Date | Title |  | Body |
|---|
| Key publications from the NoMiracle Project | | A series of review papers on the results obtained in the key areas of NoMiracle has been published as a Special Issue on Risk Assessment in the journal Science of the Total Environment:
- Løkke H, Ragas A , Schüürmann G, Spurgeon D, Sørensen PB (Eds) 2010. Special Issue: Cumulative Stressors - Risk assessment of mixtures of chemicals and combinations of chemicals and natural stressors. Science of the Total Environment; 408 (18); 3719-3963
Further, attention should be the book on mixture toxicity, produced during and after the specialised workshop held by NoMiracle and SETAC Europe in Krakow 2-6 April 2006:
- Van Gestel, CAM; Jonker, MJ; Kammenga, Ryszard Laskowski, R; Svendsen, C (Eds) 2010. Mixture Toxicity : Linking Approaches from Ecological and Human Toxicology, 1st ed., Boca Raton, London, New York: C R C Press LLC, 280 pp.
The work in the NoMiracle Project has resulted in new tools and methods, scientific findings and draft guidance documents. The work has been documented by about 200 reports, by 40 PhD projects, and by more than 200 scientific peer reviewed papers. Some further peer reviewed papers have been or will be produced after the close of the project.
Hans Løkke
NoMiracle Coordinator
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| The latest special issue of "Science for Environment Policy | | "The latest special issue of "Science for Environment Policy" on *Combination Effects of Chemicals* from DG Environment News Alert Service is edited by the NoMiracle Coordinator and summarises policy-relevant research in an easy-to-read format from NoMiracle and elsewhere.
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| NoMiracle Newsletter No 16 has arrived! | | Dear NoMiracle Readers,
This is our next-to-final issue, and it is a celebration of the impact NoMiracle work can have.
You will find plenty of photos from our closing Aarhus Conference with PHIME on "Multiple Stressors: Novel Methods for Integrated Risk Assessment".
Many visitors, stakeholders and researchers have given frank feedback in this issue.
Get a glimpse of the NoMiracle TOOLBOX, too.
With kind regards and best wishes for the holiday and New Year,
Hans L økke, Claire Mays and the NoMiracle Secretariat
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| The NoMiracle Tool Box | | Across the 5 years' experimental work of the NoMiracle Integrated Project, a long array of novel methods has been produced, dealing with the assessment and management of cumulative stressors and complex scenarios.
Each method or tool is presented by its title, its features, its potential use, its novelty and background. The tools are classified as “ready for use”, “under development” or “more research needed”. References are given, with the contact address for the responsible scientists. The page contains too, if available, the link to the deliverables of NoMiracle on the basis of which the tool was developed. The NoMiracle Tool Box will be further updated during the coming months, with new tools as they emerge from the publication process and become available for the use of other scientists, managers and practitioners.
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| International Colloquium on "Carcinogens, Mutagens, Reproductive Toxicants: the Politics of Limit Values and Low Doses in the 20th and 21st Centuries" | | International Colloquium on "Carcinogens, Mutagens, Reproductive Toxicants: the Politics of Limit Values and Low Doses in the 20th and 21st Centuries", Strasbourg , France, Maison Interuniversitaire des Sciences de l'Homme-Alsace (MISHA), 29 - 31 March 2010.
Detailed program (web and pdf):
Topics :
I- Scientific knowledge and expertise
II- The construction of national and transnational regulation systems and spaces
III- Criticism, activism and the public space
Session 1 - Governing Occupational and Environmental Issues: Long Term Transformations
Session 2 - Scientific Knowledge and the Government of CMR (1)
Session 3 - Scientific Knowledge and the Government of CMR (2)
Session 4 - Exposed Bodies and Populations: Biological and Political Identities
Session 5 - National Features in the Age of Globalization
Session 6 - Local and Global Issues of Inter-regulation
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| The abstracts from the NoMiracle - PHIME conference in Aarhus, 28-30 September 2009 | | The abstracts from the NoMiracle - PHIME conference "Multiple Stressors - Novel Methods for Integrated Risk Assessment" in Aarhus, 28-30 September 2009 are now available.
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| Up-dated programme for the NoMiracle & PHIME Conference in Aarhus 28-30 September | | Up-dated programme for the NoMiracle & PHIME Conference in Aarhus 28-30 September.
