Evidence from: BFR Health Assessment No. 012/2006. “BfR recommends provisional daily upper intake level and a guidance value for morphine in poppy seeds” Committee on Toxicity Statement 2006/10 “The Tolerable Daily Intake (TDI) for Perfluorooctanoic Acid (PFOA)” Committee on Toxicity Statement 2006/09 “The Tolerable Daily Intake (TDI) for Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS)” University of Teesside Project Code: N05070 “A systematic review of the effect of nutrition, diet and dietary change on learning, education and performance of children of relevance to UK schools” Further detail: 6#9-10 25 BB

Evidence from: “Call for Participants IST-2006 Workshop on Affective Computing” 31st Aug 2006 BfR news release “Indications that styrene has a tumorigenic effect in humans” TR Fennell et al. Toxicological Sciences (2006) Vol. 93(2) p 256-267 “Kinetics of Elimination of Urinary Metabolites of Acrylamide in Humans” YM Hung et al. Am. J. Emergency Med. (2006) Vol.24 p 714 – 716 “Weight-reducing regimen associated with polymorphic ventricular tachycardia” MC Michalski et al. Trends in Food Science & Technology 17 (2006) 423–437 “Does homogenization affect the human health properties of cow’s milk?” A Elder et al. Environ Health Persp. (2006) Vol. 114 p 1172 – 1178 “Translocation of Inhaled Ultrafine Manganese Oxide Particles to the Central Nervous System” Further detail: 6#7-8 35 BB

Evidence from: Food Standards Agency. October 2006. “Food served to older people in residential care” HSE 23rd October 2006 “Revised asbestos regulations to come in to force on 13 November 2006” Environment Agency RIFE-11 “Radioactivity in Food and the Environment, 2005” “UK Government Response to the European Commission’s Discussion Paper on the Setting of Maximum and Minimum Amounts for Vitamins and Minerals in Foodstuffs.” Further detail: 6#7-8 34 BB

Evidence from: HESA News 14th Nov 2006 A silent pandemic: industrial chemicals are impairing the brain development of children worldwide DEFRA 28th Sept 2006 Organic Statistics England Further detail: 6#7-8 33 BB

Evidence from: JD Holder et al. JOEM. (2006) Vol.48#10 p 1047 – 1053 “Fire-fighter Heart Presumption Retirements in Massachusetts 1997–2004” K Kreiss et al. JOEM (2006) Vol.48#10 p 1062-1069 “Risk Factors for Asthma among Cosmetology Professionals in Colorado” MMWR weekly (2006) Vol.55(28) p 1040-1042 “Chikungunya Fever Diagnosed Among International Travelers — United States, 2005—2006” NIOSH RI 9668 “Effectiveness of Selected Diesel Particulate Matter Control Technologies for Underground Mining Applications: Isolated Zone Study, 2004” DWP Press Release 18th Oct 2006 “Labour market figures – employment above 29 million for first time” EEA Report No9/2006 ISSN 1725-9177 “Greenhouse gas emission trends and projections in Europe 2006” Further detail: 6#7-8 32 BB

Evidence from: DB Richardson. Occ. Env. Med (2006) Vol.63 p 734-740 The impact on relative risk estimates of inconsistencies between ICD-9 and ICD-10 L Storgaard et al. Epidemiology (2006) Vol.17 p 674-681 Genetic and Environmental Correlates of Semen Quality: A Twin Study R Hauser et al. Epidemiology (2006) Vol.17 p 682-691 Altered Semen Quality in Relation to Urinary Concentrations of Phthalate Monoester and Oxidative Metabolites C Beseler et al. JOEM (2006) Vol.48#10 p 1005-1013 Depression and Pesticide Exposures in Female Spouses of Licensed Pesticide Applicators in the Agricultural Health Study Cohort Further detail: 6#7-8 31 BB

Evidence from: L Burstrom et al. Scand. J. Work Environ and Health (2006 ) Vol. 32#3 p 198 – 203 “Relationship between hand-arm vibration exposure and onset time for symptoms in a heavy engineering production workshop” The researchers combined self reported exposures and objective exposures to obtain an overall exposure estimate. Workers were asked to state how long after beginning work they first noticed characteristic symptoms of vibration white finger. After 30 years work 60% of workers reported symptoms even though exposures were estimated to have been below 2.5 ms-2. The authors assert that this is evidence that the standards set in the physical agents directive provide inadequate protection.

