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Society For Risk Analysis Annual Meeting 2004

Session Schedule & Abstracts

P1 - Poster Session 1 Ballroom Foyer

Exposure Assessment

P1.1  How Risky is Fish Consumption?. LJ* Kennedy, JA Nedoff, BA Williams; Kennedy/Jenks Consultants   laurakennedy@kennedyjenks.com Abstract: Fish consumption is important for a healthy diet and provides a good source of protein and other nutrients. At the same time, fish consumption is the exposure pathway that frequently drives the human health risks at contaminated sites located near or adjacent to water bodies. Inputs to the risk calculations for fish consumption include the fish ingestion rate, tissue concentrations, and toxicity values for the chemicals detected in tissue. Fish ingestion rates differ throughout the country and, within a specific population, are highly variable. Tissue concentrations vary for different fish species based on the habitats, feeding strategies, and physiological factors that impact the bioaccumulation potential of chemicals. For a given species, the tissue concentrations vary based on the lipophilic nature of the chemical and the part of the fish analyzed. The potential for adverse effects is dependent on the dose-response relationship of the chemical. Therefore, risks from fish consumption will vary depending on the fish ingestion rate, the fish species and part of fish consumed, and the chemical. This presentation examines the risks from fish consumption for different chemicals in different species for different fish ingestion rates. These risks are then compared with risks from other common dietary items to evaluate the relative risks from fish consumption.

P1.2  Estimating Human Exposure to Pesticides from Concentrations in Ambient Air . R.C. Cochran; California Department of Pesticide Regulation   rcochran@cdpr.ca.gov Abstract: The urban-agricultural interface in California can result in non-occupational exposures to measurable levels of pesticides in the ambient air. In order to calculate the potential risks of these encounters, it is necessary to generate reasonable estimates of human exposure. However, there are intrinsic difficulties in converting measured air concentrations of pesticides into estimated absorbed dosages. This presentation focuses on the issues and uncertainties surrounding acute exposures to air concentrations of pesticides (not application drift) emanating from newly treated agricultural fields. (1) What is the ambient air level? Many times there are multiple sampling stations at different distances from the treated fields. Should an average or an upper bound of the concentrations be used, or the highest value, and at what distance? (2) In the absence of chemical-specific data, how can the amount of the inhaled pesticide which is retained in the lungs and absorbed into the body be estimated? (3) If it is assumed that there are people living adjacent to the treated field, do we take activity patterns into consideration or adapt a “worst case” approach and assume that they are standing at the monitoring station for 24 hours? (4) If activity patterns are taken into consideration, is there a significant difference between outdoor and indoor air concentrations of the pesticides when the source is outside of a structure?

P1.3  An Evaluation of Dermal Uptake; Modeling Versus Experimental Data . D. I. McCready, D. D. Fontaine; The Dow Chemical Company   dmccready@dow.com Abstract: Dermal uptake of a chemical may occur when one handles or spills a product. The active chemical from the product may pass through the skin and enter the blood system. One goal of product stewardship is to identify chemicals that may pose potential problems for human exposure. Dodecane is a chemical of interest because it is a major component of jet fuel. The capability to mathematically model dermal uptake is important because chemical specific uptake data may not be available. Experimental data are expensive and time consuming to collect. This study compares experimental dermal uptake data to predictions from the PROMISE© model and an EPA model. For modeling, dermal permeability is a primary variable. It is typically based on a correlation of chemical molecular weight and octanol-water partition coefficient. Several permeability correlations are evaluated. The predicted uptake varies by a factor of seven. The best model prediction overestimated the experimental results by about 50%. This study provides insight into dermal absorption theory, the input data required for mathematical modeling, and the limitations of modeling.

P1.4  Indoor Air Emission Risk Estimations Using J-E Model, Indoor-air, and Soil-gas Sampling. V. Mylavarapu, K.L. Murphy, L. Furlow; CH2M HILL, Inc.   vmylavar@ch2m.com Abstract: Groundwater beneath some of the industrial operations area of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s (NASA’s) Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC), Huntsville, AL has chlorinated volatile organic chemicals (CVOCs). In June 2002, potential indoor air concentrations for selected buildings were evaluated using the groundwater CVOCs data and the Johnson-Ettinger (J-E) Tier 2 Model. The model-estimated indoor air concentrations for the buildings indicated a potential for the presence of unacceptable indoor air CVOC concentrations. Due to the uncertainty associated with the predictive modeling and the controversy over the use of the J-E Model, sampling of indoor air, soil gas vapors, and groundwater was conducted at five buildings where the highest predicted risks were identified. Soil gas samples were collected from two depths (deep and shallow) . Outdoor ambient air sample at each of the five buildings and indoor air samples from two reference buildings were also collected. Soil-gas attenuation factors were estimated for CVOCs detected in both groundwater and building indoor air. Estimated attenuation rates ranged from 10-5 to 10-9. The background indoor air samples and building chemical inventory indicated industrial operations-related sources for several indoor air CVOCs. In general, the investigation indicated that the J-E Model over predicted risks at four of the five buildings, when compared to the measured indoor air and soil gas CVOC levels. However, at one building with higher groundwater CVOC concentrations, the model-predicted value was similar to the observed indoor air-based estimate. The contamination plume distance to the building, building characteristics possibly play a role in the concentration difference between the model predicted versus measured samples. Overall, the J-E Model can be a useful screening tool for the indoor air estimates, as model seem to typically over-predict the potential indoor air contributions from the groundwater.

P1.5  Development of Lead Cleanup Levels for Historic Mining Areas Slated for Recreational Park Use. K.S.* Olson, D. Michael; Neptune and Company, Inc.   kolson@neptuneinc.org Abstract: Risks from lead have been the focus of significant efforts in predictive model development, primarily for assessing potential risks from long-term residential exposure. EPA designed and validated the Integrated Exposure Uptake Biokinetic (IEUBK) model for such residential exposures to children and the Adult Lead Model (ALM) for workplace exposures in adults. Growing interest in alternative reuse of contaminated mining sites necessitates adaptation of these quasi steady-state models to other exposure scenarios. At a former mining site in New Mexico being evaluated for reuse as a park focusing on historic mining sites, the IEUBK and ALM models were applied to recreational scenarios for development of PRGs for lead. Stakeholder input identified a tour guide, a child playing in the park, and adults hiking and mountain biking in the park as potential receptors. Assessment of potential exposure included development of PRGs for each receptor at three frequencies of exposure. This work discusses the adjustment of model inputs for these recreational exposures including bioavailability and partitioning of source contributions in the IEUBK model. The sensitivity analysis for exposure duration and frequency in both models is also discussed.

P1.6  Methylmercury Reference Dose: Modeling of MeHg Intake by Infants. Janusz Z. Byczkowski; Consultant   januszb@aol.com Abstract: The current U.S. EPA Reference Dose (RfD) for methylmercury (MeHg), estimated at 0.1 microgram per kg per day, was intended to represent a maternal daily intake level, that is protective to health of developing child. The question arose, as to what fraction of the targeted subpopulation of the U.S. infants may be exposed to the levels potentially higher than that. The life stages critical for MeHg exposures, which may result in developmental toxicity, are during the in utero and the nursing periods, but very little dosimetric information is available for these periods. While some data exist for the newborn children from sampling the cord blood for Hg concentration, the reliable estimate of MeHg intakes for this subpopulation of particular concern should consider both continuous and bolus exposures, including changes in physiology and pharmacokinetics during the entire period of the embryo/fetal development and the breast feeding. These exposures were quantified by inputting the results of a stochastic quantitative modeling of maternal MeHg intakes (from Carrington and Bolger, 2002, validated with CDC's NHANES survey data) into physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) model of combined gestational and lactational transfers of MeHg from mother to infant (Byczkowski and Lipscomb, 2001). The PBPK model provided internal dosimetrics in the brain for both mother and her nursing infant. The results suggest that for about 5 percent of the potential U.S. mothers, there may be some risk of exposing their unborn and/or nursing infants to MeHg levels that potentially may cause some adverse effects. Estimated 95 percent of infants are at or below the acceptable exposure level under the current RfD value during the entire period of the embryo/fetal development and the breast-feeding. Any potential adverse effect of exposure to MeHg (primarily in fish and seafood) must be carefully balanced against the obvious nutritional and health benefits of seafood and breast-feeding.

P1.7  Multipathway Exposure Assessment for Fluorides Including Hydrogen Fluoride . D.E.* Dodge, R.J. Blaisdell; Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment, State of California   ddodge@oehha.ca.gov Abstract: A multipathway exposure assessment for particulate and gaseous fluorides was performed to consider the potential impact of fluoride industrial emissions on humans under the Hot Spots Program following the adoption in August 2003 of an oral Reference Exposure Level of 0.04 mg/kg-day for fluorides, including hydrogen fluoride (HF), in California. The Hot Spots program addresses air pollution from stationary sources. The most toxicologically sensitive endpoint for fluoride is the adverse cosmetic effect of dental fluorosis in children between 2 and 8 years of age. Tolerable Upper Intake Levels of fluoride have been established for children (age 1-3 years: 1.3 mg/day; age 4-8 years: 2.2 mg/day). Extensive interindividual variation in total fluoride intake has been documented in children in areas with fluoridated drinking water (1.1-4.6 mg/day). Thus, minor contributions from multipathway routes of exposure may be become toxicologically significant. Following development of multipathway exposure parameters and default values for particulate and gaseous fluorides using published literature and established risk assessment methodology, multipathway scenarios for high industrial fluoride air levels (about 0.4-2 µg/m3) were developed. Multipathway routes, including soil ingestion, dermal uptake, and meat/milk/egg/fish consumption, totaled less than 3 percent of the daily tolerable upper intake of fluoride in children. However, accumulation of fluoride ion in homegrown leafy crops, particularly from HF exposure, represented the greatest potential exposure consisting of up to 15-20 percent of the daily tolerable upper intake. Intake of fluoride through consumption of root and protected crops was considerably lower. Consumption of leafy crops exposed to high fluoride emissions is a potentially significant source of fluoride intake, and could increase the likelihood of dental fluorosis in children.

P1.8  Improvement of Risk Assessments in the Face of Critical Data Gaps: Chemical Ranking, Dose Reconstruction, and Tiered Screening of Exposure Scenarios for Informed Regulatory Decision-Making. A. L.* Katner, Y. Cohen; University of California at Los Angeles   akatnerl@ucla.edu Abstract: Aggregate exposure assessment must account for exposures by all media and by all significant routes (inhalation, ingestion, and dermal contact). Such assessments are a challenge when emissions and monitoring data are lacking, and multiple chemicals and radionuclides are present. This research provides insight into these issues using a multi-contaminant aerospace facility to illustrate a framework approach for assessing aggregate risk in the face of multiple hazards, data gaps, and numerous potential exposure scenarios. A recently developed chemical scoring and ranking model (SCRAM) was used and refined with emissions data to rank onsite hazards. An air dispersion model (CalPuff) was used in conjunction with emissions data to reconstruct potential inhalation doses to offsite populations. A two-tiered approach was used to identify exposure scenarios associated with greatest potential risks. Communication of risks incorporated categorization of risks into various levels of concern, applied appropriate comparisons to involuntary risks, and presented recommendations for reducing risks. This approach effectively minimizes an often times overwhelming assignment into discrete attainable tasks. Specific objectives of this research include 1) identification of critical pathways, parameters, and hypotheses for guiding exposure measurements; 2) provide insights into sources and mechanisms of human exposure to pollutants at similar facilities, and 3) to present a transparent and scientifically defensible methodology for estimating and communicating risks for the purpose of regulatory decision-making. Preliminary results show pathways of concern include inhalation, secondary exposures (agriculture), and ingestion. The chemicals of greatest concern are hydrazines (and related oxidation products), and trichloroethene (and related degradation products). Both the variability and uncertainty of predicted exposures are found to be very high. Policy implications will be addressed.

P1.9  Exposure to BTEX and MTBE in the indoor and outdoor at Industrial Complex, Korea. H.H Kim, D.C Shin, Y.W Lim, J.Y Yang, Y.J Lee; The Institute for Environmental Research, Yonsei University College of Medicine   ho4sh@yumc.yonsei.ac.kr Abstract: The present study was designed to evaluate residential exposure to selected VOCs(BTEX, MTBE) relative to the proximity of the siwha industrial complex. The siwha industrial complex was established in 1986 in the west area of Seoul far from 30km. In the sihwa industrial complex there are some 8,000migrant workers in about 2,500 factories. This study carried out an intensive measurement study in November and December 2003 of MTBE and BTEX at sites in siwha, one at industrial area and the other at residences area. In the present study, Since the sample number is not large, it is difficult to make a meaningful statistical analysis. Surveys was conducted to measure the concentrations of four aromatic VOCs(benzene, toluene, ethlybezene, xylene) and methyl tertiary-butyl ether(MTBE) in the industrial outdoor and indoor air within the siwha and in residential indoor and outdoor air based. The median outdoor concentrations were 6.86, 8.35, 105.60, 14.56, and 19.96ug/m3, respectively(MTBE, benzene, toluene, ethlybezene, xylene), for the industrial area, yet 2.51, 7.50, 65.15, 10.06 and 9.20ug/m3, respectively, for the residential area. Meanwhile the median indoor concentrations were 2.24, 9.82, 103.80, 36.45, and 26.27ug/m3, respectively, for the industrial area. yet 2.47, 8.51, 83.57, 15.52 and 1.00ug/m3, respectively, for the residential area. Outdoor air concentrations of MTBE were significantly higher for the residences area than for the industrial area(P<0.05). Indoor air concentrations of xylene were significantly higher for the residences area than for the industrial area(P<0.01).