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| Deadline for EARLYBIRD Registration August 27 | | As the deadline for early bird registration is coming up at the end of the week (August 27), we would like to remind everyone of this fact as soon as possible. Attached is the reminder for the conference. Register now and save money.
NoMiracle Secretariat
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| NoMiracle Newsletter No 15 has arrived! | | In this edition we have the pleasure to remind on the conference “Multiple Stressors – Novel Methods for Integrated Risk Assessment” 28–30th September 2009 in Aarhus, Denmark. Visit the online registration on http://www.kongreskompagniet.dk/multiplestressors. You find the information on the conference on the NoMiracle website. In this issue we also present a finalised NoMiracle PhD thesis dealing with combined effects of chemicals and natural stressors, and announce a series of NoMiracle Courses on 27 September 2009 at Ferskvandscentret, Silkeborg (45 km from the Aarhus Conference 28-30th September). To download the newsletter click on the following link:
NoMiracle Secretariat
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| FIRST ANNOUNCEMENT FINAL MODELKEY CONFERENCE at UFZ, Leipzig, 30 NOV - 2 DEC 2009 | | We have the pleasure of inviting you to the Final MODELKEY Conference "MODELKEY- How to assess the impact of key pollutants in aquatic ecosystems" which will take place at UFZ, Leipzig (Germany), from 30 Nov to 2 Dec 2009.
Main Topics:
The conference will present latest findings of MODELKEY on an integrated level as well as individual results in the following sessions:
- evidence of toxic stress on biological quality elements;
- from priority pollutants to key pollutants causing toxic stress;
- bioavailability and bioaccumulation linking contamination and
biological effects;
- evidences of multiple stress in aquatic ecosystems;
- integrated approaches for site-specific risk assessment;
- suggestions for surveillance and investigative monitoring;
- new integrated tools for risk assessment and decision making on a basin scale.
In addition, invited keynote speakers will inform us on latest developments in MODELKEY-related fields. Besides this, a "DSS corner" where you can test the final prototype of the MODELKEY Decision Support System will be available throughout the conference.
Please visit the conference website at www.modelkey.ufz.de/conference for more information. It will be continuously updated and a draft programme will be available there soon.
Call for posters:
We would be very pleased to receive abstracts for poster presentations on above mentioned topics. Abstract submission deadline is 15 Sept 2009.
Deadline for early registration: 15 Oct 2009.
We very much look forward to welcoming you to the UFZ. Please forward this invitation to your colleagues who might be interested in participating. Thank you. Our apologies for any
cross-postings.
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| NoMiracle offers 4 courses in September 2009 | | In 2009, NoMiracle offers 4 courses demonstrating methods and tools for risk assessment of cumulative stressors developed during the NoMiracle project.
Course 1. Ecological risk assessment: the concepts of sensitivity and vulnerability
Course 2. Mixture toxicity within a DEB context– Experimental design and Data analysis
Course 3. Separation of uncertainty and variability in risk assessment
Course 4. Uncertainty bottlenecks in risk assessment
NoMiracle Secretariat
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| NoMiracle Newsletter No 14 has arrived! | | In this edition we have the pleasure to announce the conference “Multiple Stressors – Novel Methods for Integrated Risk Assessment” 28th–30th September 2009 in Aarhus, Denmark. This conference is open for contributions. You also find the information below on this website. We also present the main results from 2008 and an award to a NoMiracle Scientist.
Deadline for Abstracts extended to 1st July
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| Conference 28-30 September 2009 |  | Mark your calendar for the conference “Multiple Stressors – Novel Methods for Integrated Risk Assessment” 28th–30th September 2009 in Aarhus, Denmark
The conference is open for contributions in combination with presentation of the main results from the FP6 Project NoMiracle. Please use the abstract form and forward the filled form to the NoMiracle Secretariat ( nomiracle@dmu.dk)
The Programme includes plenary keynote presentations, two parallel platform sessions and a poster session, related to multiple stressors to man and environment. More details are found in the programme. Papers will be accepted in the areas of
1) integration of environmental and human risk assessment
2) assessment of chemical mixtures and combinations of chemicals and natural stressors,
3) understanding complex exposure scenarios, and
4) understanding the cognitive and knowledge-related, social and contextual aspects of integrated risk assessment.
