats are in line with the pathological findings of the animal test. The predicted results in humans, however, affirm the hypothesis of a rat-specific high dose effect which does not justify a classification according to GHS.

Causes of Countermeasures Against Serious Accidents Caused by Health Hazards of Chemical Substances, Based on Cases of Occupational Accidents in Japan

The purpose of this study was to summarize the typical and specific causes and risk reduction measures of serious accidents in Japan caused by chemical substances in terms of the 10 types of human health hazards in the UN GHS (Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals) classification. The list of "Cases of Major Accidents Caused by Chemical Substances" published on the "Safety in the Workplace Website" of the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare (MHLW) was linked to the "Results of GHS Classification by the Government" of the National Institute of Technology and Evaluation (NITE). Analysis was conducted by health hazards in order to obtain reference examples of measures taken against health hazards in response to the revision of the law on autonomous chemical substance management in 2022. Using the text mining tool KH Coder ver. Three using cluster analysis, we grouped causes and measures among serious disasters by health hazard, illustrated co-occurrence networks, and extracted typical examples of each in a co-occurrence network. Representative causes of and measures against occupational accidents caused by health hazardous properties were summarized from the extracted typical cases. Although few occupational accidents were caused by the health hazards of chemicals, when all health hazards were classified into acute toxicity, acute health hazard, and chronic health hazard, contact was a clear cause for many of the acute toxicity and acute health hazards, such as corrosiveness and sensitization. However, many occupational accidents were caused by the physical hazardous aspects of the chemical substances or by the safety aspects of the workplace. Causes of occupational accidents due to health hazards included unsafe behavior and unsafe conditions, or lack of understanding of the physicochemical properties of a substance and specific reactions such as mixing or hydrolysis of the substance. Typical risk reduction measures for health hazards included equipment to prevent human contact with health hazardous substances, systems to control unsafe behavior, promoting understanding of chemical reactions, and providing information about chemicals to all persons involved in testing, research, and subcontract work. The data of occupational accident cases of "death or more than 4 days lost from work" were used. Most of the cases were related to acute health hazards, but relatively few to chronic health hazards, and few occupational accidents were caused by health hazards. Most of the occupational accidents were caused by health hazards due to the physical hazards of chemical substances and inadequate workplace safety. In light of the above, it is necessary in autonomous chemical substance management to first take risk reduction measures for workplace safety and chemical physical hazards, then to prevent contact with acute toxicity and acute health hazards such as corrosiveness and sensitization, and, lastly, to take risk reduction measures for chronic health hazards, using allowable concentrations and controlled concentrations as indices.

Effects of Sustainable Business Networks on the Environmentally Sound Management of Chemicals in Zimbabwe

Despite the formulation of policy frameworks and awareness on hazardous chemical management, practical implementation at organisational level remains a challenge in Zimbabwe. Participation in inter-organisational networks has been shown to have a catalytic role in some contexts. Sustainable business networks such as the Business Council for Sustainable Development Zimbabwe (BCSDZ) have undertaken programmes to promote safe chemical management and chemical leasing. This research paper assesses the effects of sustainable business networks on circular economy (CE) through implementation of safe chemical management and chemical leasing programmes in Zimbabwe. The research paper is based on forty (40) companies drawn from the industrial, manufacturing and mining sectors in Zimbabwe. A total of 50% of the companies assessed were selected because they participated in the safe chemical management programme called responsible production toolkit training and chemical leasing training during the period of 2018 to 2023, whilst the other 50% selected were not participants in any chemical management initiative to provide a comparison group to enable causal inferences. The study employed direct observation of chemical management practices, interviews with key informants and content analysis. Barriers and challenges identified included high chemical intensity, higher proportion of chemical accidents, inadequate provision of personal protective equipment (PPE), lack of clear policies on chemical management, lack of adequate technical capacity on chemical management, use of foreign languages in some material safety data sheets (MSDS), incompatible chemical storage practices, lack of proper labelling of chemicals, inadequate implementation of chemical compatibility charts and inadequate documentation of successful case studies. Implementation of chemical risk assessment increased from 20 to 70% due to network participation. Chemical inventorying implementation increased from 15 to 50% amongst firms that participated in safe chemical management programmes. Chemical labelling practices increased from 55 to 85% due to increased participation in network-induced chemical management programmes. Chemical leasing implementation remained largely unchanged even with access to training. We conclude that network participation enhanced chemical management practices due to the implementation of the responsible production toolkit. However, the impact of network participation on adoption of chemical leasing is low in Zimbabwe due to external contextual factors such as policy, perception, legal and financial barriers.

