Environmental and Human Health Risk Assessment of Chemicals

The purpose of the course is to provide students with an in-depth knowledge of the current risk assessment procedures for chemicals within the European Union.

The course will give a general introduction to underlying values and potential conflicts concerning risk management, including 1) the ethics of risk, the normative content of risk, measurement and comparison of risks, and risk perception studies; and 2) general risk management principles, including the separation of risk assessment and risk management, principles for acceptable risk and the Precautionary Principle.

The following risk assessment frameworks will be presented: REACH, pesticides, biocides, veterinary medicines and feed additives, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals and food additives. For each, the practical implications for conducting risk assessment of a chemical are identified, including the type of data needed for exposure and effect assessments and the requirements for these within the different risk assessment frameworks. Also, the legal structure and the risk management principles underlying each framework will be identified and discussed in the light of alternative risk management options.

The course will also address the emerging challenges from new contaminants (e.g., endocrine disruptors, nanomaterials) and cocktail effects, as well as the challenge ensure protection of human health while at the same time accommodating the increasing demand for sustainability and reduction of animal tests.