Workshop on the Assessment of Respiratory Sensitizers

Abstract

Sensitization of the respiratory tract has significant acute and chronic health implications. While the existence of inducers of respiratory sensitization is widely recognized for some classes of chemical, validated standard methods or frameworks for identifying and characterizing the hazard are not available. This workshop aimed to (1) discuss the current state of science for identification and characterization of respiratory sensitizer hazard, (2) identify the near-term and long-term information to facilitate development of validated standard methods and frameworks, and (3) consider the regulatory and practical needs regarding hazard management.

Workshop Details

28-29 May 2014
Westin Hotel Alexandria
400 Courthouse Square
Alexandria, VA 22314

Charge Questions

• What is current state of science for assessment of respiratory sensitizers?
• What are the most relevant immunological mechanisms with regard to sensitization and respiratory allergy?
• What are the relevant real world exposure conditions in the consumer and occupational realm?
• How do we define the condition for respiratory allergens in terms of elicitation vs. sensitization; what defines or represents the adverse outcome?
• What models are available to assess respiratory sensitizers?
• Are there approaches (e.g., single tests or tiered testing strategies) available for: (A) hazard identification chemical respiratory allergens and (B) their relative potency?
•  Are there thresholds for sensitization and elicitation, and if so can they be measured?
•  Do chemical respiratory allergens have unique physicochemical/structural characteristics?
• Can repeat dose toxicity studies inform assessment of the potential for respiratory allergy? How can various forms of data of contribute to a weight of evidence for respiratory allergy?

Workshop Materials

Workshop Agenda

Welcome & Introductory Remarks; Definitions, Remit, and Anticipated Deliverables
Colin North - ExxonMobil Biomedical Sciences

Overview of Previous HESI Initatives
Ian Kimber - University of Manchester

Clinical Aspects of Chemical Respiratory Allergy and Occupational Asthma
Susan Tarlo - University of Toronto

Toxicology Challenges: Mechanisms and Routes of Exposure
Ian Kimber - University of Manchester

What differentiates respiratory sensitizers from skin sensitizers? Implications for predictive toxicity testing
Janine Ezendam - National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Netherlands

Dose-Response Models for the OEL-Derivation of Chemicals
Jurgen Pauluhn - Bayer Pharma

In Vivo and In Vitro Models for Prediction of Respiratory Sensitizers
Kohji Aoyama - Kogashima University

Overiew of In Vitro Models
Erwin Roggen - 3Rs Consulting/Novozymes

Omics Analysis for Identification of Respiratory Sensitizers
Jon Hotchkiss - The Dow Chemical Company

Grouping and Read-across from the Prediction of Respiratory Sensitization
Steven Enoch - Liverpool Hohn Moores University

Current Practices for Risk Management
Cynthia Grahm - Huntsman, LLC

WHO Guidance on Assessment for Respiratory Sensitization
MaryJane Selgrade - IFC International

EU Regulatory Needs - REACH and CLP
Antti Karjalainen - European Chemicals Agency

For more information, contact Dr. Connie Chen (cchen@hesiglobal.org).