Evaluating the academic scientific laboratories' safety by applying failure mode and effect analysis (FMEA) at the public university in Lebanon

Workers at scientific academic laboratories are at risk of potential exposure to different types of hazards. The study's purpose was to assess the potential failure modes (FMs) of hazards facing them through the application of the Failure Mode and Effect Analysis (FMEA) method to propose corrective actions preventive actions (CAPA) to mitigate them and to improve the safety outcomes in these workplaces (WP) at the Lebanese public University (PbU). The potential FMs leading to accident occurrence in biological and chemical labs were identified and prioritized, their causes and effects were determined by applying two surveys, and the risk priority number (RPN) for each failure was calculated. A total of 24 FMs were identified. The most alarming FM having the highest RPN scores (80) was found in the workplace ‘category requiring an emergency for corrective actions (CA), it is related to the unavailability of a hazard pictogram plot and the lack of labeling of chemicals and waste containers according to their categories. The FMs having RPN scores (75-60) requiring an urgent CA were assigned to other hazards of the WP, chemical, biological, and failure of the educational system. The need to program for the remaining FMs (RPN scores 20–48) is related to the safety, biological, physical, and radioactive categories ‘hazards. It is recommended to apply continuously FMEA and implement the CA proposed for each detected FM in the scientific laboratories of the PbU in order to support the decision-makers to improve laboratory safety.

Classifying chemicals into toxicity categories based on LC50 values- Pros and cons

Classifying chemicals into toxicity categories based on LC50 values- Pros and cons

Acute and Sub-acute Toxicity Studies of a &lt;i&gt;Siddha&lt;/i&gt; Medicine &lt;i&gt;Ganthaga Mezhugu&lt;/i&gt; by Oral Administration in Sprague Dawley Rats

Psoriasis, a chronic auto-immune skin disease, is troubling 1-3 % of the world population with a 0.44-2.8% prevalence rate in India affecting more males than females. It is considered a dermatologist’s menace as it is challenging to treat the condition. Siddha, one of the traditional systems of medicine practised more in South India, includes a wide range of medicines that are used to treat or manage various ailments, including psoriasis. One such medicine is Ganthaga Mezhugu (GM) used in treating skin diseases like psoriasis. This present study deals with the evaluation of the safety of GM as per the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Guidelines 423 and 407 in Sprague Dawley (SD) rats. In the Acute Toxicity study, SD female rats were grouped into five, in which Groups I and II received elemental Sulphur in two different doses, Groups III and IV received Sulphur ‘purified’ with two different Siddha processes and Group V received GM (2000mg/kg b.wt.). In the subacute toxicity study, SD rats of both sexes were grouped into six in which Group 1 served as vehicle control, Groups 2, 3, and 4 as low, mid, and high dose groups and the last two (Groups 5 and 6) as satellite control and satellite high-dose groups. In the acute study, no mortality, toxic signs or any gross pathological changes were noted. Hence, the LD50 value of GM was found to be greater than 2000mg/kg b.wt. In the sub-acute toxicity study, no mortality or morbidity occurred. There was a gradual increase in body weight with normal food and water intake indicating normalcy in its metabolism. There were no significant changes in hematological and biochemical parameters, serum electrolytes and gross pathology. Also, no pathological changes were found in the histopathology of organs in treated animals when compared with control group animals. Based on the results, regarding the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of chemicals, GM can be classified as Category−5, which implies its safety for human consumption. Moreover, the results of the sub-acute study also confirm the safety of GM up to the dose of 400mg/kg b.wt.

Toxicological evaluation of antiretroviral Tenofovir Disoproxil Fumarate on the mollusk Biomphalaria glabrata and its hemocytes

Tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) is a drug used in HIV treatment, and several studies have detected its presence in surface water. Furthermore, more information on its environmental impact is needed in the scientific literature. Thus, due to the lack of data on the impact of this drug, and its presence in different waters of the world, this work aimed to evaluate the potential toxicological effects of TDF on the mollusk Biomphalaria glabrata in vivo and in vitro. For in vitro analysis, hemocytes were exposed to different drug concentrations for 1 h and evaluated for feasibility, and phagocytic and metabolic activity. The in vivo analysis consisted of the exposure of groups of five mollusks, in triplicate, at the same drug concentrations for 72 h and 21 days, evaluating mortality, and mollusk and hemolymph behavior. Although the exposure of the mollusk to TDF did not reduce its survival, however it was toxic to its hemocytes. Even if toxicity was identified on the mollusk and its hemocytes initially, further studies should be conducted to understand the effects of this residue on the environment and different life stages of the mollusk because, per the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals, for aquatic ecosystems, the results obtained were classified as toxic (EC50% 2.65 [1.98; 5.29] mg/L) and could cause unfeasibility in hemocytes at concentrations below 10 mg/l.