Papers that focus on the development of advanced methods in areas such as tracking the fate of chemicals, the effects of chemical mixtures and combinations of natural stressors and chemicals, toxicokinetics, toxicogenomics, modelling, social science and data handling will be particularly welcome. This applies especially where such methods have potential for improving environment and human health by reducing the risk from chemical exposure.
ABSTRACT DEADLINE: 1st June 2009
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| International Workshop on "Cumulative Risk Assessment: a Challenge for Science and Management" | | The programme for the workshop is now available. The event will take place in Ravenstein, The Netherlands, 26-27th March 2009.
The workshop aims to inform industry, policy makers and academia about the research results on cumulative exposure and effects, and the novel methods and procedures developed within the NoMiracle project. It serves as a platform to discuss the implications of the project results for EU-wide regulations such as REACH, the Water Framework Directive, and Directives concerning biocides and pesticides. The main goals of the workshop are:
- To present the regulatory state of the art in cumulative risk assessment: Why is cumulative risk assessment required and what are the priorities/needs from a regulatory perspective?
- To present the scientific state of the art in cumulative risk assessment (i.e. assessment of cumulative exposure, effects and risks) with a special focus on the results of the NoMiracle project.
- To identify the key needs (research, legislation/regulation, institutional) for cumulative risk assessment based on a confrontation between the regulatory and scientific state of the art.
- To present the preliminary results of the NoMiracle master cases on cumulative risk assessment and to discuss the options for dissemination to stakeholders (i.e. industry, policy makers, academia and laymen).
Details including the registration form is attached to this message.
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| NoMiracle Newsletter No. 13 has arrived! | | In this edition we have the pleasure to announce:
- The NoMiracle Workshop on Cumulative Risk Assessment: a Challenge for Science and Management, Ravenstein, The Netherlands, 26-27 March 2009
- First announcement of the Final NoMiracle Conference 28-30 September 2009
- Report on the 4th NoMiracle Open Workshop on Integrated Assessment of Environmental and Human Health, Frankfurt, 8-9 September, 2008
- Tele Course in the Dynamic Energy Budget Theory
To download the newsletter click on the following link: http://nomiracle.jrc.ec.europa.eu/Newsletters/NoMiracle_Newsletter_no_13.pdf
NoMiracle Secretariat
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| Tele Course on the Dynamic Energy Budget (DEB) theory | | Tele Course on the Dynamic Energy Budget (DEB) theory is offered by the Department of Theoretical Biology at Vrije Universiteit in the context of the NoMiracle project. The course is taught by the DEB-team with a leading role for Professor Dr. Bas Kooijman. The course is mainly at your own workplace, starting 12th February 2009.
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| Cumulative Risk Assessment: a Challenge for Science and Management. 5th Open NoMiracle Workshop | | The NoMiracle Workshop on "Cumulative Risk Assessment: a Challenge for Science and Management" will take place in Ravenstein, The Netherlands, 26-27th March 2009. This is an important milestone in our work programme. We will demonstrate our progress and discuss it with our endusers: industry, government and academia.
Details including the registration form is attached to this message.
NoMiracle Secretariat
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| NoMiracle Workshop: Integrated Assessment of Environmental and Human Health | | The NoMiracle Workshop on Integrated Assessment of Environmental and Human Health will take place in Frankfurt, 8-9 September. This is an important milestone in our work programme. We will demonstrate our progress and discuss it with our endusers: industry, government and academia. We will also benefit from presentations of INTARESE and HEIMTSA findings.
Topics
- Integration of human and ecological exposure assessment
- Mechanistic approaches to mixture / cumulative stressor assessment
- Extrapolation of effects data
- Combined effects of natural stressors and chemicals
- Integration of environment and health methodologies
In attachment the workshop flyer, the programme and an electronic registration form.
NoMiracle Secretariat |
| International Public Health Symposium on environment and health research | | International Public Health Symposium on environment and health research in Madrid, Spain, 20-22 October 2008:
Science for policy, policy for science: bridging the gap.
