J. Cherrie | Heriot-Watt University (original) (raw)

Papers by J. Cherrie

Journal of Exposure Science and Environmental Epidemiology, 2007

REACH (Registration, Evaluation and Authorization of CHemicals) requires improved exposure models... more REACH (Registration, Evaluation and Authorization of CHemicals) requires improved exposure models that can be incorporated into screening tools and refined assessment tools. These are referred to as tier 1 and 2 models, respectively. There are a number of candidate in tier 1 models that could be used with REACH. Tier 2 models, producing robust and realistic exposure assessments, are currently not available. A research programme is proposed in this paper that will result in a new, advanced exposure assessment tool for REACH. In addition, issues related to variability and uncertainty are discussed briefly, and some examples of tier 1 screening tools are presented. The proposed framework for the tier 2 tool is based on a Bayesian approach, and makes full use of mechanistically modelled estimates and any relevant measurements of exposure. The new approach will preclude the necessity to conduct of case-by-case exposure measurements for each chemical and scenario, since the system will allow for the use of analogous exposure data from relatively comparable scenarios. The development of the new approach requires substantial effort in the area of mechanistic modelling, database development and Bayesian statistical techniques. In this paper, the data gaps and areas for future research are identified to help realise and further improve this type of approach within REACH. A structured data collection and storage system is a central element of the research programme and the availability of this type of tool may also facilitate the sharing of exposure data down and up the supply chain. In addition, new data that are stored according to the proposed structure could enable the validation of any exposure model and thus this programme enhances the exposure assessment field as a whole.

OBJECTIVES: HSE's 2001 report on cancer in a Scottish cohort of semiconductor manufa... more OBJECTIVES: HSE's 2001 report on cancer in a Scottish cohort of semiconductor manufacturing workers showed some statistically significant results, suggestive of increased risks. Recently, the follow-up in the cohort was extended. We report on a case-based study to investigate these suggestions. METHODS: From the extended follow-up, cases of breast, stomach and lung cancer in women, and of brain cancer in men were identified. It was planned that the lung and breast cancer cases would be interviewed and compared with ...

Occupational and Environmental Medicine, 2005

Aims: To assess hazards associated with exposure to dust in the London Underground railway and to... more Aims: To assess hazards associated with exposure to dust in the London Underground railway and to provide an informed opinion on the risks to workers and the travelling public of exposure to tunnel dust. Methods: Concentrations of dust, as mass (PM 2.5 ) and particle number, were measured at different underground stations and in train cabs; its size and composition were analysed; likely maximal exposures of staff and passengers were estimated; and in vitro toxicological testing of sample dusts in comparison with other dusts was performed. Results: Concentrations on station platforms were 270-480 mg/m 3 PM 2.5 and 14 000-29 000 particles/ cm 3 . Cab concentrations over a shift averaged 130-200 mg/m 3 and 17 000-23 000 particles/cm 3 . The dust comprised by mass approximately 67% iron oxide, 1-2% quartz, and traces of other metals, the residue being volatile matter. The finest particles are drawn underground from the surface while the coarser dust is generated by interaction of brakes, wheels, and rails. Taking account of durations of exposure, drivers and station staff would have maximum exposures of about 200 mg/m 3 over eight hours; the occupational exposure standard for welding fume, as iron oxide, is 5 mg/m 3 over an eight hour shift. Toxicology showed the dust to have cytotoxic and inflammatory potential at high doses, consistent with its composition largely of iron oxide. Discussion: It is unjustifiable to compare PM 2.5 exposure underground with that on the surface, since the adverse effects of iron oxide and combustion generated particles differ. Concentrations of ultrafine particles are lower and of coarser (PM 2.5 ) particles higher underground than on the surface. The concentrations underground are well below allowable workplace concentrations for iron oxide and unlikely to represent a significant cumulative risk to the health of workers or commuters.

The Annals of Occupational Hygiene, 1995

Dermal uptake of hazardous substances is dependent on the concentration of the material on the su... more Dermal uptake of hazardous substances is dependent on the concentration of the material on the surface of the skin rather than its mass.

