Review and evaluation of exposure models in the framework of the 4FUN project
Abstract
The assessment of risks to human health from pesticides is of major concern for policy and industry and ultimately benefits all citizens. In this process, exposure assessment is generally considered to be the weakest point, because currently available tools show major flaws such as lack of integrated approach for assessment of combined stressors (i.e. a number of potential pollutants), widespread use of 'worst-case' scenarios leading to over-conservative results and lack of uncertainty/sensitivity tools that allow identifying the important exposure drivers. To overcome these drawbacks, the FP6 project 2-FUN produced prototype software containing a library of models for exposure assessment, coupling environmental multimedia and pharmacokinetic models. The objective of the follow-up FP7 funded 4FUN project (http://4funproject.eu) is to demonstrate, innovate and exploit the prototype software developed in 2-FUN, to standardise it, to transfer it to stakeholders and guarantee its long term technical and economic viability.