Organised by WHO/Europe and the Institute of Health Carlos III of the Spanish Ministry of Health and Consumer Affairs in co-operation with the European Commission Research Directorate-General (EC DG Research).
http://www.euro.who.int/envhealth/policy/20080102_1
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| NoMiracle Newsletter No. 12 has arrived! | | In this edition we have the pleasure to annouce:
- Report from Novel Methods forAssessing Chemical Exposure for the 21st Century Leipzig, 1-2 April, 2008
- Summer Courses
- NoMiracle presentations at SETAC Warsaw, 25-29, May, 2008
- Second Announcement of Open Workshop on Integrated Assessment of Environmental and Human Health Frankfurt, 8-9 September, 2008
- Final Announcement Topics on environmental mixture toxicity
NoMiracle Secretariat
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| PRACTICAL APPROACH TO ECOTOXICOGENOMICS | | Advanced Workshop Studies in Biology and Applied Biosciences
Department of Biology - University of Aveiro, 16-21 June 2008
This one-week post-graduate workshop aims to provide knowledge on the development of molecular markers of stress using molecular biology techniques. This includes among others the following: RNA extraction, cDNA synthesis, basic cloning techniques, PCR reaction development and optimisation, real time PCR, DNA sequencing, and development of microarrays (cDNA arrays), their hybridization and analysis.
The course is addressed to scientists and PhD and M.Sc. students with a background in Biology, Natural and Environmental Sciences, Chemistry,Environmental engineering or related fields, members of consulting companies and of private and public institutions responsible for environmental management.
All the details in the attached document.
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| TOPICS ON ENVIRONMENTAL MIXTURE TOXICITY | | Advanced Workshop Studies in Biology and Applied Biosciences
Department of Biology - University of Aveiro, 30th of June – 4th July 2008
This one-week post-graduate workshop aims to provide knowledge on chemical interactions and mixture toxicity in the environment. The ourse is addressed to scientists and PhD and M.Sc. students with a background in Biology, Natural and Environmental Sciences, Chemistry, Environmental engineering or related fields, members of consulting companies and of private and public institutions responsible for environmental management.
All the details in the attached document.
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| Training course on Risk Assessment of Metal Exposure | | PHIME announces a training course on Risk Assessment of Metal Exposure in Brescia, Italy, 18-26th September 2008. The NoMiracle project will be presented by Hans Løkke
All the details in the attachment. |
| NoMiracle Newsletter no. 11 has arrived. | | In this edition we have the pleasure to annouce:
- NoMiracle Workshop on Chemical Exposure Leipziger KUBUS – UFZ, Germany 1-2 April, 2008
- Athon Mixture Toxicity Workshop
- Chemical Exposure Workshop Programme
- Chemical Exposure Workshop Accomodation
- Chemical Exposure Workshop. How to reach Leipziger KUBUS – UFZ
- Chemical Exposure Workshop Registration
- Summer Courses
- First Announcement of Open Workshop on Integrated Assessment of Environmental and Human Health
To download the newsletter click on the following link: http://nomiracle.jrc.ec.europa.eu/Newsletters/NoMiracle_Newsletter_no_11.pdf
NoMiracle Secretariat |
| NoMiracle Workshop on Chemical Exposure | | Dear nomiraclers,
We have the pleasure to announce:
NoMiracle Workshop on Chemical Exposure
UFZ Leipzig, Germany, 1-2 April, 2008
Main Topics:
• Sorption into organic matter and biomembranes
• Availability of xenobiotics and metals
• Biodegradation rates and pathways
• Degradation of airborne compounds through indirect photolysis
• Multimedia fate including spatial and temporal resolution
For any details and registration click on the enclosed link.
NoMiracle Secretariat
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| ATHON MIXTURE TOXICITY WORKSHOP - Amsterdam 1 April 2008 | | The FP6 network ATHON organises a one-day open workshop on mixture toxicity - test design, case studies and risk assessment.
The workshop will take place on 1st April 2008 from 9 AM to 6 PM. The workshop will be held at Vrije Universiteit (VU), close to Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam, The Netherlands. This thematic workshop will focus on various aspects of mixture toxicity and will include an interactive afternoon program with participants joining one of three groups chaired by prominent scientists who will lead interactive discussion on mixture toxicity related topics. Among the speakers are prominent scientists from NoMiracle, namely Prof. Albert Duschl from University of Salzburg, who will speak on "Cell-based methods for measuring effects of mixtures of environmental pollutants on the human immune system", and Dr. Ad Ragas from Radboud University Nijmegen, who will speak on "Risk assessment of mixtures".