P1.11  A model for dioxin concentrations in herrings in the Baltic Sea. P.* Erästö, J. Tuomisto, M. Tainio; National Public Health Institute   ppe@rni.helsinki.fi Abstract: It is widely discussed that fish, especially herring is one of the main sources of dioxin in the northern Europe creating thus a large potential risk for public health for the area of the Baltic Sea. So far, the measured dioxin trends from a human fat tissue have shown significant decreasing trends, but the trends of dioxin concentrations in herrings have been somewhat unclear. In this study we have analyzed the dioxin concentrations in herrings of different ages from samples that were captured at years 1978, 1983, 1994, 1999 and 2002 from the Baltic Sea (Gulf of Bothnia). The nutriment of a herring changes from plankton to small fish with age, and this increases the dioxin exposure of the fish. Therefore the modeling of the accumulation of dioxin is not a straighforward task. Based on knowledge of the change of the nutriment of herrings we have created a Bayesian model for the dioxin concentrations of herrings at different ages that combines all the background information about the subject. Performing this analysis to the herrings captured at different years we get a trend of generic dioxin concentrations of the nutriment of herrings. These values can furthermore be used in a more precise risk assesment when the information about the ages of herrings used for human food is available.

P1.12  Microbial risk assessment simulation for Salmonella Typhimurium in poultry processing. A.K.* Pradhan, Y. Li; University of Arkansas   apradhan@uark.edu Abstract: Salmonella Typhimurium is one of the major foodborne causes of gastroenteritis and frequently associated with poultry, which causes salmonellosis leading to large economic losses every year. The objectives of this study were to develop a simulation model for quantitative microbial risk assessment to compute the probability of S. Typhimurium for its prevalence on poultry from slaughter to chilling and to perform the uncertainty analysis. A simulation model was developed for exposure assessment of S. Typhimurium in poultry processing for a batch of 1,000 birds. Probability distributions were determined to characterize the incidence and variation in bacteria-poultry events at each step during processing, considering the initial bacterial load varies between 0-1000 CFU/bird at the arrival to the processing plant. Analysis of parameter knowledge uncertainty and stochastic variability utilizing the two-phase Monte Carlo procedure was performed in which stochastic variability was nested within knowledge uncertainty. The stochastic output results were analyzed resulting in complementary cumulative distribution functions (CCDFs). The simulation results obtained from this model for S. Typhimurium concentration in log number per 1,000 birds were: 4.6 for arrival, 4.4 for stunning, 2.9 for scalding, 2.7 for defeathering, 3.2 for evisceration, 2.4 for washing, and 2.8 for chilling. The variation in each CCDF showed the effects of stochastic variability on model estimates while the distribution of CCDFs represented the effect of knowledge uncertainty. Correlation coefficients showing model sensitivity indicated that scalding (0.782) is the important node followed by washing (0.624), and chilling (0.519) in poultry processing. The model can be used by the poultry industry to make decisions aimed at protecting consumers from S. Typhimurium infections of poultry origin and estimate how changes in the processing are likely to affect the over all safety of poultry products.

P1.13  Estimating the Exposure Point Concentration Term Using ProUCL, Version 3.0. A. Singh; Lockheed Martin Environmental Services Company   asingh@lmepo.com Abstract: Estimating the Exposure Point Concentration Term Using ProUCL, Version 3.0 Anita Singh Lockheed Martin Environmental Services, Las Vegas, NV In Superfund projects of the USEPA, cleanup, exposure, and risk assessment decisions are often made based upon the mean concentrations of the contaminants of potential concern. A 95% upper confidence limit (UCL) of the population mean is used to estimate the exposure point concentration term. It is, therefore, important to compute an accurate and stable 95% UCL of the mean from the available data. The formula for computing a UCL depends upon the data distribution. Typically, environmental data are positively skewed, and a lognormal distribution is used to model such skewed distributions. It is well known that the use of a lognormal model unjustifiably inflates the estimate of the mean and its UCL to levels that may not be applicable in practice. The objective of the present work is to study procedures which can be used to compute a stable and accurate UCL of the mean based upon a gamma distribution. Several nonparametric (e.g., bootstrap-t, Hall’s bootstrap, Chebyshev inequality) methods of computing a UCL of the mean have also been considered. A comparison of the various methods has been evaluated in terms of the coverage (confidence coefficient) probabilities achieved by the various UCLs. Based upon the Monte Carlo study, recommendations have been made about the computation of a UCL of the mean for skewed distributions. Several UCL computation methods with recommendations have been incorporated into the EPA software, ProUCL Version 3.0. Based upon datasets from Superfund sites, ProUCL will be used to demonstrate the computation of the various parametric and nonparametric UCL computation methods. Keywords: 95% UCL, bootstrap methods, EPC term, positively skewed distributions, ProUCL NOTICE This is an abstract of a proposed presentation and does not necessarily reflect the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) policy. The actual presentation has not been peer reviewed by EPA.

