Course Outline

Module 1: Framework and Principles of Risk Assessment

• History and framework: NAS Red Book paradigm.

• Key concepts: hazard vs. risk, uncertainty, variability.

• The role of risk assessment in regulatory policy.

• Exercise: Differentiating between a hazard and a risk in real-world scenarios.

Module 2: Hazard Identification and Dose-Response Assessment

• Types of toxicological data: animal studies, epidemiological studies.

• Determining toxicity values: Reference Doses (RfDs) and Cancer Slope Factors (CSFs).

• Case Study: Reviewing a toxicological profile for a common contaminant (e.g., lead).

Module 3: Exposure Assessment

• Identifying exposure pathways: inhalation, ingestion, dermal contact.

• Calculating exposure: concentration, intake rate, exposure duration.

• Workshop: Calculating a simple exposure estimate for a residential scenario.

Module 4: Risk Characterization and Communication

• Combining hazard and exposure to quantify cancer and non-cancer risks.

• Interpreting risk results and characterizing uncertainty.

• Principles of effective risk communication to the public.

• Exercise: Preparing a one-page summary of risk findings for a community meeting.

Module 5: Risk Management and Applications

• The relationship between risk assessment and risk management.

• Setting cleanup levels based on risk assessment.

• Final Project: Working through a simplified risk assessment case study from start to finish, culminating in a risk management recommendation.