Application of Social Media in Chemical Safety Training: A Case Study of Training GHS Standards to Students and Laboratory Staff at a University

Insufficient knowledge of chemical hazards can cause unsafe behaviors, diseases, and accidents in the laboratory, hence educational interventions are significant. Due to its unique qualities, distance learning via educational applications has grown dramatically. This study aimed to determine the efficacy of a safety training intervention via social media applications on the safety knowledge of staff and students at Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences. A total of 166 staff and students at the laboratories of schools and research centers affiliated with Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences were randomized to an experimental group and a control group. A training package was prepared including text, GIF, and video messages on the Globally Harmonized System of classification and labeling of Chemicals (GHS), and the experimental group received a one month training via a common messenger platform in Iran (Telegram). Participants’ chemical safety knowledge was assessed before and after the intervention. A validated questionnaire including 24 multiple-choice items in text format and 13 multiple-choice items in image format as well as demographic items was employed to collect data. Shapiro-Wilk, independent t test, and analysis of covariance were used to analyze the data. In the textual section of the questionnaire, the most frequently answered item concerned the “reason for choosing a respirator”, and the least frequently answered ones were “meaning of warning” and “meaning of hazard”. Environmental hazard and oxidation risk received the most frequent correct answers in the visual section. After the intervention, the control and experimental groups’ knowledge scores were 64.7 ± 10.1 and 79.2 ± 8.4, respectively. According to the covariance test, the training intervention improved participants’ knowledge significantly (p < 0.001). Training interventions through social media can improve GHS knowledge. Moreover, visual messages are easier to understand and transfer than textual ones.

Applicability of OECD TG 201, 202, 203 for the aquatic toxicity testing and assessment of 2D Graphene material nanoforms to meet regulatory needs

Tests using algae and/or cyanobacteria, invertebrates (crustaceans) and fish form the basic elements of an ecotoxicological assessment in a number of regulations, in particular for classification of a substance as hazardous or not to the aquatic environment according to the Globally Harmonised System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS-CLP) (GHS, 2022) and the REACH regulation (Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals, EC, 2006). Standardised test guidelines (TGs) of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) are available to address the regulatory relevant endpoints of growth inhibition in algae and cyanobacteria (TG 201), acute toxicity to invertebrates (TG 202), and acute toxicity in fish (TG 203). Applying these existing OECD TGs for testing two dimensional (2D) graphene nanoforms may require more attention, additional considerations and/or adaptations of the protocols, because graphene materials are often problematic to test due to their unique attributes. In this review a critical analysis of all existing studies and approaches to testing used has been performed in order to comment on the current state of the science on testing and the overall ecotoxicity of 2D graphene materials. Focusing on the specific tests and available guidance's, a complete evaluation of aquatic toxicity testing for hazard classification of 2D graphene materials, as well as the use of alternative tests in an integrated approach to testing and assessment, has been made. This information is essential to ensure future assessments generate meaningful data that will fulfil regulatory requirements for the safe use of this “wonder” material.

Effects on Lettuce Yield Parameters and Toxicological Safety Assessment of a Plant-Derived Formulation Based on Rosemary and Eucalyptus Essential Oils

Essential oils from medicinal and aromatic plants are increasingly recognized as a promising class of green molecules for use in crop production. In many cases, the beneficial aspects of a substance are not supported by sufficient toxicological safety testing, even though recent reports suggest that some compounds may be toxic to terrestrial or aquatic non-target species. It is, therefore, essential to investigate the possibility of adverse effects on non-target animals and humans exposed to these substances through the consumption of fruit and/or vegetables. The present study aims to examine the potential effects on yield and quality parameters and investigate the level of in vitro and in vivo toxicity of an Eco-product (EP) based on rosemary and eucalyptus essential oils, to provide a measure for safe use in the agricultural sector. The product was evaluated in lettuce crop production and indicated that one-time application of the EP formula increases yield, activating various secondary metabolism pathways of the plant to cope with oxidative stress. Cytotoxicity assays and in vivo acute oral and dermal toxicity studies suggest that the tested compound does not pose any significant health hazard, and the dissolved product can be classified in Category 5, according to the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS).