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Research needs for community-based risk assessment: findings from a multi-disciplinary workshop

Journal of Exposure Science & Environmental Epidemiology volume 20, pages 186–195 (2010)Cite this article

Abstract

Communities face exposures to multiple environmental toxicants and other non-chemical stressors. In addition, communities have unique activities and norms that influence exposure and vulnerability. Yet, few studies quantitatively consider the role of cumulative exposure and additive impacts. Community-based risk assessment (CBRA) is a new approach for risk assessment that aims to address the cumulative stressors faced by a particular community, while incorporating a community-based participatory research framework. This paper summarizes an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) sponsored workshop, “Research Needs for Community-Based Risk Assessment.” This workshop brought together environmental and public health scientists and practitioners for fostering an innovative discussion about tools, methods, models, and approaches for CBRA. This workshop was organized around three topics: (1) Data and Measurement Methods; (2) The Biological Impact of Non-Chemical Stressors and Interaction with Environmental Exposures; and (3) Statistical and Mathematical Modeling. This report summarizes the workshop discussions, presents identified research needs, and explores future research opportunities in this emerging field.

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Acknowledgements

The authors are grateful to the many workshop presenters for their thoughtful contributions, and the workshop participants for their valuable insights and discussions. The authors would like to acknowledge Nigel Fields for his breakthrough concepts on community-based risk assessment, and for his energy and inspiration.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Association of Schools of Public Health, Washington, DC, USA

    Yolanda Anita Sanchez & Carrie Knowlton

  2. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, National Center for Environmental Assessment, Washington, DC, USA

    Kacee Deener

  3. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, National Center for Computational Toxicology, Washington, DC, USA

    Elaine Cohen Hubal & David Reif

  4. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, National Center for Environmental Research, Washington, DC, USA

    Deborah Segal

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  1. Yolanda Anita Sanchez
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  2. Kacee Deener
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Correspondence to Deborah Segal.

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This publication was developed under Cooperative Agreement No. #X3-83085001 awarded by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to the Association of Schools of Public Health (ASPH). It has not been formally reviewed by the EPA. The views expressed in this paper are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the Agency. The EPA does not endorse any products or commercial services mentioned in this publication.

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Sanchez, Y., Deener, K., Hubal, E. et al. Research needs for community-based risk assessment: findings from a multi-disciplinary workshop. J Expo Sci Environ Epidemiol 20, 186–195 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1038/jes.2009.8

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