Assessing ‘chemical mixtures’ – current approaches and future priorities

People, animals and the environment can be exposed to multiple chemicals at once from a variety of sources, but current risk assessment is usually carried out on one chemical substance at a time. The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has prioritised addressing the assessment of combined exposure to multiple chemicals because of the challenges this poses for the Authority’s scientific work. EFSA has already developed some approaches in this field: recent examples include the risk assessment of mixtures of pesticides for humans and for bees, and mixtures of contaminants for humans. An EFSA review of international frameworks for assessing chemical mixtures published on 12 July 2013 will support the roll-out of harmonised terminology and methodologies for risk assessors. The report also provides a platform for future EFSA work in this area.

In related work, an EFSA opinion, also published on 12 July 2013, sets out a general methodology for risk assessment of multiple pesticides.

EFSA Journal, July 2013: Scientific report: International frameworks dealing with human risk assessemnt of combined exposure to mutlitple chemicals http://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/efsajournal/pub/3313.htm

EFSA Journal, July 2013: Scientific Opinion on the identification of pesticides to be included in cumulative assessment groups on the basis of their toxicological profile http://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/efsajournal/pub/3293.htm

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