NOMIRACLENovel Methods for Integrated Risk Assessment of Cumulative Stressors

in Europe

Integrated Project to Call FP6-2003-Global-2

Priority 1.1.6.3 of the Sixth Framework Programme: ‘Global Change and Ecosystems’

Topic VII.1.1.a (‘Development of risk assessment methodologies’)

Co-ordinator: Dr. Hans Løkke

National Environmental Research Institute, Denmark

The European Environment & Health Action Plan 2004-2010

• NOMIRACLE will develop methodological systems to analyse interactions between environment and health (Action No 7)

• NOMIRACLE will develop Integrated Risk Assessment methodologies and models for evaluating cumulative effects, interaction between stressors and their influence on human health

UWCNERI

ITM

DESUN

AlterraEKUT

UFZ

JRC-IES

FAL

RIVM

UJAG

LMCDSTA

URVDBUA

SICC

SYMLOG

SYKE

NERC

UCAMWRcNSF ULANC

USOUTH

LHASA Ltd

VU

NIHP

WU

UALIMCO

USALZ

APINI

EWAGLEMTEC

RWTHAETC

UNIMIB

ENVI

EPFL

DIA

Science & technology objectives1. To develop new methods for assessing the

cumulative risks from combined exposures to several stressors including mixtures of chemical and physical/biological agents

2. To achieve more effective integration of the risk analysis of environmental and human health effects

3. To improve our understanding of complex exposure situations and develop adequate tools for sound exposure assessment

4. To develop a research framework for the description and interpretation of cumulative exposure and effect

Science & technology objectives

5. To quantify, characterise and reduce uncertainty in current risk assessment methodologies, e.g. by improvement of the scientific basis for setting safety factors

6. To develop assessment methods which take into account geographical, ecological, social and cultural differences in risk concepts and risk perceptions across Europe

7. To improve the provisions for the application of the precautionary principle and to promote its operational integration with evidence-based assessment methodologies

Terrestrial species

Aquati

c spe

cies

Exposure scenarios

Mammalian model and humans

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

0 50 100 150 200 250

Time (hours)

Inte

rnal

con

c. (m

gg-1

)

Offspring

Integrated understanding of effect mechanisms for single and cumulative exposures

Stressors involved

• Chemicals (mixtures)• Patogenes• Climate• Particles

• Acidification• Eutrophication• Anoxia• Other

Molecules designed for provoking significant interactions with biological structures

• Pesticides

• Biocides

• Pharmaceuticals

• Selection of VOC and semi-VOC• Selected industrial chemicals

• Trace metals

Media and exposure

• Human and environment– aquatic environment– terrestrial environment

Exposure through water and air including indoor exposure for humans and the risk of exposure to chemicals in products

Examples on topics:

• Default assumptions

• Deterministic assessment factors

• Mixture toxicity

• Multiple stressors

• Spatial differentiation

• Temporal variation

• Inter-individual variation

• Uncertainty

• Critical stress levels