Evidence from: Food Standards Agency 6th July 2006. Cow from same herd as BSE infected animal has entered food chain Food Standards Agency 6th July 2006. VPC report on growth hormones in meat R Boylstein et al. Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene (2006) Vol.3 p 530 – 535 Diacetyl Emissions and Airborne Dust from Butter Flavorings Used in Microwave Popcorn Production ME Flanagan et al. Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene (2006) Vol.3 p 144 – 152 Silica Exposure on Construction Sites: Results of an Exposure Monitoring Data Compilation Project Further detail: 6#5-6 58 BB

Evidence from: DP Gross et al. Occ. Env. Med (2006) Vol.63 p 404 – 410 “Does functional capacity evaluation predict recovery in workers’ compensation claimants with upper extremity disorders?” Epidemiology (2006) Vol.17 p 506 – 511 “Transient Exposure to Coffee as a Trigger of a First Nonfatal Myocardial Infarction” H Nishiura et al. Epidemiology (2006) Vol.17 p 576 – 581 “Still Protected Against Smallpox? Estimation of the Duration of Vaccine-Induced Immunity Against Smallpox” MMWR Weekly August 18th (2006) “Adult Blood Lead Epidemiology and Surveillance — United States, 2003–2004” Federal Institute for Risk Assessment. Press release 31st Aug 2006. “Indications that styrene has a tumorigenic effect in humans” GESTIS international database on hazardous substances Environment Agency Press Release 17th August 2006. “Fire & Rescue Service’s role in pollution prevention recognised” Further detail: 6#5-6

Evidence from: JJ Ho et al. Accident Analysis and Prevention (2006) Vol.38 p 961 – 968 “Estimation of reduced life expectancy from serious occupational injuries in Taiwan” A Magrez et al. Nano Letters (2006) Vol.6#6 p 1121 – 1125 “Cellular Toxicity of Carbon-Based Nanomaterials” MJ Seed et al. Allergy (2006) Vol.61 p 648 “Prediction of asthma hazard of thiamine” WT Gallo et al. Occ.Env. Med. (2006) Vol.63 p 683 – 687 “The impact of late career job loss on myocardial infarction and stroke: a 10 year follow up using the health and retirement survey” H Virkkunen et al. Occ. Env. Med. (2006) Vol.63 p 378 – 386 “The triad of shift work, occupational noise, and physical workload and risk of coronary heart disease” Those exposed to all factors of this triad had approximately a twice greater CHD risk than those exposed to none of them. In retrospect, this study was worthy of much greater attention than was given at the time. Further d

Evidence from: MC Turner et al. Int. J. Cancer. (2006) Vol.118 p 3124-3132 An overview of the association between allergy and cancer A Navas-Acien et al. Environ. Health. Persp. (2006) Vol.114 p 641 – 648. Arsenic Exposure and Type 2 Diabetes: A Systematic Review of the Experimental and Epidemiologic Evidence KZ House et al. PNAS (2006) Vol.103. p 12291 to 12295 Permanent carbon dioxide storage in deep-sea sediments A Schreier et al. J. Psychiatric. Res. (2006) Vol.40 p 283 -292 Clinical characteristics of Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) run in families – A community study of 933 mothers and their children MM Weissman et al. Am J Psychiatry. (2006) Vol. 163 p 1001 – 1008 Offspring of Depressed Parents: 20 Years Later J Szabo et al. Bioelectromag. (2006) Vol.27 p 451 – 457 Occupational 50 Hz Magnetic Field Exposure Measurements Among Female Sewing Machine Operators in Hungary Further detail: 6#5-6 55 BB

Evidence from: Weightmans 4th May 2006. “CIT Robberies raise PI claims” USEPA “High Production Volume Information System” PD Darbre. J Applied Tox. (2006) Vol.26 p 191 -197 “Metalloestrogens: an emerging class of inorganic xenoestrogens with potential to add to the oestrogenic burden of the human breast” Food Standards Agency Project T07011 “Immunochemical reactivity to peanuts and nuts in allergic individuals” EFSA Scientific Report (2006) Vol.84 p 1 – 102 “Dimethoate” USEPA “Ships as Artificial Reefs” Further detail: 6#5-6 54 BB

A preliminary research finding casts doubt on the current estimates of vCJD incidence. They could be underestimates. Evidence from: JW Ironside et al. BMJ (2006) Vol.332 p 1186 – 1188 “Variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease: prion protein genotype analysis of positive appendix tissue samples from a retrospective prevalence study” The study examined tissues from 12,674 samples retained after surgery. Samples from three people were found to have evidence of prion disease. Two of these samples were tested for genotype at the codon 129. All clinical cases of vCJD to date have been of the type MM which forms a substantial minority of the population. Further detail: 6#5-6 53  

The potential market for biodegradable plastics is very significant. Ones that incorporate natural rubber latex could be problematic due to the potential for allergy problems. Evidence from: J Shey et al. Industrial Crops and Products (2006) Vol.24 p 34 – 40 “Properties of baked starch foam with natural rubber latex” The paper reports the development of natural starch based plastic packaging incorporating natural rubber latex. The packaging offers tensile property improvements and great resistance to water damage. It is fully biodegradable. It would however require a thin plastic layer to protect it from water damage. The US EPA estimated that in 2003 there were 24 million tonnes of plastic in municipal solid waste. Comment Latex allergy is among the most common of allergies.