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| Workshop: FROM RISK ASSESSMENT TO RISK RESPONSE - 2-4 April 2008, Athens, Greece | | Announcement of an interdisciplinary workshop for researchers, risk assessors and policy-makers organised by the FP6 IP INTARESE workshop: FROM RISK ASSESSMENT TO RISK RESPONSE - Communicating Complex Risks to Concerned Stakeholders, 2-4 April 2008, Athens, Greece.
The purpose of this workshop is to bring together researchers and practitioners from across Europe, to explore ways of improving risk communication about environmental threats to health, in order to enhance risk management and risk response. Among the speakers are prominent scientists from NoMiracle, namely Dr. Timo Assmuth from SYKE in Finland, who will speak on "Expert and regulator perceptions of mapping, assessing and managing multiple cumulative risks", Prof. Dr. Olf Herbarth from UFZ and University of Leipzig, Germany who will speak on "Influence of indoor exposure on eczema in early childhood", and Dr. Joost Lahr from ALTERRA in The Netherlands who will speak on "Risk mapping of environmental pollutants: state-of-the-art, possibilities and limitations".
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| Post Graduation Courses - University of Aveiro | | On behalf of NoMiracle project the following courses will be held in the University of Aveiro:
- TOPICS ON ENVIRONMENTAL MIXTURE TOXICITY
- PRACTICAL APPROACH TO ECOTOXICOGENOMICS
- INTRODUCTION TO BIOSTATISTICS AND TOXRAT SOLUTIONS
You can find all the details in the attachments.
NoMiracle Secretariat
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| Scientific articles produced from the NoMiracle Project | | A list of published scientific articles made in the NoMiracle project is now available.
http://nomiracle.jrc.ec.europa.eu/documents/NoMiracleScientificArticles.xls
NoMiracle Secretariat |
| Newsletter no. 10 is now available. | | Newsletter no. 10 is arrived.
In this edition we have the pleasure to announce:
- The knock-on effects of environmental toxins
- NoMiracle Open Workshops
- Third year activities of NoMiracle
- NoMiracle Scientific Articles published
the first three years of NoMiracle
- NoMiracle co-ordination
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| Report from the Second Open NoMiracle Workshop | | Report from the Second Open NoMiracle Workshop – Communicating Chemical Risks – Stuttgart 12-13th of April 2007.
To download the report click on the link:
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| Course on Bioassays and bioindication | | The course will be about principles, validation, application, and pitfalls of in vitro and in vivo bioassays and bio-indication at the individual (biomarkers) and ecosystem level.
The course will start with the introduction of a case study that will be further discussed and elaborated on the last day of the course.
To see the program and other useful information open the enclosed attachment.
NoMiracle Secretariat |
| NoMiracle Newsletter no 9 is now available | | In this edition we have the pleasure to announce:
- Communicating Chemical Risks
- NoMiracle Second Open Workshop on “Communicating Chemical Risks”
- Risk Governance Framework
- Lessons for Good Risk Communication
- Variation and Meaning of Expert Views on Multiple Risks and Uncertainties: Insights from NoMiracle Work
- Use and Disuse of Risk Information – The Significance of Information Frameworks in Integrated Risk Assessment and Management
- Panel Discussion: Addressing the Challenge
- Case Studies: Experiences from other EU-Risk-Projects
- World Café
- Specific Features of Chemical Risk Affecting Communication
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| Final results of all FP5 projects | | The final results of all FP5 projects dealing with environment and health issues have been compiled by the Commission in a catalogue. A large body of useful knowledge is now available for scientists and the public:
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| Newsletter no. 8 has arrived | | Newsletter no. 8 is now available.
In this edition we have the pleasure to announce:
NoMiracle Ph.D. programme – courses offered 2007
Descriptions of courses
RAISEBIO – AXIOM – NOMIRACLE Summer School
To read the NoMiracle newsletter No. 8 click http://nomiracle.jrc.ec.europa.eu/Newsletters/NoMiracle_Newsletter_no_8.pdf
Nomiracle Secretariat
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| Presentations of Open Workshop Stuttgart: Communicating Chemicals Risks: The role of risk perception and communication for characterizing and managing Cumulative Stressors | | More than 45 experts have participated in the Open Workshop in Stuttgart in April 2007 and discussed the challenges and principle of good risk communication especially for chemicals stressors.
