Diane Benford - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Papers by Diane Benford

Phomopsins are a family of mycotoxins produced by the fungus Diaporthe toxica (formerly referred ... more Phomopsins are a family of mycotoxins produced by the fungus Diaporthe toxica (formerly referred to as Phomopsis leptostromiformis). Lupins are the main host for the fungus, and infected stubble is the major source of animal exposure to phomopsins. Lupin seed is used in food and feed production, but the extent is poorly documented and data on the occurrence of phomopsins in lupin-based foods and feeds are limited. Therefore, it was not possible to assess dietary intake of phomopsins. Phomopsins are modified polypeptides, which bind with high affinity to tubulin isotypes and disrupt microtubular functions. Phomopsin A, the major toxic congener, is hepatotoxic in all animal species tested at sufficient doses. Phomopsin A is also hepatocarcinogenic in rats. The absence of either dose-response information on toxicities associated with phomopsins or exposure/occurrence data precludes an assessment of human or animal risks. However, the severity of toxicities in numerous animal species suggests that human and livestock exposures should be kept as low as possible.

The Panel on Contaminants in the Food Chain of the European Food Safety Authority (CONTAM Panel) ... more The Panel on Contaminants in the Food Chain of the European Food Safety Authority (CONTAM Panel) was asked by the European Commission to confirm whether the current tolerable weekly intake (TWI) of 2.5 μg/kg body weight (b.w.) for cadmium is still considered appropriate or whether any modifications are needed in view of the provisional tolerable monthly intake (PTMI) of 25 μg/kg b.w. established by the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA) in 2010. Both assessments used the same epidemiological dataset and have two primary components, a concentration-effect model that relates the concentration of cadmium in urine to that of beta-2-microglobulin (B2M), a biomarker of renal tubular effects, and a toxicokinetic model that relates urinary cadmium concentration to dietary cadmium intake. The following methodological differences were identified: i) the identification of the reference point on the basis of the urinary cadmium and the B2M concentration data; ii) the statistical approach to account for the variability and uncertainty of the biomarker of exposure (urinary cadmium concentration) and the biomarker of response (B2M concentration) in the concentration-effect model; and iii) the methodology for transforming urinary cadmium concentrations into dietary intake values.

The term tropane alkaloids refers to a group of more than 200 compounds best known for their occu... more The term tropane alkaloids refers to a group of more than 200 compounds best known for their occurrence in the family Solanaceae comprising over 100 genera and 3000 plant species. They have in common a two-ringed structure characterized by a pyrrolidine and a piperidine ring sharing a single nitrogen atom and two carbons atoms. The nitrogen atom at the end of the molecule, which characterizes the compounds as alkaloids, is in this group characteristically methylated. The most important natural tropane alkaloids are (-)-hyoscyamine and (-)-scopolamine (also known as hyoscine). High concentrations of these alkaloids have been found particularly in Datura stramonium and Datura ferox, as well as in Datura innoxia. The pattern of tropane alkaloids differs significantly and in Datura stramonium (also known as thorn apple or Jimson weed) hyoscyamine prevails in most parts of the plant, whereas in Datura ferox scopolamine is the major alkaloid 1 For citation purposes: Scientific Opinion of the Panel on Contaminants in the Food Chain on a request from the European Commission on Tropane alkaloids (from Datura sp.) as undesirable substances in animal feed. The EFSA Journal (2008) 691, 1-55.

The EFSA Panel on Contaminants in the Food Chain (CONTAM Panel) assessed the risks to human healt... more The EFSA Panel on Contaminants in the Food Chain (CONTAM Panel) assessed the risks to human health related to the presence of arsenic in food. More than 100,000 occurrence data on arsenic in food were considered with approximately 98 % reported as total arsenic. Making a number of assumptions for the contribution of inorganic arsenic to total arsenic, the inorganic arsenic exposure from food and water across 19 European countries, using lower bound and upper bound concentrations, has been estimated to range from 0.13 to 0.56 µg/kg bodyweight (b.w.) per day for average consumers, and from 0.37 to 1.22 µg/kg b.w. per day for 95 th percentile consumers. Dietary exposure to inorganic arsenic for children under three years of age is in general estimated to be from 2 to 3-fold that of adults. The CONTAM Panel concluded that the provisional tolerable weekly intake (PTWI) of 15 µg/kg b.w. established by the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA) is no longer appropriate as data had shown that inorganic arsenic causes cancer of the lung and urinary bladder in addition to skin, and that a range of adverse effects had been reported at exposures lower than those reviewed by the JECFA. The CONTAM Panel modelled the dose-response data from key epidemiological studies and selected a benchmark response of 1 % extra risk. A range of benchmark dose lower confidence limit (BMDL 01 ) values between 0.3 and 8 μg/kg b.w. per day was identified for cancers of the lung, skin and bladder, as well as skin lesions. The estimated dietary exposures to inorganic arsenic for average and high level consumers in Europe are within the range of the BMDL 01 values identified, and therefore there is little or no margin of exposure and the possibility of a risk to some consumers cannot be excluded.

