Guidance Document on Scientific criteria for grouping chemicals into assessment groups for human risk assessment of combined exposure to multiple chemicals

• DOI: 10.2903/j.efsa.2021.7033
• Publication Date: 2021-12-17T12:10:33Z
• Authors: Simon John More; Vasileios Bampidis; Diane Benford; Claude Bragard; Antonio Hernandez...; Susanne Hougaard ...; Thorhallur Ingi H...; Konstantinos Pana...; Claude Lambré; Kyriaki Machera; Hanspeter Naegeli; Søren Saxmose Nie...; Josef Rudolf Schl...; Dieter Schrenk; Vittorio Silano; Dominique Turck; Maged Younes; Emilio Benfenati; Amélie Crépet; Jan Dirk Te Biese...; Emanuela Testai; Bruno Dujardin; Jean Lou CM Dorne; Christer Hogstrand
• Keywords: Adverse Outcome Pathway; Exposure Assessment

This guidance document provides harmonised and flexible methodologies to apply scientific criteria prioritisation methods for grouping chemicals into assessment groups human risk of combined exposure multiple chemicals. In the context EFSA’s assessments, problem formulation step defines be assessed in terms reference usually through regulatory often set by managers based on legislative requirements. Scientific such as hazard-driven can used group these groups. this document, a framework is proposed using mechanistic information toxicity gold standard where available (i.e. common mode action or adverse outcome pathway) structured weight evidence approach. However, when data are not available, may performed outcome. Toxicokinetic also useful grouping, particularly metabolism class compounds toxicologically relevant metabolites shared. addition, provide means identify low-priority reduce number an group. Prioritisation include risk-based approaches, approaches single exposure-driven approaches. Case studies have been provided illustrate practical application use Recommendations future work discussed.