Human Health
MEASE- Occupational Exposure Assessment Tool for REACH (EBRC&EM, Version 2.0, 2018).
This tool provides estimation and assessment of substance exposures (MEASE) which combines approaches from the Estimation and Assessment of Substance Exposure (EASE) expert system, from the ECETOC targeted risk assessment (TRA) tool and from the health risk assessment guidance for metal substances (HERAG). It aims at providing a 1st tier screening tool for the estimation of occupational inhalation and dermal exposure to metal substances and inorganic substances
MECLAS (ARCHE, 2010-2016).
The MeClas tool allows classifying complex inorganic materials like ores and concentrates, complex intermediates, alloys or UVCBs, recognising the specific properties and assessment techniques for inorganics, using the most updated information on toxicity references and self-classifications available. The tool includes several tiers, aiming for a progressive refinement of the classification through recognition of speciation, specific mineral content and the availability of test data on the complex material in question.
RiCoG (EBRC, September 2012).
This tool is intended to provide guidance to registrants of isolated intermediates on how rigorous containment (RiCo) of their intermediates could be assessed and documented according to the stipulations of EU REACH. In an integrated assessment of strictly controlled conditions (SCC) for an entire process, RiCoG can be used to prioritise process steps requiring such higher tier assessments and provides an easy and structured way to assess and to document RiCo for the remaining process steps. It has been developed to address specific needs of an assessment of RiCo for metal intermediates.
The Multiple-Path Particle Dosimetry Model (MPPD, v 3.04)
The MPPD is a respiratory tract deposition models that can be used for estimating inhalation particles dosimetry for humans, rats and mice. It allows comparisons of deposited doses taking the particle size and other aerosol characteristics into account. It covers particles, fibers and nanos. While it is not exclusive for metal substances it is particularly relevant to them. The model can be used for risk assessment purposes, research and education.
The Classification mapping tool (EM)
Eurometaux has developed a Classification Mapping Tool, intended to support the identification of links between hazardous classifications, legislative provisions and industry impacts, as well as the evaluation of impacts associated to current, as well as potential future, hazardous (re)classifications. It contains information on approximately 60 EU directives/regulations covering: general measures, workers, consumers, environment and transport. It also provides indicative information on references associated to specific hazardous classifications, requirements, impacts on industry, derogations and legislative revisions.
In order to have access, please send an email to cmassistants3@gmail.com
Benchmark Dose Tools (U.S. EPA)
Benchmark dose methods are used for dose-response analyses to support chemical risk assessments and regulatory actions.
Includes:
- The Benchmark dose (BMD) software
- Multistage Weibull Time - to - tumour model
- Categorical Regression (CatReg) software
Environment
Downstream User (DU) SCALING TOOL (ARCHE, EM).
The DU scaling tool (originally initiated by EURAS) allows downstream users to carry out compliance checking with the environmental Exposure Scenario (ES) of metals. It is based on the spreadsheet version of EUSES. In the registrant-interface, the generic default Operational Conditions (OCs) and Risk Management Measures (RMMs) can be entered. It also allows the DU to enter bioavailability-corrected PNECs (Predicted No Effect Concentrations), for those metals for which relevant models are available. The resulting risk characterisation ratios allow the Downstream User to assess safe use. In this way, the Downstream User scaling tool enables the Downstream User to check compliance with the Exposure Scenario if his Operational Conditions or Risk Management Measures differ from those in the Exposure Scenario.
MECLAS (ARCHE)
The MeClas tool allows to classify complex inorganic materials like ores and concentrates, complex intermediates, alloys or UVCBs, recognising the specific properties and assessment techniques for inorganics, using the most updated information on toxicity references and self-classifications available. The tool includes several tiers, aiming for a progressive refinement of the classification through recognition of speciation, specific mineral content and the availability of test data on the complex material in question.
The Classification mapping tool (EM)
Eurometaux has developed a Classification Mapping Tool, intended to support the identification of links between hazardous classifications, legislative provisions and industry impacts, as well as the evaluation of impacts associated to current, as well as potential future, hazardous (re)classifications. It contains information on approximately 60 EU directives/regulations covering: general measures, workers, consumers, environment and transport. It also provides indicative information on references associated to specific hazardous classifications, requirements, impacts on industry, derogations and legislative revisions.
