COMMISSION ON TOXICOLOGY (VII.C.2)
Number: 720/4/93
Title: Exposure Assessment and Decision Rules in Compliance
Testing for Implementation of Exposure Limits
Coordinator(s): J.M.
Christensen, R.F.M.
Herber, E. Olsen
and E. Holst
Completion Date: 2001 - project completed
Objective:
Recommendations for correct use of data for assessment of exposure in
epidemiology is highly needed. Previously established data often concern
control of exposure, and as such cannot be used for epidemiological
purposes. Measurements in control situations are carried out in the
worst cases and are obsolete for estimation of exposure in general.
CEN 137 gives recommendations on control measurement but it should be
stressed that such data should not be used in epidemiology where dose-response
relationships are investigated. When implementing analytical data, their
understanding influences a decision and therefore in recent years much
concern has been expressed about the performance of analytical methods.
However, a corresponding evaluation of compliance testing, according
to international standards, has not been performed. The overall aim
of the project is to ensure unbiased selection of data for epidemiological
purposes and to describe decision rules for implementation of exposure
limits, taking into consideration existing standards e.g. ISOTAG4.
Progress:
project completed - A manuscript entitled 'Rules
for stating when a limiting value is exceeded' is published the
journal of Accreditation and Quality Assurance 7: 28-35 (2002).
A brief summary is published in Chem.
Int.
July 2003.
Last Update: 1 July 2003