Three other EU-Project STARC, SafeFoods and PHIME presented ideas for stakeholder and risk communication as well.
All experts from industry, NGO, regulation and science gave recommendations for the NoMiracle project in world café. The results of the workshop and a documentation will be published End of July 2007
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| Newsletter no. 7 now available! | | Newsletter no. 7 has arrived.
In this edition we have the pleasure to announce:
- Editorial
- Author reflections
- RAISEBIO – AXIOM – NOMIRACLE– Summer school
- NoMiracle contributions at SETAC Porto, May 20-24, 2007
- NoMiracle Ph.D.-programme
Nomiracle Secretariat |
| Open Workshop: Communicating Chemical Risks | | Open Workshop in Stuttgart 2007
Communicating Chemical Risks
The role of risk perception and communication
for characterizing and managing Cumulative Stressors
12th and 13th of April 2007
Note: attachments updated - 5 mar 07
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| Nomiracle Newsletter No. 6 has arrived | | Newsletter no. 6 is now available.
In this edition we have the pleasure to announce:
- NoMiracle Annual Progress Meeting 2006 in Antwerp
- Map analysis for visualizing risk scenarios
- Natural stressors and toxicants
- Metabolomics as a tool for cross species assessment in ecotoxicology
- Modelling effects of mixtures of compounds
- Modelling, assessing and ranking of spatial and individualrisks for human health
- Availability and exposure of hydrophobic organics
- Towards geographically based chemical fate models for Europe
- Second Open Workshop in Stuttgart 2007: Communicating Chemical Risks
Read the enclosed attachment for all details. |
| 4th International Conference on Children´s Health and the Environment | | 4th International Conference on Children´s Health and the Environment:
"Reducing environmental risks for our children"
10.- 12. June 2007, Vienna, Austria
This conference aims at bringing scientists, health professionals,
educators and policy makers together to discuss links between children´s
health and environmental factors, to identify opportunities to minimize
childhood exposure to environmental hazards, to define future directions
in research and to initiate policies in the field of children´s
environmental health.
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| 1st Open NoMiracle workshop (Intra, Italy, june 2006) proceedings NOW available! | | The aim of the 1st open NoMiracle workshop “Ecological and Human Health Risk Assessment: Focussing on complex chemical risk assessment and the identification of highest risk conditions” was to discuss criteria for the selection of risk scenarios, mapping and visualizing risk, and communicating it to the general public, decision makers and scholars in other disciplines.
Discussion sessions allowed non-project participants to present experiences and research related to the workshop topics, which include:
• Scenario screening to support risk assessment
• Geographical risk mapping
• Communication of methods to users: presentation of experiences in mapping of human health risks
• Highlighting the potential implications for application of the precautionary principle.
During the workshop, a series of communications by the project participants illustrated the main topics and introduced discussion among the participants.
The outcomes of the discussion are summarised at the beginning of the volume, followed by an extended summary of the contributions thereby presented.
To download the proceedings click the enclosed link
Errata corrige: a contribution by Münier et al. that was not listed in the table of content is now correctly reported - 7 feb 07
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| NoMiracle-courses to be held in January 2007 | | Dear NoMiracle Partners, It is our great pleasure to announce two NoMiracle-courses to be held in January 2007 at University of Aveiro in Portugal. For further information see attachments or go to http://cesam-ua.com/cesam/index.php?menu=99&language=eng&tabela=geral You are welcome to distribute this message further at your Institution. Best regards NoMiracle Secretariat |
| Nomiracle Newsletter No. 5 has arrived | | Newsletter no. 5 is now available. Read the enclosed attachment.
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| European Framework Programme, FP7 | | The NoMiracle Secretariat is pleased to present detailed information about the next European Framework Programme, FP7. It is provided to us by Dr. Tuomo Karjalainen of the Environment Directorate within the European Commission Research & Development Directorate. Dr. Karjalainen also addressed the NoMiracle Progress Meeting (Antwerp, September 2006).
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| NoMiracle Newsletter No. 4 | | The NoMiracle Newsletter no. 4 has arrived.
