RISK ASSESSMENT, POLICY AND RISK COMMUNICATION

Effective risk assessment and communication are essential for managing environmental and human health hazards. As scientific research uncovers new risks posed by emerging pollutants, climate change, and industrial activities, it is crucial to develop evidence-based policies and improve public engagement in decision-making processes.

This work package of the ToxLearn4EU project (WP5) focuses on the scientific, regulatory, and societal aspects of risk assessment and communication. By integrating toxicology, environmental science, and policy-making, it provides students, researchers, and professionals with the necessary tools to evaluate, regulate, and communicate environmental and health risks effectively.

Educational Resources

This work package includes a range of educational materials structured into three key components, and all the online lectures are also available on the project’s YouTube channel:

• Online Course on Risk Assessment, Policy, and Risk Communication: Provides an overview of risk assessment principles, regulatory frameworks, and risk communication strategies, essential for professionals working in environmental policy, toxicology, and public health.
• Advanced Course on Risk Assessment of Emerging Hazards Due to Climate Change and Pollution: Explores the complex interactions between pollution and climate change, addressing how emerging hazards impact human health and ecosystems.
• Problem-Based Learning (PBL) Case Studies: Engages learners in real-world scenarios, applying risk assessment and communication strategies to solve environmental and public health challenges.

All resources include video lectures, case studies, and interactive exercises to help participants develop practical skills in risk analysis, decision-making, and science-based policy development.

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.

Through these educational resources, participants will gain critical skills and expertise to contribute to scientific research, regulatory policy, and effective risk communication, helping to create safer and more sustainable societies.