Annals of Occupational Hygiene, 2010

Metalworking fluids (MWF) may contain a variety of additives, including medium-chain chlorinated ... more Metalworking fluids (MWF) may contain a variety of additives, including medium-chain chlorinated paraffin (MCCP). There is concern that exposure to MCCP may be associated with increased risks for kidney toxicity. MCCP has been undergoing an evaluation as part of a European regulatory risk assessment and consequently it is important that an estimate is made of the likely occupational exposure. This paper reviews the available published data on dermal exposure to MWF and derives typical and reasonable worst-case (RWC) estimates of MCCP exposure. Estimates were highest for oil-based fluids (520 and 35 000 mg typical daily exposure and RWC exposure, respectively) and lowest for water-based fluids (30 and 520 mg for typical and RWC, respectively). Comparison with published inhalation exposure data suggests dermal and inhalation exposure may be of comparable magnitude.

Annals of Occupational Hygiene, 1988

Applied Occupational and Environmental Hygiene, 2001

A prototype occupational exposure database was developed as part of a study to retrospectively co... more A prototype occupational exposure database was developed as part of a study to retrospectively collect chemical exposure data from U.K. industry. The data dictionary for the database was constructed using existing recommendations on core data elements developed by working groups from the ACGIH and the European Union. The study also made use of existing job and workplace coding schemes. The practicalities of gathering the data by voluntary donation, its storage in a database, and the transfer of suitably anonymised data to the U.K. Health and Safety Executive's National Exposure Database system were investigated and assessed. Prior to the development, several existing exposure database systems were evaluated for their suitability to store the data from the study. Though of high quality, these were found to be insufficiently flexible for the diversity of datasets encountered and so the prototype exposure database was constructed using a leading database development package. The database was successfully used to gather data and forward it in a suitable format to the U.K. Health and Safety Executive. The published recommendations on occupational exposure databases and the associated coding schemes provided a very useful foundation for designing and implementing the prototype database. However, as data collection proceeded it became clear that the existing recommendations often were poorly understood and misinterpreted, or at least interpreted differently, by different database designers, data collectors, and other users of occupational exposure data. It is suggested that several items in the ACGIH and European Union core recommendations are ambiguous and need to be clarified. Once agreed, the improved database design criteria need to be widely promoted to foster a common understanding and to encourage their use by all those involved in collecting occupational exposure data. Beyond this, recommendations for exposure databases should be augmented to facilitate easy exchange of data between organizations.

Journal of Exposure Science and Environmental Epidemiology, 2007

REACH (Registration, Evaluation and Authorization of CHemicals) requires improved exposure models... more REACH (Registration, Evaluation and Authorization of CHemicals) requires improved exposure models that can be incorporated into screening tools and refined assessment tools. These are referred to as tier 1 and 2 models, respectively. There are a number of candidate in tier 1 models that could be used with REACH. Tier 2 models, producing robust and realistic exposure assessments, are currently not available. A research programme is proposed in this paper that will result in a new, advanced exposure assessment tool for REACH. In addition, issues related to variability and uncertainty are discussed briefly, and some examples of tier 1 screening tools are presented. The proposed framework for the tier 2 tool is based on a Bayesian approach, and makes full use of mechanistically modelled estimates and any relevant measurements of exposure. The new approach will preclude the necessity to conduct of case-by-case exposure measurements for each chemical and scenario, since the system will allow for the use of analogous exposure data from relatively comparable scenarios. The development of the new approach requires substantial effort in the area of mechanistic modelling, database development and Bayesian statistical techniques. In this paper, the data gaps and areas for future research are identified to help realise and further improve this type of approach within REACH. A structured data collection and storage system is a central element of the research programme and the availability of this type of tool may also facilitate the sharing of exposure data down and up the supply chain. In addition, new data that are stored according to the proposed structure could enable the validation of any exposure model and thus this programme enhances the exposure assessment field as a whole.

OBJECTIVES: HSE's 2001 report on cancer in a Scottish cohort of semiconductor manufa... more OBJECTIVES: HSE's 2001 report on cancer in a Scottish cohort of semiconductor manufacturing workers showed some statistically significant results, suggestive of increased risks. Recently, the follow-up in the cohort was extended. We report on a case-based study to investigate these suggestions. METHODS: From the extended follow-up, cases of breast, stomach and lung cancer in women, and of brain cancer in men were identified. It was planned that the lung and breast cancer cases would be interviewed and compared with ...

