Future considerations, human health

Amongst other things then, CHIP required that suppliers classified the substances they supplied according to the extent of hazard they represented to human health. It required they used the R-phrase rating system to do so and that suppliers state the appropriate R-phrase on the Safety Data Sheets they were obliged to provide when supplying chemicals or preparations for use at work. These measures were to be of considerable significance in relation to the future policy expectations... 

Ethical considerations across the whole spectrum of biotechnology are being discussed in Europe, dealing with envuonmental applications, food production, human health, animal welfare, reseaich, industry, the north/south divide, biodiversity, public perceptions and media, and stress the consideration of the interest of future generations. 

Hg co-precipitation was demonstrated to be a considerably more effective method to pre-concentrate and isolate Pd from the matrix of airborne PM prior to analysis using ID-Q-ICP-MS, compared to Te co-precipitation. For all relevant elements, Hg co-precipitation reduced the concentrations of interfering matrix constituents by at least one order of magnitude more compared to Te co-precipitation (Table 3). The use of He as a collision gas was demonstrated to further increase the reliability of the measurements by minimizing molecular interferences. Pd concentrations measured for airborne PM samples collected in Frankfurt am Main demonstrate that they are significantly higher relative to those collected in more rural areas with a lower traffic density. Future levels of Pd in urban airborne PM need to be monitored to ensure they will not pose a human health risk, especially to vulnerable populations such as children. 

In trying to balance present and future impacts, we must consider not only the financial burdens but obviously the human health risks as well. We cannot limit our consideration to the risks posed after work is completed. Through several studies, we have become increasingly aware that the largest risks are worker-related, not those incurred by the off-site population. Decisions must therefore balance the requirement to minimize near-term exposures to workers and the requironent to reduce burdens on and protect future generations. In order to adequately assure protection of human health, I believe that remediation and disposal strategies should be selected based on the cumulative risk posed to workers and the public over time. 

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