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Peer Review 2005

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2005 BOSC Review

Human health research at ORD addresses needs arising from the Risk Assessment and Risk Management Paradigm. Human health risk assessment involves a qualitative and quantitative characterization of the relationship between environmental exposures and effects observed in exposed individuals and populations. The National Research Council (1983) has described four primary steps in the process of risk assessment: i.e., (1) hazard identification, (2) dose-response assessment, (3) exposure assessment, and (4) risk characterization. Risk assessment is the primary scientific input to the risk management process, which involves the recognition of a potential new risk and the development, selection, and implementation of EPA actions to address the risk. Risk management often considers a wide variety of other factors. The overall process of risk assessment and risk management is often referred to as the Risk Assessment and Risk Management Paradigm.

The objective of the Human Health Program Review by the Board of Scientific Counselors is to evaluate the relevance, quality, performance, and scientific leadership of the ORD's Human Health Research Program. The independent external peer panel's evaluation and recommendations will provide guidance to ORD to (1) help plan, implement, and strengthen the program; (2) compare with other programs designed to achieve similar outcomes in other parts of the Agency and in other Federal agencies; (3) make research investment decisions over the next 5 years; (4) prepare the Agency's performance and accountability reports to Congress under the Government Performance and Results Act; and (5) respond to evaluations of Federal research, such as those conducted by the Office of Management and Budget.

The four research themes are:

  1. Use of Mechanistic Data in Risk Assessment,
  2. Aggregate/Cumulative Risk,
  3. Susceptible Subpopulations, and
  4. Evaluating Public Health Outcome.

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