The report identifies best practice for case management and finds good evidence that this approach is cost effective. It is an approach that is increasingly being adopted by the larger firms. Evidence from: HSE Research Report RR493 “The costs and benefits of active case management and rehabilitation for musculoskeletal disorders” The report lays out the key qualities of a case manager. Further detail: 6#5-6 51

Research clearly shows that being out of work leads to reduced health. Return to work leads to improved health. Evidence from: G Waddell and K Burton. The Stationery Office 2006. “Is work good for your health and well-being?” When people return to work from unemployment their health improves. Returning to work from unemployment improves health by as much as unemployment damages it. Further detail: 6#5-6 50

Epidemiological research of work related neck and upper limb problems showed that effective prevention, retention and rehabilitation of upper limb symptoms is probably much more complex than hitherto allowed for. Evidence from: PM Bongers et al. J. Occup. Rehabil (2006) Vol. 16 p 279 – 302 “Epidemiology of work related neck and upper limb problems: Psychosocial and personal risk factors (Part I) and effective interventions from a bio behavioural perspective (Part II)” For upper limb pain, a consensus approach to problem solving has been promoted by HSE for several years now. Guidance for this [HSG60 (2002)] however, still relies on extrapolations made from high exposure situations and may unduly encourage the view that physical exposures are the main problem. Further detail: 6#5-6 49

Although hampered by a lack of evidence on effective secondary prevention, the conference concluded that a team approach to retention and rehabilitation was theoretically justifiable. This response seems to reinforce the idea of maintaining professional boundaries; the current evidence is that case managers are better at enabling rehabilitation than are teams of delineated professionals. Evidence from: M Feuerstein et al. J Occup Rehabil (2006) Vol. 16 p 401 – 409 “Secondary prevention of work-related upper extremity disorders: recommendations from the Annapolis conference” There is also a proposal that the apparent failure of ergonomic interventions could be due to the highly dynamic nature of work organisation and circumstances i.e. it would not be surprising to find that an intervention failed if the system of work it was designed to meet was changed a week later. Further detail:6#5-6 48  

The government have made a clear decision that compensation for loss arising out of the coexistence of GM and non-GM production should be borne by the GM sector. The paper outlines various options for financing that obligation. Private insurance is not considered a viable option at this time. There is no consideration of the situation where a GM crop is damaged by the presence of a non-GM contaminant. Evidence from: DEFRA July 2006. “Consultation on proposals for managing the coexistence of GM, conventional and organic crops” Whilst Defra remains open to the idea of an insurance market developing, it does not see this as a solution in the short-to-medium term. Therefore, the issues around a possible insurance market have not been explored in this paper. Further detail: 6#5-6 47

GM techniques offer the potential to increase the efficiency of biofuel production. Evidence from: C Schubert. Nature Biotechnology. July (2006) Vol.24#7 p 777-784 “Can biofuels finally take center stage?” Wood is well adapted to avoid bio-degradation into sugars. By modifying micro-organisms it may be possible to obtain sugars from cellulose. Further detail: 6#5-6 46

The report presents a very extensive analysis of evidence but seems to us to have jumped to precautionary conclusions e.g. that RCF could cause mesothelioma or lung cancer. Evidence from: CDC/ NIOSH May 2006-123 “Occupational Exposure to Refractory Ceramic Fibers” Much is made of the formation of pleural plaques in those with high exposures to RCF. By analogy with asbestos. Further detail: 6#5-6 45

It seems likely that having low influence at work and low support from a supervisor is predictive of new onset severe depression in women on a five year timescale. The risk is approximately double for each exposure variable. But is a failure to offer social support or, not to allow the worker to determine their own job, a breach of duty? Evidence from: R Rugulies et al. American Journal of Epidemiology (2006) Vol. 163#10 p 877 – 887 “Psychosocial Work Environment and Incidence of Severe Depressive Symptoms: Prospective Findings from a 5-Year Follow-up of the Danish Work Environment Cohort Study” A very high proportion of the cohort were not in work at the end of the 5 year period. Further detail: 6#5-6 44

Links between heart disease and psychosocial job characteristics were found to entirely explicable by teenage risk factors. Evidence from: T Hemmingsson et al. International Journal of Epidemiology (2006) Vol.35 p 616 to 622 “Is the association between low job control and coronary heart disease confounded by risk factors measured in childhood and adolescence among Swedish males 40–53 years of age?” Risk factors for heart disease were more common among those teenagers who later took jobs with low control. There was no independent association with low job control in middle age. Further detail: 6#5-6 43

Perhaps unsurprisingly the group of people who report feeling exhausted is more likely to include people with ill health. Causal direction and validity cannot be determined from this study but the study will inspire such investigations. Evidence from: T Honkonen et al. J Psychosom. Res. (2006) Vol. 61 p 59 – 66 “The association between burnout and physical illness in the general population—results from the Finnish Health 2000 Study” Is burnout work related? On present evidence it is not possible to determine whether the physical illness reduced the capacity to cope, or the burnout caused the physical illness, or burnout and physical illness are both the result of some other pathological mechanism. If a physical, objective health outcome was associated with occupational stress, the scope for claims would be greatly increased. Further detail: 6#5-6 42