The Science of Public Health Protection

At TERA, we conduct our work at the intersection of science and health protection. Chemicals are an important part of our daily lives. Some chemicals are essential to a healthy life, but exposure to chemicals may also present health risks. TERA studies the way our bodies interact with the chemicals around us to determine the nature and extent of health risks.

Founded as an independent non-profit organization, TERA is dedicated to scientific collaboration and transparency in support of public health protection. We strive for broad communication of risk science by providing risk managers, legislators, and ordinary citizens with the toxicology information they need to make important decisions about chemical safety.

This week-long, intensive, hands-on training in hazard characterization and dose-response assessment for human health risk assessments is based on our popular chemical risk assessment training sessions developed and presented to various audiences over the past decade.  It is designed to provide systematic training in current assessment practices as well as in the latest methods in human health chemical risk assessments ...Learn more

TERA scientists combine a practitioner's knowledge of the issues and pitfalls involved in the development of human health risk assessments with cutting-edge toxicology expertise to develop state-of-the-science assessments.  Our research, aimed at improving risk assessment methods in the areas of dose-response and mode of action, further enhances our analyses.  In solving risk problems for a diverse array of government and private sponsors, we apply a collaborative philosophy that emphasizes partnership building, allowing us to expand our pool of expertise....Learn More

At TERA, pharmaceutical services build on our strength as a leader in toxicological risk assessment. Whether you need an Occupational Exposure Limit set for an active pharmaceutical ingredient, are concerned about the safety implications of an impurity in your raw material or finished product, or are not sure how a regulatory guidance applies to your particular situation, we have the expertise to meet your needs. Our highly qualified team includes occupational physicians, industrial hygienists, pharmacists, and board-certified toxicologists.

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Alliance for Risk Assessment (ARA)

TERA is a founding member of the Alliance for Risk Assessment, a collaborative effort of organizations dedicated to supporting public health protection by improving the process and efficiency of risk assessment. Given a limited supply of time, resources, and know-how, public health protection is an effort that requires cooperation, organization, and prioritization. The Alliance help focus these resources to increase the output of risk values... Learn more

Occupational Alliance for Risk Science (OARS)

TERA manages the Occupational Alliance for Risk Science. OARS is an initiative to facilitate sharing of information with workers and occupational health and safety professionals. OARS provides a forum for information exchange about exposure guidance for chemical stressors, methods for improving occupational risk assessments, and training opportunities. The OARS serves as the home of exposure guide values, and related guideline documents, for chemical stressors.....Learn more

ITERate- Quarterly Mini-Review Meetings: Get your chemical on ITER today!

ITERate – TERA's new initiative to upload published risk values onto the ITERdatabase. The ITER Review Program (ITERate) was developed to promote collaboration between all stakeholders to help solve the problems government, state agencies, and even industry face to identify and select appropriate chemical risk values for application in human health risk assessment......Learn More

The StateHELP (Hazard Evaluation Lending Program) allows states to receive up to 10 hours annually of technical support from experienced risk assessment scientists free of charge... Learn more

TERA holds our scientific neutrality in highest regard. As a non-profit 501(C)3, TERA provides our program activities and annual funding sources to the public.

The Independent Charities Seal of Excellence is awarded to the members of Independent Charities of America and Local Independent Charities of America that have, upon rigorous independent review, been able to certify, document, and demonstrate on an annual basis that they meet the highest standards of public accountability, program effectiveness, and cost effectiveness.  These standards include those required by the US Government for inclusion in the Combined Federal Campaign, probably the most exclusive fund drive in the world.  Of the 1,000,000 charities operating in the United States today, it is estimated that fewer than 50,000, or 5 percent, meet or exceed these standards, and, of those, fewer than 2,000 have been awarded this Seal.