In this edition we have the pleasure to announce the
NoMiracle Ph.D. Program
Read the following attachment for all the details.
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| 1st Open NoMiracle International workshop | | Dear NoMiraclers,
as the Intra 1st Open International workshop "Ecological and Human Health Risk Assessment: Focussing on complex chemical risk assessment and
the identification of highest risk conditions" is approaching, we are pleased to announce that the presentation slides and presentation abstracts of many contributions are now available at the web site:
http://nomiracle.jrc.ec.europa.eu/Pageslib/IntraWorkshop.aspx
The materials are of interest for those who like to have a look in advance to the topics of discussion, in order to prepare their participation and to ensure a more effective discussion during the workshop. This will be particularly beneficial for the Open discussion sessions of friday afternoon, june 9th.
Looking forward to meet you soon on Lake Maggiore, with best regards
dr Alberto Pistocchi
European Commission
Joint Research Centre,
Institute for Environment and Sustainability (IES)
Rural, Water and Ecosystem Resources Unit
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| NoMiracle Newsletter No. 3 | | The NoMiracle Newsletter no. 3 has arrived. Read the following attachment. |
| First announcement of the International School of Environmental Risk Assessment | | NoMiracle secretariat is pleased to inform you about the first announcement of the International School of Environmental Risk Assessment that will be held at the Certosa di Pontignano (Siena, Italy) from 5 to 13 November 2006.
See the attached document for all the details.
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| List of NoMiracle contributions to the SETAC conference in Den Haag, Netherlands | | NoMiracle contributions to SETAC is available on-line.
Follow the link and view the NoMiracle related abstract for SETAC 2006:
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| Second NoMiracle Newsletter OnLine | | NoMiracle Newsletter No. 2
In this edition we have the pleasure to present:
- New tool for identification of chemicals with high risk potential
- First open international NoMiracle workshop, Ispra, Italy, June 8-9, 2006
- First year of NoMiracle
- NoMiracle at SETAC Europa in den Haag
- Limits of endocrine disrupters in terms of mixtures; the ACE project
- Mixture Toxicity Workshop in Krakow Poland April 3 - 6, 2006, Only open for invited scientists
- NoMiracle co-ordination
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| Final Announcement: 1st Open International Nomiracle Workshop "Ecological and Human Health Risk Assessment" | | Alberto Pistocchi from JRC announces the organization of the "1st Open International Nomiracle workshop Ecological and Human Health Risk Assessment: Focussing complex risk assessment and identification of highest risk conditions"
Ispra, Italy , June 8-9 2006.
Participants are required to register before April 30, 2006.
For all the details and the final programme, see the attachment. |
| Executive Summary has been published. | | As part of the first year Periodic Activity Reporting to the Commission, a publishable Executive Summary has been provided.
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| A new publication, "Expanding knowledge to improve our well-being" | | A new publication by the Commission , "Expanding knowledge to improve our well-being" (EUR 21458), including a description of NoMiracle. |
| NoMiracle brochure | | A NoMiracle brochure (in PDF) has arrived ... |
| 1st open international Nomiracle workshop Ecological and Human Health Risk Assessment | | Alberto Pistocchi from JRC announces the organization of the "1st open international Nomiracle workshop Ecological and Human Health Risk Assessment: Focussing complex risk assessment and identification of highest risk conditions", Ispra, Italy , June 8-9 2006.
For the preliminary programme, see the attachment.
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| The first NoMiracle newsletter has arrived... | | Read the first NoMiracle Newsletter in attachment. |
| Article about Nomiracle printed in the EU Water and Soil Times, Issue 11, March 2005, from DG Research. | | Article from the "WATER AND SOIL TIMES - Issue 11, March 2005",
A newsletter for the 'Water Cycle and Soil Related Aspects' activities in the European Commission Directorate General for Research.
No miracle:
Will our health and the environment in which we live improve all by themselves? Or do we need Novel Methods for Integrated Risk Assessment of CumuLative stressors in Europe?
From 18 to 22 January 2005, eighty scientists met in Barcelona to launch the new FP6 integrated project that will make a significant contribution to improving future human and environment health. The project takes an essential step toward better risk management of chemicals that are released into the environment and affect ecosystems and human health. NOMIRACLE will provide sound scientific risk assessment of pesticides, pharmaceuticals and other chemicals in dynamic and variable environments.
