RISK ASSESSMENT, POLICY AND RISK COMMUNICATION

Learning Goals

This course provides a comprehensive explanation of the stages involved in the human health risk assessment process (hazard identification and characterization, exposure assessment and risk characterization), while distinguishing it from the complementary fields of risk management and risk communication.

To set the foundation, the course begins by clarifying the critical distinction between hazard and risk. The concepts of toxicology and exposure —the two pillars of the risk assessment process—are analyzed in depth. This includes a detailed explanation of how health-based guidance values (HBGVs), such as the Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI), are derived from points of departure (POD) like the No-Observed-Adverse-Effect Level (NOAEL) and benchmark doses (BMD) obtained in preclinical studies.

Further, the course explores risk management approaches, including the application of tools like the Margin of Exposure (MOE), and emphasizes the importance of understanding risk perception for effective risk communication.

In addition, an overview is provided on how safety is assessed in key fields such as pharmaceuticals and food, offering practical insights into the application of risk assessment principles in these industries.

The course concludes with a comparison between human health risk assessment and ecotoxicological assessment.

Links to videos with lectures, problem-based learning materials (PBLs), and international organisms are provided all over the course. This course can be used as teaching material by instructors or as support material for learning by students.