EFSA was asked by the European Commission to deliver a scientific opinion on polybrominated diphe... more EFSA was asked by the European Commission to deliver a scientific opinion on polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in food. PBDEs are additive flame retardants which are applied in plastics, textiles, electronic castings and circuitry. PBDEs are ubiquitously present in the environment and likewise in biota and in food and feed. Data from the analysis of 19 PBDE congeners in 3,971 food samples were provided to EFSA by 11 European countries. Eight congeners were considered by the Panel on Contaminants in the Food Chain (CONTAM Panel) to be of primary interest: BDE-28,-47,-99,-100,-153,-154,-183 and-209. The highest dietary exposure is to BDE-47 and-209. Toxicity studies were carried out with technical PBDE mixtures or individual congeners. Main targets were the liver, thyroid hormone homeostasis and the reproductive and nervous system. PBDEs cause DNA damage through the induction of reactive oxygen species. The Panel identified effects on neurodevelopment as the critical endpoint, an...

EFSA was asked by the European Commission to deliver a scientific opinion on tetrabromobisphenol ... more EFSA was asked by the European Commission to deliver a scientific opinion on tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA) and its derivatives in food. TBBPA and its derivatives are widely used as flame retardants. TBBPA is primarily used as reactive flame retardant covalently bound to epoxy and polycarbonate resins. TBBPA derivatives are used as either reactive or additive intermediates in polymer manufacture. Data from the analysis of TBBPA in 344 food samples were submitted to EFSA by two European countries (Norway and Spain), covering the period from 2007 to 2010. All samples were in the food group " Fish and other seafood " , and all analytical results were reported as less than the limit of quantification (LOQ) (about 1 ng/g wet weight). Toxicological studies with TBBPA have been carried out using different experimental designs with single or repeated administration during gestation, postnatally or in adulthood. The main target is thyroid hormone homeostasis. TBBPA is not genotoxic....

Suggested citation: EFSA Panel on Contaminants in the Food Chain (CONTAM); Scientific Opinion on ... more Suggested citation: EFSA Panel on Contaminants in the Food Chain (CONTAM); Scientific Opinion on the risk to public health related to the presence of high levels of dioxins and dioxin-like PCBs in liver from sheep and deer. ABSTRACT EFSA was asked by the European Commission to deliver a scientific opinion on the risk to public health related to the presence of high levels of dioxins and dioxin-like PCBs in liver from sheep and deer. The opinion should also explore possible reasons for these high findings. Moreover, EFSA was asked whether dioxin and polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) levels for liver should better be expressed on fresh weight rather than on a fat basis. The Panel on Contaminants in the Food Chain (CONTAM Panel) evaluated dioxin and PCB results from 332 sheep liver, 175 sheep meat and 9 deer liver samples submitted by eight European countries and estimated the exposure through consumption of sheep liver for adults (consumers only) and children. Regular consumption of shee...

EFSA was asked by the European Commission to deliver a scientific opinion on hexabromocyclododeca... more EFSA was asked by the European Commission to deliver a scientific opinion on hexabromocyclododecanes (HBCDDs) in food. HBCDDs are additive flame retardants primarily used in expanded and extruded polystyrene applied as construction and packing materials, and in textiles. Technical HBCDD predominantly consists of three stereoisomers (α-, β-and γ-HBCDD). Also δ-and ε-HBCDD may be present but at very low concentrations. HBCDDs are present in the environment and likewise in biota and in food and feed. Data from the analysis of HBCDDs in 1,914 food samples were provided to EFSA by seven European countries, covering the period from 2000 to 2010. The Panel on Contaminants in the Food Chain (CONTAM Panel) selected α-, β-and γ-HBCDD to be of primary interest. Since all toxicity studies were carried out with technical HBCDD, a risk assessment of individual stereoisomers was not possible. Main targets were the liver, thyroid hormone homeostasis and the reproductive, nervous and immune systems....

Suggested citation: EFSA CONTAM Panel (EFSA Panel on Contaminants in the Food Chain), 2013. Guida... more Suggested citation: EFSA CONTAM Panel (EFSA Panel on Contaminants in the Food Chain), 2013. Guidance on methodological principles and scientific methods to be taken into account when establishing Reference Points for Action (RPAs) for non-allowed pharmacologically active substances present in food of animal origin. ABSTRACT EFSA was asked by the European Commission to deliver a Scientific Opinion on guidance on methodological principles and scientific methods to be taken into account when establishing Reference Points for Action (RPAs) for non-allowed pharmacologically active substances in food of animal origin. This guidance document presents a simple and pragmatic approach which takes into account both analytical and toxicological considerations. The aim is to define an analytical concentration for a non-allowed pharmacologically active substance that can be determined by official control laboratories and is low enough to adequately protect the consumers of food commodities that c...

