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Animal research: Time to talk!
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Abstracts / Toxicology Letters 258S (2016) S62–S324
edge about mercury, its properties and uses was low, with most participants marking “don’t know”, only trivialities like “Mercury is liquid” commonly was known. For all participants the average knowledge bordered on guessing with an equal number of questions marked correctly or incorrectly. Knowledge did not depend on formal education (high school or university degrees) or income. Knowledge and danger estimates for mercury thus depends mainly on information provided by newspapers and radio/TV; the general knowledge about chemicals like mercury thus is shaped by its depiction in these sources rather than scientific knowledge. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.toxlet.2016.06.2082 P23-004 Fear of mercury toxicity by dental patients is not influenced by information T. Ho, H. Sino, J. Schulze ∗ Institute of Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, Goethe-University Frankfurt/Main, Frankfurt/Main, Germany Mercury has been implicated in major environmental disasters; in Germany it is used only in selected applications. Its use in dental fillings has technical and medical advantages; however, many patients have insisted on having their fillings replaced by other materials. We have used a questionnaire to specify patients knowledges and fears of mercury in amalgam (see accompanying poster); this questionnaire contained sociodemographic data, dental status, estimates of mercury toxicity and amalgam replacement, as well as specific questions to assess the knowledge about mercury. A total of 400 patients (or accompanying persons) from two major dental offices in Germany participated in this survey; approximately 50% had a higher formal education (“Gymnasium”, university degree), most used the Internet for information, with textbooks used only by a minority. Participants marked the danger from amalgam on a scale on 0–100 [50 was given as the dangers by traffic accidents]. The average estimate was 32%, with slightly lower marks by men and patients having amalgam fillings; approx. 25% saw mercury dangers as high as or higher than traffic accidents. This fear was independent of formal education, income or factual knowledge about mercury, it was higher in participants marking radio/TV as main information sources. In summary fear of mercury dangers is irrational and independent of knowledge; it appears to be stoked by the knowledge and estimates propagated by radio and TV. Lower values were only given by participants with personal experience, e.g. patients with existing amalgam fillings. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.toxlet.2016.06.2083 P23-005 Animal research: Time to talk! K. Leech EARA Animal research remains a contentious issue with a strong vocal opposition. As a result, public engagement by many European researchers and institutions remains hesitant. This lack of positive communication allows the voices of those opposed to animal research to dominate public discourse. The scientific community has allowed the existential fear of animal rights extremism to prevent its members from speaking publicly about animal research. Today, this fear is increasingly unfounded. We may encounter vocal activists involved in law-
ful activities; few of us will ever come across extremists. Activist groups are often large, well-funded organizations with professional lobbyists, and media consultants. They can successfully command public discussion on the subject of animal research. As a result, members of the public are rarely exposed to a comprehensive, well-informed, and balanced overview of the subject. Greater openness on the use of animals in research can encourage public trust and allow the scientific community to speak with a united voice. In doing so it can prevent individuals and organizations from being isolated. Pro-active communications will help to garner support and improve understanding; non-communication will only prolong opposition and mistrust. The scientific community should not allow those who are opposed to animal research to set the public agenda. The aim of the session will be to discuss why we should encourage and practice greater openness about animal research. Speakers from different EU countries will give examples of best practice on communicating animal research to the public and political decision makers. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.toxlet.2016.06.2084 P24 – Safety assessment of mixtures P24-001 Combined effects of prenatal exposures to environmental chemicals on birth weight S. Remy 1,∗ , E. Govarts 2 , L. Bruckers 3 , E. Den Hond 2 , I. Sioen 4 , V. Nelen 5 , W. Baeyens 6 , T.S. Nawrot 7 , I. Loots 8 , N. Van Larebeke 6 , G. Schoeters 2 1
Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium 2 Environmental Risk and Health, Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO), Mol, Belgium 3 Interuniversity Institute for Biostatistics and Statistical Bioinformatics, Hasselt University, Diepenbeek, Belgium 4 Department of Public Health, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium 5 Department of Health, Provincial Institute for Hygiene, Antwerp, Belgium 6 Department of Analytical, Environmental and Geochemistry (AEGC), Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium 7 Centre for Environmental Sciences, Hasselt University, Hasselt, Belgium 8 Department Sociology, Faculty of Political and Social Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium Prenatal chemical exposure has been frequently associated with reduced fetal growth by single pollutant regression models although inconsistent results have been obtained. Our study estimated the effects of exposure to single pollutants and mixtures on birth weight in 248 mother–child pairs. Arsenic, copper, lead, manganese and thallium were measured in cord blood, cadmium in maternal blood, methylmercury in maternal hair, and five organochlorines, two perfluorinated compounds and diethylhexyl phthalate metabolites in cord plasma. Daily exposure to particulate matter was modeled and averaged over the duration of gestation. In single pollutant models, arsenic was significantly associated with reduced birth weight. The effect estimate increased when including cadmium, and mono-(2-ethyl-5-carboxypentyl) phthalate (MECPP) co-exposure. Combining exposures by principal component analysis generated an exposure factor loaded by cadmium and arsenic that was associated with reduced birth weight. MECPP induced gender specific effects. In girls the effect estimate
