Human safety assessments determine whether operators, workers, bystanders, and residents remain protected when Plant Protection Products (PPPs) are used according to approved Good Agricultural Practice (GAP)

These evaluations involve:

  • Toxicological profiling of active substances and metabolites, including acute, chronic, reproductive, developmental, and endocrine effects;
  • Human exposure modeling and monitoring—covering operators, workers, bystanders, and residents—implemented globally under OECD/EPA guidelines and GLP conditions;
  • Dermal absorption, biomonitoring, and inhalation studies to quantify real‑world exposure levels;
  • Establishment of health‑based reference values (ADI, ARfD, AOEL) and comparison of anticipated exposure to regulatory thresholds.

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Human exposure and risk assessment

With more than 20 years of experience, we assess operator (OPEX), worker, bystander, and residential exposure to crop protection, biocidal, industrial, and consumer products worldwide, all under full GLP accreditation. Our technical experts design and execute studies in accordance with OECD/GD (97) 148 and EPA Occupational and Residential Exposure Test Guidelines (OPPTS 875).

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Our analytical team, equipped with state of the art laboratories, has extensive expertise in developing analytical methods for exposure matrices, active ingredients, and metabolites. We provide full validation of existing methods and comprehensive analytical support, including determination of LOQs and field fortification spike levels when required.

Examples of completed studies include:

  • Hydraulic boom and broadcast air-assisted field sprayers; hand held application techniques with both lever operated and air-assisted (mistblower) knapsack sprayers for open field and protected cropping systems
  • Potato, cereal and maize seed treatment - mobile and factory based
  • Fumigation/smoke generator applications in flour mills, grain stores and animal housing
  • Granular and soil fumigant applications
  • Inhalation exposure for both short and long term monitoring studies
  • Worker re-entry exposure
  • Residential exposure - dislodgeable and airborne residues

These studies include a range of monitoring techniques such as:

  • Passive Dosimetry (whole body and patch dosimeters)
  • Biomonitoring (for quantitative evaluation of actual absorbed dose)
  • Air sampling (worker, bystander and residential evaluations)
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Dermal absorption

With over 15 years of dermal absorption expertise, our specialists conduct reliable evaluations of dermal penetration for your products. Combining technical proficiency with quality‑driven, flexible project management, we work to ensure you obtain acceptable dossier results on schedule.

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Based on Regulations:

  • OECD Guideline No. 428 for in vitro tests
  • OECD Guideline No. 427 for in vivo tests
  • OECD Guidance document N° 28
  • OECD Guidance Notes on Dermal Absorption N° 156
  • Guidance on the Biocidal Products Regulation
  • ECHA Dermal Absorption of PT21 active substances
     

Specific expertise includes:

  • Biocidal antifouling paints
  • Volatile compounds such as essential oils
  • Metallic formulations such as copper using ICP-MS analysis
  • Formulations screening test

We conduct full GLP studies using either radiolabelled or non-radiolabelled compounds, in occlusive or non-occlusive conditions.

= Target global recovery 95%

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Preclinical toxicology studies

Preclinical In vitro metabolism and toxicology can be performed by laboratories within the Eurofins network.

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Additional supporting studies

To support your regulatory submissions and risk assessments, our team delivers an extensive range of supporting studies customised to your exact needs and readily expanded beyond guideline requirements to address even the most complex regulatory challenges.

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  • Dislodgeable Foliar Residue (DFR) - both traditional and DFR 'Lite' options
  • Turf transferrable residues
  • 'Wash off' and surface dislodgeable environmental studies
  • Animal fur transfer residues
  • Spray and dust drift studies
  • Rat toxicokinetic study: OECD 417