Cross-Agency Collaboration for Chemical Mixtures and Multistressor Risk Assessment. L. G. Cain, SAIC, 1710 Goodridge Drive, McLean, VA
EPA estimates that there are approximately 65,000 chemicals in use with more than 1,000 added each year. Risk assessments may examine individual chemicals, interactions of multiple chemicals, or additional multistressors such as noise, heat, or ecological stressors. Little is currently understood about the toxicological effects of multiple exposures to humans or the environment. Toxicological data is usually obtained from laboratory studies of animals exposed to individual chemicals, not mixtures. Environmental exposures to chemical mixtures often occur from multiple sources and routes. A need exists to establish a consistent framework for conducting toxicologically sound assessments of chemical mixtures.
EPA is in the process of updating the existing chemical mixtures guidelines (published in 1986). A Cross-Agency Workshop on Mixtures Risk Assessment has recently established a collaborative working group of experts from a variety of Federal agencies involved in risk assessment of chemical mixtures. A report on the findings of each workshop session is generated based on the information provided by each participating Federal agency during the meeting.
In this presentation, the goals of the working group will be stated. The representative Federal agencies will be identified and their initiatives for the assessment of mixtures will be described. Ongoing and planned collaborative efforts will be detailed, as will the most recent findings of the workgroup.
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