Thirty-eight institutions from 17 countries will work together for 5 years on the development of better methods to analyse, characterise and quantify the combined risks to health or the environment from multiple stressors. Examples of such cumulative stressors are mixtures of chemicals alone or in combination with biological or physical environmental factors such as pathogens and climatic conditions.
NOMIRACLE will develop novel methods to
- take into account chemical mixtures and interactions with other stressors such as pathogens, allergens, or extreme climatic conditions,
- make provisions for scientifically-based safety factors in risk assessment,
- address region-specific assessment using advanced risk models and mapping tools combining cumulative stressors,
- integrate health and environmental risk assessment by unified testing based on novel mechanistic approaching using series of different test organisms, toxicogenomic methods and biomarkers,
- cover risk targets ranging from single cells to human populations, including aquatic and terrestrial species
- identify the perception of health effects of complex mixtures and design appropriate communication tools for conveying the idea and implications of integrated risk assessment to environment and health protection
The research is of the highest relevance for the development of current and future EU risk management strategies and policies, and related research activities (e.g., Technology Platform for Sustainable Chemistry, Environment and Health Action Plan 2004-2010, Environmental Technologies Action Plan, and REACH).
At present, scientists usually examine the toxicological effects of one chemical at a time. Commonly used methods do not allow them to simulate what actually takes place outside the laboratory: where combinations of chemicals can interact with each other and other environmental features to impact the environment and human health. Inability to account for such interactions may result in models with low predictive power, and in turn, limited chances for reducing risk and protecting human health. Because of the uncertainty in the data delivered by scientists, regulators may need to set unnecessarily conservative limits in order to protect from these currently unquantified interactive effects.
NOMIRACLE aims at the creation of a basis for fairer and more efficient chemical risk management. The project will focus on specific scenarios detailing major pollutants and other environmental stressors as actually found in selected European regions. These represent the range of real situations found in Europe in terms of major pollutants, environmental conditions, exposure to multiple chemicals, which vary today because of different chemical regulation policies, land use practices, distributions of industrial activities and economical and social conditions.
During the Barcelona meeting, the scientists defined the initial scenarios and selected priority chemicals. In the first phase the crosscutting experiments will deal with four different insecticides representing 3 different modes of action, a metal, and a volatile organic compound. The work also involves larger training sets of chemicals for calibration of specific experimental methods and mathematical tools. The scenarios provide baseline situations allowing NOMIRACLE scientists to simulate the consequences of chemical compounds or mixtures in the environment and close to humans.
The project will promote strong interactions among interdisciplinary research lines, and the consortium calls for collaboration with related research. The NOMIRACLE scientists wish to establish real communication with other academic and industrial scientists as the project results would significantly benefit from additional data provided by industry or other stakeholders. Therefore, interested industries, administrations and research institutions are strongly encouraged to contact the project co-ordinator or the co-ordinators of the research pillars structured around four lines of action of the project:
· Project co-ordinator: Dr. Hans Løkke,
National Environmental Research Institute,
Vejlsøvej 25,
P.O. Box 314,
DK-8600 Silkeborg
Denmark
Phone +45 8920 1482, Fax +45 8920 1414
· Databases and selection of scenarios: Dr. Peter Borgen Sørensen,
National Environmental Research Institute, Denmark
· Exposure assessment: Professor Gerrit Schüürmann,
UFZ, Umweltforschungszentrum Leipzig, Germany
· Effects assessment: Dr. Dave Spurgeon,
NERC, Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, UK
· Risk Assessment: Dr. Ad Ragas,
Radboud Universiteit Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
The NOMIRACLE homepage http://nomiracle.jrc.it aims at establishing strong links with larger scientific and user communities, and a coming newsletter will facilitate communication of actions and results.
Looking to the future, it is already clear that in order to achieve the goal of sound risk assessment to support better chemical risk management and improve human health, NOMIRACLE research must be followed by human epidemiological studies and ecosystem studies with particular focus on species interactions in the presence of chemical mixtures and natural stressors, development and validation of laboratory to field methods and validation of exposure scenarios throughout Europe. These should be provided for in coming national and EU research funding programs.
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