Occupational and Environmental Medicine, 2005

Aims: To assess hazards associated with exposure to dust in the London Underground railway and to... more Aims: To assess hazards associated with exposure to dust in the London Underground railway and to provide an informed opinion on the risks to workers and the travelling public of exposure to tunnel dust. Methods: Concentrations of dust, as mass (PM 2.5 ) and particle number, were measured at different underground stations and in train cabs; its size and composition were analysed; likely maximal exposures of staff and passengers were estimated; and in vitro toxicological testing of sample dusts in comparison with other dusts was performed. Results: Concentrations on station platforms were 270-480 mg/m 3 PM 2.5 and 14 000-29 000 particles/ cm 3 . Cab concentrations over a shift averaged 130-200 mg/m 3 and 17 000-23 000 particles/cm 3 . The dust comprised by mass approximately 67% iron oxide, 1-2% quartz, and traces of other metals, the residue being volatile matter. The finest particles are drawn underground from the surface while the coarser dust is generated by interaction of brakes, wheels, and rails. Taking account of durations of exposure, drivers and station staff would have maximum exposures of about 200 mg/m 3 over eight hours; the occupational exposure standard for welding fume, as iron oxide, is 5 mg/m 3 over an eight hour shift. Toxicology showed the dust to have cytotoxic and inflammatory potential at high doses, consistent with its composition largely of iron oxide. Discussion: It is unjustifiable to compare PM 2.5 exposure underground with that on the surface, since the adverse effects of iron oxide and combustion generated particles differ. Concentrations of ultrafine particles are lower and of coarser (PM 2.5 ) particles higher underground than on the surface. The concentrations underground are well below allowable workplace concentrations for iron oxide and unlikely to represent a significant cumulative risk to the health of workers or commuters.

The Annals of Occupational Hygiene, 1995

Dermal uptake of hazardous substances is dependent on the concentration of the material on the su... more Dermal uptake of hazardous substances is dependent on the concentration of the material on the surface of the skin rather than its mass.

Annals of Occupational Hygiene, 2010

Metalworking fluids (MWF) may contain a variety of additives, including medium-chain chlorinated ... more Metalworking fluids (MWF) may contain a variety of additives, including medium-chain chlorinated paraffin (MCCP). There is concern that exposure to MCCP may be associated with increased risks for kidney toxicity. MCCP has been undergoing an evaluation as part of a European regulatory risk assessment and consequently it is important that an estimate is made of the likely occupational exposure. This paper reviews the available published data on dermal exposure to MWF and derives typical and reasonable worst-case (RWC) estimates of MCCP exposure. Estimates were highest for oil-based fluids (520 and 35 000 mg typical daily exposure and RWC exposure, respectively) and lowest for water-based fluids (30 and 520 mg for typical and RWC, respectively). Comparison with published inhalation exposure data suggests dermal and inhalation exposure may be of comparable magnitude.

Annals of Occupational Hygiene, 1988

Applied Occupational and Environmental Hygiene, 2001

A prototype occupational exposure database was developed as part of a study to retrospectively co... more A prototype occupational exposure database was developed as part of a study to retrospectively collect chemical exposure data from U.K. industry. The data dictionary for the database was constructed using existing recommendations on core data elements developed by working groups from the ACGIH and the European Union. The study also made use of existing job and workplace coding schemes. The practicalities of gathering the data by voluntary donation, its storage in a database, and the transfer of suitably anonymised data to the U.K. Health and Safety Executive's National Exposure Database system were investigated and assessed. Prior to the development, several existing exposure database systems were evaluated for their suitability to store the data from the study. Though of high quality, these were found to be insufficiently flexible for the diversity of datasets encountered and so the prototype exposure database was constructed using a leading database development package. The database was successfully used to gather data and forward it in a suitable format to the U.K. Health and Safety Executive. The published recommendations on occupational exposure databases and the associated coding schemes provided a very useful foundation for designing and implementing the prototype database. However, as data collection proceeded it became clear that the existing recommendations often were poorly understood and misinterpreted, or at least interpreted differently, by different database designers, data collectors, and other users of occupational exposure data. It is suggested that several items in the ACGIH and European Union core recommendations are ambiguous and need to be clarified. Once agreed, the improved database design criteria need to be widely promoted to foster a common understanding and to encourage their use by all those involved in collecting occupational exposure data. Beyond this, recommendations for exposure databases should be augmented to facilitate easy exchange of data between organizations.