Metals and Inorganic Metal Compounds in Toxicology and Ecotoxicology

After completing the modules in this eLearning course, you will be able to:

Module 1: natural background and essentiality

• Recognise that metals are naturally occurring substances that warrant a specific approach to take this into account
• Distinguish the differences between essential and non-essential metals
• Describe how processes, such as adaptation and acclimation, work and may affect the environmental risk assessment  of metals
• Explain how essentiality affect the shape of the dose-response for human health risk assessment

Module 2: bioavailability

• Explain that metals are naturally occurring substances that warrant a specific approach to take these metal specificities into account
• Define the key concepts governing the bioavailability of metals in the environment
• Describe how bioavailability data can be generated and used for human health
• Summarise the different tools available to assess bioavailability.

Module 3: data handling (quality, relevance, aggregation) and read-across

• Outline how to assess the quality of ecotoxicity data
• Define the metal specific attention points that should be considered
• Explain how data can be aggregated and used to derive safe thresholds, and data gaps filled using read-across approaches

Module 4: inhalation toxicology

• Explain the importance of the inhalation exposure route for metals and the type of effects that can occur
• List aspects to consider when assessing inhalation exposure
• Outline how absorption after inhalation (for systemic effects) can be assessed

Module 5: genotoxicity/carcinogenicity

• Outline the key definitions for the genotoxicity/mutagenicity activity of metals
• Discuss how metals can cause genotoxicity/mutagenicity
• Describe the different tests available to assess genotoxicity/mutagenicity
• Explain where metal specificities may occur in mechanisms of action and in testing strategies
• Define the link with carcinogenicity and the importance of a possible threshold for metals.

Module 6: assessment of man via the environment exposure

• Outline the scope and elements covered in a Man to Environment assessment
• Describe the current default Tier 1 approach should only be considered a first tier screening assessment
• Discuss which areas and tiered approaches can be used to improve the MvE assessment for metals and inorganic substances

Module 7: the role of materials flow and diffuse source assessments

• Explain the importance of documenting the materials flow in identifying and quantifying emission sources in risk assessment
• Recall where metals in the environment come from, and the differences between point source, diffuse and fugitive emissions
• Outline the factors determining the diffuse emissions from metals in products
• Describe the importance for risk management of assessing the contribution of the different sources of metals to environmental exposure