Lead occurs primarily in the inorganic form in the environment. Human exposure is mainly via food... more Lead occurs primarily in the inorganic form in the environment. Human exposure is mainly via food and water, with some via air, dust and soil. In average adult consumers, lead dietary exposure ranges from 0.36 to 1.24, up to 2.43 μg/kg body weight (b.w.) per day in high consumers in Europe. Exposure of infants ranges from 0.21 to 0.94 μg/kg b.w. per day and in children from 0.80 to 3.10 (average consumers), up to 5.51 (high consumers) μg/kg b.w. per day. Cereal products contribute most to dietary lead exposure, while dust and soil can be important non-dietary sources in children. Lead is absorbed more in children than in adults and accumulates in soft tissues and, over time, in bones. Half-lives of lead in blood and bone are approximately 30 days and 10-30 years, respectively, and excretion is primarily in urine and faeces. The Panel on Contaminants in the Food Chain (CONTAM Panel) identified developmental neurotoxicity in young children and cardiovascular effects and nephrotoxicity...

EFSA was asked by the European Commission to deliver a scientific opinion on brominated phenols a... more EFSA was asked by the European Commission to deliver a scientific opinion on brominated phenols and their derivatives, other than tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA) or its derivatives, in food. Brominated phenols and their derivatives comprise a complex group of brominated flame retardants, used as reactive as well as additive flame retardants in a large range of resins and polyester polymers. A call for data was issued by EFSA in December 2009. No data on brominated phenols or their derivatives were submitted to EFSA. A limited number of occurrence data, covering the food group " Fish and other seafood " , was identified in the literature. Data from European sampling showed that 2,4,6-tribromophenol (2,4,6-TBP) predominates over the other brominated phenols. Toxicity studies are scarce and mostly relates to 2,4,6-TBP. The main targets are liver and kidneys. In a limited repeated dose oral toxicity study a no-observed-adverse-effect level (NOAEL) for 2,4,6-TBP of 100 mg/kg b.w....

This opinion describes the assessment of the risks to public health associated with bisphenol A (... more This opinion describes the assessment of the risks to public health associated with bisphenol A (BPA) exposure. Exposure was assessed for various groups of the human population in three different ways: (1) external (by diet, drinking water, inhalation, and dermal contact to cosmetics and thermal paper); (2) internal exposure to total BPA (absorbed dose of BPA, sum of conjugated and unconjugated BPA); and (3) aggregated (from diet, dust, cosmetics and thermal paper), expressed as oral human equivalent dose (HED) referring to unconjugated BPA only. The estimated BPA dietary intake was highest in infants and toddlers (up to 0.875 µg/kg bw per day). Women of childbearing age had dietary exposures comparable to men of the same age (up to 0.388 µg/kg bw per day). The highest aggregated exposure of 1.449 µg/kg bw per day was estimated for adolescents. Biomonitoring data were in line with estimated internal exposure to total BPA from all sources. BPA toxicity was evaluated by a weight of ev...

Toxicology Letters

Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and perflurooctanoic acid (PFOA) are two important classes of co... more Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and perflurooctanoic acid (PFOA) are two important classes of compounds of perfluoroalkylated substances, which are environmentally persistent and can be bioac-cumulated in humans. The European Food Safety Authority's Panel on Contaminants in the Food Chain (CONTAM) evaluated these compounds regarding the importance of food and non-food sources to the human exposure and established health based guidance val-ues. The indicative estimate of dietary exposure to PFOS is 60 and 200 ng/kg bodyweight (b.w.) per day, for average and high consumers in Europe, respectively. For PFOA the indicative esti-mate of dietary exposure is 2 and 6 ng/kg b.w. per day for average and high consumers, respectively. Fish seems to be the major source of human exposure to PFOS and PFOA. Non-food sources can contribute <2% and up to 50% for PFOS and PFOA, respectively. For PFOS a no-observed-adverse-effect-level of 0.03 mg/kg b.w. per day was derived from a subchronic mo...

Alternatives to laboratory animals : ATLA

SUMMARY Glucosinolates (alkyl aldoxime-O-sulphate esters with a β-D-thioglucopyranoside group) oc... more SUMMARY Glucosinolates (alkyl aldoxime-O-sulphate esters with a β-D-thioglucopyranoside group) occur in important oil- and protein-rich agricultural crops, including among others Brassica napus (rapeseed of Canola), B. campestris (turnip rape) and Sinapis alba (white mustard), all belonging to the plant family of Brassicaceae. They are present in all parts of these plants, with the highest concentrations often found in seeds. Several

SUMMARY Pectenotoxin (PTX)-group toxins are a group of polyether-lactone toxins. They have been d... more SUMMARY Pectenotoxin (PTX)-group toxins are a group of polyether-lactone toxins. They have been detected in microalgae and bivalve molluscs in Australia, Japan and New Zealand and in a number of European countries. Their presence in shellfish was discovered due to their acute toxicity in the mouse bioassay after intraperitoneal (i.p.) injections of lipophilic extracts of shellfish. PTX-group toxins are exclusively

Toxicology Letters

Alternatives to laboratory animals : ATLA