In order to have access, please send an email to cmassistants3@gmail.com
AIR
SPERCS- The Specific Environmental Release Factors (ARCHE, 2010).
The Specific Environmental Release Factors (SPERCS) for metals and metal compounds provide a more realistic approach to characterise the environmental releases from manufacture, processing and downstream uses of the metal (compounds) in the EU. A database consisting of more than 1,300 (1993-2010), site-specific measured release factors to air and water of 18 different metals (and their compounds), from various EU Member States was compiled. The metal SPERCs can be used as an advanced tier instrument in environmental safety assessments, increasing the realism of the estimates while keeping a sufficient level of conservatism.
WATER
Bio-met (ARCHE, WCA)
Bio-met is a user-friendly tool to assess Environmental Quality Standard (EQS) compliance of metals under the EU Water Framework Directive. Based on scientifically validated Biotic Ligand Models (BLMs), Bio-met accounts for the bioavailability of copper, nickel, zinc, and lead with one single click! The tool requires the input of the following abiotic water parameters: DOC, pH and calcium . The Bio-met website includes a calculator to determine calcium concentration when only hardness is reported. When used as part of a tiered approach, Bio-met provides water managers with an opportunity to efficiently account for metal bioavailability in a transparent way and determined compliance for Priority Substance metals (Ni and Pb) and for River Basin Specific Pollutants (Cu and Zn).
Biotic Ligand Model (Windward Environmental)
The biotic ligand model (BLM) is a tool that can mechanistically predict the bioavailability of a variety of metals under the large range of water chemistry conditions that are observed in nature.
SPERCS- The Specific Environmental Release Factors (ARCHE, 2010).
The Specific Environmental Release Factors (SPERCS) for metals and metal compounds provide a more realistic approach to characterise the environmental releases from manufacture, processing and downstream uses of the metal (compounds) in the EU. A database consisting of more than 1,300 (1993-2010), site-specific measured release factors to air and water of 18 different metals (and their compounds), from various EU Member States was compiled. The metal SPERCs can be used as an advanced tier instrument in environmental safety assessments, increasing the realism of the estimates while keeping a sufficient level of conservatism.
TICKET-UWM (Ticket Unit Model)
TICKET-UWM, is a tool created to assess the environmental fate of complex inorganic materials in the aquatic environment. It is a software application that models metals and organics transport in a well-mixed lake with an underlying sediment layer (Farley et al., 2005; Farley et al., 2011). TICKET-UWM simultaneously considers the effects of chemical speciation on metal partitioning, transport and bioavailability in the lake water column and underlying sediments. The user can now assess the dynamic response of a lake to a continuous or instantaneous load of a metal. The metal source can be specified as a soluble salt subject to instantaneous dissolution or as a powder/massive which dissolves according to a user-specified kinetic expression and rate.
SOIL
Soil PNEC calculator (ARCHE)
This excel spreadsheet calculates the predicted ecological risks of several metals (Cu, Ni, Zn, Pb, Cd, Mo and Co) in soil, based on their Predicted No-Effect Concentrations (PNEC) to soil organisms, as derived in the EU REACH dossiers (Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals; Regulation EC No 1907/2006) for these metals, as available in August 2014. Metal toxicity not only depends on the total metal dose, but also on the time since contamination and on physico-chemical soil properties. This tool allows straight-forward calculation of soil-specific ecological quality standards (EQS) and corresponding risk characterisation for various metals. The input parameters are dependent upon the metal under consideration and are soil parameters likely to be determined in routine soil analyses (metal background concentrations, pH, % organic matter, % clay and eCEC).
Threshold calculator for metals in soil V2.0 (ARCHE).
The Threshold Calculator is a flexible risk assessment tool for metals in soil and it can be used in various parts of the world to derive soil type-specific ecotoxicological thresholds for different protection goals. This spreadsheet calculates ecotoxicological threshold concentrations for the metals Cd, Co, Cu, Pb, Mo, Ni and Zn based on chronic toxicity data for their direct effects to soil organisms (plants, invertebrates and microbial processes) and expressed as (pseudo-)total (i.e. aqua-regia extractable) metal concentrations in soil (mg/kg dry weight). The goal of this tool is to make maximal use of available toxicity data and bioavailability models for the derivation of soil quality standards for specific protection goals, jurisdictions, regions or sites.