The Use of Epidemiology in Risk Assessment: Challenges and Innovations in Translating Human Health Research
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This session will be an introduction to how international agencies perform dose-response analysis and derive toxicity values based on epidemiological data, with the goal of helping epidemiologists understand the downstream applications of their research. The session will begin with an overview of the challenges that arise when using epidemiological data in dose-response modeling (Tom Bateson, EPA). Then, a series of presentations will provide examples where academic scientists and international agencies have conducted such modeling with epidemiological data, including promising advancements for the field in the areas of benchmark dose (BMD) modeling and meta-regression. Drs. Budtz-Jorgensen, Grandjean, and Wheeler will discuss the use of epidemiologic data in benchmark (BMD) modeling and approaches to improve evaluation of and control for confounding. Dr. Larsen will discuss challenges and advancements with analyzing heterogenous epidemiologic data and proposed solutions in the context of meta-regression to evaluate health effects of inorganic arsenic. The final presentation, from Dr. Vermeulen, will present applications of Bayesian meta-regression to multiple data streams (human, animal, in vitro). Attendees will gain an improved understanding of the challenges and innovations with applying epidemiologic data in dose-response modeling to inform public health policies.