ORD DEVELOPS REPORT RELATED TO CUMULATIVE RISK ASSESSMENT: CONCEPTS, METHODS AND DATA SOURCES FOR HEALTH RISK ASSESSMENT OF MULTIPLE CHEMICALS, EXPOSURES AND EFFECTS

In June, ORD will release a new report, Concepts, Methods and Data Sources for Health Risk Assessment of Multiple Chemicals, Exposures and Effects, that contributes to EPA’s efforts to address issues related to cumulative health risk assessment. Building on EPA’s 2003 Framework for Cumulative Risk Assessment, this report summarizes in one place many aspects of the latest information on the conduct of a cumulative risk assessment for multiple chemicals, exposures and health effects. The Framework for Cumulative Risk Assessment defines cumulative risk assessment as the evaluation of risks from exposures to multiple chemicals or stressors, and having a population focus rather than a source–to-receptor focus. The new report focuses on two areas: initiating events for a cumulative risk assessment (called triggers) with procedures for data collection and organization; and technical approaches for assessing human health risks associated with a subset of cumulative risk issues (i.e., multiple chemicals, exposures and effects).

Potential users of this report include the Office of Superfund Remediation and Technology Innovation, the Office of Water, the Office of Pesticide Programs, the Office of Environmental Justice, Agency risk assessors, and any others involved in multi-chemical, population-focused assessments. It demonstrates the feasibility of including combinations of chemicals, exposures, effects, and their interactions into a health risk assessment, and thus might lead to modifications of existing Program or Regional risk procedures.

For a copy of the report and more information on cumulative risk assessment please visit https://www.epa.gov/ncea.