The goal of this session is to illustrate how good science leads to good regulatory decisions, and the ultimate outcome of that process, the reduction of health and environmental risks associated with organohalogens. Risk managers initially depend on scientific researchers to flag a need to address a specific environmental problem. Very basic to this determination is toxicological information, and environmental and human health monitoring and analysis to highlight exposure scenarios. Risk managers, then, depend on research to quantify the problem so that proportional action can be determined, to provide direction on how to address the problem, and also to highlight specific management measures and factors which should be taken into account to guide the management process. Fundamental parts of this determination include the fine-tuning of analytical techniques, epidemiological research, and information on chemical transformation and physical transport of these substances which enhance our predictive abilities in determining exposure. Research into environmental remediation techniques further expands the range of potential risk management choices.
It is proposed that this session highlight examples involving organohalogens, illustrating exactly how this process has worked, from research to regulation, and how it has contributed to good risk management decisions.
Possible sub-topics of this session include:
– Analytical innovation and the development of accurate and affordable sampling methods to provide direction in the need for and focus of risk management.
– The development of more complex, fully integrated assessment tools to better inform risk assessment, and subsequently, risk management decisions.
– Broad approaches to assessing risks and implications for risk management: How to maximize assessment efficiencies which in turn leads to more efficient risk management.
– The need for risk management adaptation prompted by new occurrences or new information, i.e., the re-circulation of dioxins and other POPs in Arctic regions due to global warming of frozen deposits, and determination of management approaches.
– Global collaboration in the management of organohalogens based on the dissemination of toxicological information which in turn has prompted risk management decision and action by governments around the word, culminating in a global effort to reduce the presence of these substances.
