Survey on methodologies in the risk assessment of chemical exposures in emergency response situations in Europe

Milla Heinala 1 Ursula Gundert-Remy 2 Maureen Wood 3 Marc Ruijten 4 Peter Bos 5 Antti Zitting 1 Sarah Bull 6 David Russell 6 Elsa Nielsen 7 Gudrun Cassel 8 Per Leffler 8 Sylvie Tissot 9 Jean-Martin Vincent 9 Tiina Santonen 1
1 Finnish Institute of Occupational Health
2 BfR - Bundesinstitut für Risikobewertung - Federal Institute for Risk Assessment
3 IES - JRC Institute for Environment and Sustainability
4 CrisisTox Consult
5 Center for Substances and Integrated Risk Assessement
6 Health Protection Agency
7 DTU - Technical University of Denmark [Lyngby]
8 FOI - Swedish Defense Research Agency
9 INERIS - Institut National de l'Environnement Industriel et des Risques
Abstract : A scientifically sound assessment of the risk to human health resulting from acute chemical releases is the cornerstone for chemical incident prevention, preparedness and response. Although the general methodology to identify acute toxicity of chemicals has not substantially changed in the last decades, there is ongoing debate on the current approaches for human health risk assessment in scenarios involving acute chemical releases. A survey was conducted to identify: (1) the most important present and potential future chemical incident scenarios and anticipated changes in chemical incidents or their management; (2) information, tools and guidance used in different countries to assess health risks from acute chemical releases; and (3) needs for new information, tools, guidance and expertise to enable the valid and rapid health risk assessment of acute chemical exposures. According to the results, there is an obvious variability in risk assessment practices within Europe. The multiplicity of acute exposure reference values appears to result in variable practices. There is a need for training especially on the practical application of acute exposure reference values. Although acutely toxic and irritating/corrosive chemicals will remain serious risks also in future the development of plausible scenarios for potential emerging risks is also needed. This includes risks from new mixtures and chemicals (e.g. nanoparticles).
Keywords : CHEMICAL INCIDENTS HEALTH RISK ASSESSMENT ACUTE EXPOSURE REFERENCE VALUES SURVEY
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Journal articles
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https://hal-ineris.archives-ouvertes.fr/ineris-00963453
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Submitted on : Friday, March 21, 2014 - 2:31:59 PM
Last modification on : Tuesday, February 19, 2019 - 4:08:14 PM

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Milla Heinala, Ursula Gundert-Remy, Maureen Wood, Marc Ruijten, Peter Bos, et al.. Survey on methodologies in the risk assessment of chemical exposures in emergency response situations in Europe. Journal of Hazardous Materials, Elsevier, 2013, 244, pp.545-554. ⟨10.1016/j.jhazmat.2012.10.068⟩. ⟨ineris-00963453⟩

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