Welcome to the Interdepartmental Group on Health Risks from Chemicals (IGHRC)

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This is about using knowledge of the chemical structure and physicochemical properties of a substance to make predictions about its toxicity. The document shows what tools and approaches are available and the circumstances in which these predictions are currently used in chemicals regulation - the predictions being made or (if made by others) accepted by UK government departments.

Current approaches to exposure modelling in UK Government Departments and Agencies (cr15)

This document is intended to demonstrate the different approaches adopted within government for the modelling of exposure and so aid in the reduction of uncertainties inherent in chemical risk assessments.

Chemical Mixtures: A framework for assessing risks to human health (cr14)

This document aims to provide a framework to help risk assessors address
defined mixture issues, and outlines possible approaches for different situations. It draws on the approaches that have been described in publications from other regulatory bodies. It is aimed both at risk assessors who have to consider mixture issues when assessing chemicals and at the stakeholders with whom they communicate.

Final Report for Phase 2
2003-2007 and Forward Plan for Phase 3 2007-2010 (cr13)

This report explains how the group carried out its work programme during the period October 2003 to September 2007 (Phase 2) and how it intends to carry out its programme of activities during the period October 2007 to September 2010 (Phase 3).

Guidelines on Route-to-Route Extrapolation of Toxicity Data when Assessing Health Risks of Chemicals (cr12)

This document provides guidance on the extrapolation of toxicity data obtained from one route to other routes of exposure to assist people having to undertake or evaluate toxicological risk assessments.

Final Report for Phase I 1999-2003 and Forward Plan to 2006 (cr11)

This report explains how the group carried out its work programme during the period October 1999 to September 2003 (Phase I) and how it intends to carry out its programme of activities during the period October 2003 to September 2006 (Phase II).

Guidelines for Good Exposure Assessment Practice for Human Health Effects of Chemicals (cr10)

This document provides guidance to assist people having to undertake or evaluate exposure assessments for human health effects of chemicals. A stepwise approach is suggested, to include problem formulation, data gathering, data analysis and exposure characterisation.

Uncertainty Factors: Their use in Human Health Risk Assessment by UK Government (cr9)

This document describes how UK government departments and agencies, and their respective expert advisory committees, address the issue of uncertainty, and uses case studies to illustrate approaches taken. It considers approaches that have been used to deal with toxicological uncertainties in risk assessment in the past, and in other countries, and suggests future directions.

Assessment of Chemical Carcinogens: Background to General Principles of a Weight of Evidence Approach (cr8)

This document summarises the available information on a weight of evidence approach as used in the UK for the hazard assessment of chemical carcinogens. The report is intended for people not familiar with current guidance and for officials in policy involved in risk assessment.

First report and Froward Plan to 2002 (cr7)

Annexes to First report and Froward Plan to 2002 (cr7a)

The first report produced by IGHRC sets out the IGHRC work programme up to 2002; proposals include work to improve assessment of human exposure to chemicals, and computer based models to get a better estimate of risks. The First Report and Forward Plan to 2002 and the Annexes to the First Report and Forward Plan to 2002 were distributed for consultation in December 2000. The following suggestions were put forward for areas for future work: exposure to chemical mixtures; low dose effects of endocrine disrupting chemicals; multigenerational mammalian toxicity tests; and reproductive toxicity.