Cumulative (combined exposures) risk assessment

Abstract

A cumulative risk assessment (CRA) evaluates the effects of exposure to various chemical and non-chemical stressors to identify health risks in vulnerable populations. To calculate the risk from multiple stressors, susceptibility, and vulnerability, synergistic or antagonistic stressor interactions, and chemical or non-chemical stressors are considered. CRA aims to provide a more thorough understanding of the potential health risks associated with exposure to various stressors and support regulatory and risk management decisions. CRA involves a multidisciplinary approach that combines data from multiple sources, including toxicology, epidemiology, environmental science, and exposure assessment. CRA is still a relatively new and evolving field, and there are controversies and challenges related to data availability, methodology, and regulatory decision-making. To evaluate the complex exposure-response relationships in CRAs, formal and rigorous methods are needed. Therefore, statistical methods can account for joint stressors, complex interactions, and nonlinear effects.