Abstracts / Toxicology Letters 258S (2016) S62–S324
edge about mercury, its properties and uses was low, with most participants marking “don’t know”, only trivialities like “Mercury is liquid” commonly was known. For all participants the average knowledge bordered on guessing with an equal number of questions marked correctly or incorrectly. Knowledge did not depend on formal education (high school or university degrees) or income. Knowledge and danger estimates for mercury thus depends mainly on information provided by newspapers and radio/TV; the general knowledge about chemicals like mercury thus is shaped by its depiction in these sources rather than scientific knowledge. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.toxlet.2016.06.2082 P23-004 Fear of mercury toxicity by dental patients is not influenced by information T. Ho, H. Sino, J. Schulze ∗ Institute of Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, Goethe-University Frankfurt/Main, Frankfurt/Main, Germany Mercury has been implicated in major environmental disasters; in Germany it is used only in selected applications. Its use in dental fillings has technical and medical advantages; however, many patients have insisted on having their fillings replaced by other materials. We have used a questionnaire to specify patients knowledges and fears of mercury in amalgam (see accompanying poster); this questionnaire contained sociodemographic data, dental status, estimates of mercury toxicity and amalgam replacement, as well as specific questions to assess the knowledge about mercury. A total of 400 patients (or accompanying persons) from two major dental offices in Germany participated in this survey; approximately 50% had a higher formal education (“Gymnasium”, university degree), most used the Internet for information, with textbooks used only by a minority. Participants marked the danger from amalgam on a scale on 0–100 [50 was given as the dangers by traffic accidents]. The average estimate was 32%, with slightly lower marks by men and patients having amalgam fillings; approx. 25% saw mercury dangers as high as or higher than traffic accidents. This fear was independent of formal education, income or factual knowledge about mercury, it was higher in participants marking radio/TV as main information sources. In summary fear of mercury dangers is irrational and independent of knowledge; it appears to be stoked by the knowledge and estimates propagated by radio and TV. Lower values were only given by participants with personal experience, e.g. patients with existing amalgam fillings. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.toxlet.2016.06.2083 P23-005 Animal research: Time to talk! K. Leech EARA Animal research remains a contentious issue with a strong vocal opposition. As a result, public engagement by many European researchers and institutions remains hesitant. This lack of positive communication allows the voices of those opposed to animal research to dominate public discourse. The scientific community has allowed the existential fear of animal rights extremism to prevent its members from speaking publicly about animal research. Today, this fear is increasingly unfounded. We may encounter vocal activists involved in law-
ful activities; few of us will ever come across extremists. Activist groups are often large, well-funded organizations with professional lobbyists, and media consultants. They can successfully command public discussion on the subject of animal research. As a result, members of the public are rarely exposed to a comprehensive, well-informed, and balanced overview of the subject. Greater openness on the use of animals in research can encourage public trust and allow the scientific community to speak with a united voice. In doing so it can prevent individuals and organizations from being isolated. Pro-active communications will help to garner support and improve understanding; non-communication will only prolong opposition and mistrust. The scientific community should not allow those who are opposed to animal research to set the public agenda. The aim of the session will be to discuss why we should encourage and practice greater openness about animal research. Speakers from different EU countries will give examples of best practice on communicating animal research to the public and political decision makers. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.toxlet.2016.06.2084 P24 – Safety assessment of mixtures P24-001 Combined effects of prenatal exposures to environmental chemicals on birth weight S. Remy 1,∗ , E. Govarts 2 , L. Bruckers 3 , E. Den Hond 2 , I. Sioen 4 , V. Nelen 5 , W. Baeyens 6 , T.S. Nawrot 7 , I. Loots 8 , N. Van Larebeke 6 , G. Schoeters 2 1
Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium 2 Environmental Risk and Health, Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO), Mol, Belgium 3 Interuniversity Institute for Biostatistics and Statistical Bioinformatics, Hasselt University, Diepenbeek, Belgium 4 Department of Public Health, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium 5 Department of Health, Provincial Institute for Hygiene, Antwerp, Belgium 6 Department of Analytical, Environmental and Geochemistry (AEGC), Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium 7 Centre for Environmental Sciences, Hasselt University, Hasselt, Belgium 8 Department Sociology, Faculty of Political and Social Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium Prenatal chemical exposure has been frequently associated with reduced fetal growth by single pollutant regression models although inconsistent results have been obtained. Our study estimated the effects of exposure to single pollutants and mixtures on birth weight in 248 mother–child pairs. Arsenic, copper, lead, manganese and thallium were measured in cord blood, cadmium in maternal blood, methylmercury in maternal hair, and five organochlorines, two perfluorinated compounds and diethylhexyl phthalate metabolites in cord plasma. Daily exposure to particulate matter was modeled and averaged over the duration of gestation. In single pollutant models, arsenic was significantly associated with reduced birth weight. The effect estimate increased when including cadmium, and mono-(2-ethyl-5-carboxypentyl) phthalate (MECPP) co-exposure. Combining exposures by principal component analysis generated an exposure factor loaded by cadmium and arsenic that was associated with reduced birth weight. MECPP induced gender specific effects. In girls the effect estimate