CA24108 - Oxidative stress at the CrossroAds of adverse outcome Pathways -peSTicides - ONe hEalth (CAPSTONE)

Oxidative stress plays a central role in ecosystem disturbance and human pathologies. Some pesticides have already been banned due to their pro-oxidative properties which are linked to their adverse effects in both humans or in off-target organisms in ecosystem. However, several classes of pesticides are still authorized and could lead to oxidative stress, particularly those that target mitochondria, the main site for reactive oxygen species generation in all living organisms. There is an increasing scientific, societal, and politic concern about pesticides within the One Health framework.

In this context, the challenge of the Action is to identify pesticides’ adverse effects linked to oxidative stress that are relevant for both humans and ecosystems, and to describe the Key Events involved in these effects. This Pan-European network will develop a new research strategy based on Adverse Outcome Pathways (AOPs).

The Action will work within the One Health concept, promoting interdisciplinary breakthroughs between ecotoxicology, toxicology, bioinformatics, epidemiology and risk assessment. It will include scientists from academia, industry, regulatory agencies, a National Social Protection Scheme in charge of agricultural workers and operators, and Non-Governmental Organizations.

This Action will work in collaboration with other international initiatives (AOP-Wiki, PARC project) to implement science without duplication.

As there is an increasing interest of New Alternative Methods such as AOPs that has been identified as keys areas of regulatory challenges, the Action will provide scientific input to the pesticide industry and regulatory agencies, disseminating science to a broad audience that include pesticide consumers, civil society, and policy makers.