Risk assessment of chemicals – the role of epidemiological methods

Abstract

Objectives. The paper discusses methodological approaches in the evaluation of epidemiological data for health risk assessment.

Methods. The discussion is based on the overviews of epidemiological evidence for health hazard characterisation from primary and multiple studies and for health impact assessment.

Results. Evaluation of the epidemiological evidence requires a systematic review of relevant studies with the aim of achieving transparency with regard to applied methods and procedures, avoidance of bias and validity of conclusions. Epidemiological studies are useful for health hazard characterisation if they provide estimates for exposure–response relationships. Epidemiological evidence plays a key role in health impact assessment of complex causes such as industrial emissions or urban traffic. The WHO Expert Group identified ten major steps in the quantification of the health impact assessment.

Conclusions. There is a continuous need that future epidemiological studies should seek, where possible, to provide results that enhance the health impact assessment at the interface of epidemiology, other fields of research, and decision making.