P1.14  The effect of domestic cross-contamination events on exposure to Campylobacter jejuni . C.M.* Moore, L.A. Jaykus, H. Yang, H. Latimer, A. Mokhtari; North Carolina State University and USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service   cmmoore3@unity.ncsu.edu Abstract: Campylobacter jejuni is a leading cause of bacterial diarrhea and is frequently transmitted by foodborne routes, with domestic cross-contamination implicated in many cases. A probabilistic exposure model was created to examine transmission of C. jejuni from raw chicken carcasses to a ready-to-eat food during domestic meal preparation. Surface-to-surface transfer efficiency between carcass, cutting boards, hands, and knives was considered in order to evaluate which transmission routes were most important. Prevalence and contamination levels of C. jejuni on retail chicken carcasses, and bacterial persistence and removal via cleaning were also incorporated into the model. Considering multiple food contact surfaces, the model was most sensitive to cutting board–related transfer events, implying that cutting boards are a particularly important vehicle for cross-contamination. Sensitivity analysis indicated that reducing carcass prevalence of contamination from a mean of 70% to 40%, or maintaining the initial carcass surface contamination levels to less than 50 CFU/cm2, would reduce per serving exposures to below the expected infectious dose for healthy populations. Rinsing raw carcasses as well as attention to hand washing were important to reducing the highest levels of contamination. Results from this exposure assessment can be used to make recommendations to industry and consumers on how to reduce the risk of C. jejuni transmission associated with food preparation. Ongoing sensitivity analysis efforts will help identify critical model inputs for design of specific and effective mitigation strategies.

P1.15  West Nile Virus Management: Use of Potential Dose Analysis to Focus Multipathway Risk Assessment. J.F. Lape, A.B. Parks, A.* Cardenas, J.L Durda, R.A. Shoof; Integral Consulting Inc.   jlape@integral-corp.com Abstract: The spread of West Nile virus across the United States has motivated some communities to evaluate mosquito management plans to control or eradicate the pests that transmit this disease. Most mosquito management plans include the use of pesticides to which humans potentially can be exposed from a variety of pathways. In the State of New York, two such multipathway human health risk assessments have been conducted as part of Environmental Impact Statements that detailed the plans for control of mosquito-borne disease. Both risk assessments quantitatively evaluated 139 exposure pathways for human receptors. Ultimately, a very limited number of pathways were responsible for the majority of the potential risk for adverse human health impacts. This paper investigates the use of the potential dose concept as a means to focus the efforts of the risk assessment on the most significant pathways early in the process, yet retain a mechanism to evaluate the potential human health impacts of the broader range of complete exposure pathways. The potential dose is typically used to compare exposures through various pathways or routes without requiring estimates of contaminate concentrations, which are often costly or time-consuming to obtain. For this analysis, the potential dose was calculated for the 139 pathways evaluated in each of the risk assessments and the pathways were ranked to identify those that have the potential to drive the human health risks. The potential dose ranking was compared with the results reported from the full quantification of the health impacts in the original risk assessment. The results of the comparison are discussed in terms of the ability of the potential dose concept to accurately predict the risk assessment results while significantly reducing the number of pathways that need to be fully evaluated, including determination of exposure point concentrations. Also discussed are the strengths and weaknesses of applying the potential dose concept for both multi-media and multipathway risk assessments.

P1.16  Analyzing Organophosphate Metabolites with Data Below a Limit of Detection. E.M.* Vigoren, W.C. Griffith, E.M. Faustman; University of Washington   gorst@u.washington.edu Abstract: As part of a community intervention study to reduce organophosphate pesticide exposure to children of farm workers, we analyzed urine samples from the children for the presence of four dialkylphosphates (DAP) that result from the metabolism of organophosphate pesticides. The four DAPs had 10 to 80% of values below the limits of detection. Omitting these missing values from our analysis could skew our study results, so we used the readily available software WinBUGS to implement a Bayesian Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) Gibbs Sampling method that utilized the information found in the data to estimate distributions for the values below the detection limit. This method has two major advantages: it is statistically rigorous, compared to simple methods that replace the missing values with a constant, and it is easy to implement and compute using the WinBUGS software. This method uses information found in the distribution and correlation structure of the observed data when deciding how to replace values below the limit of detection. Quantile-quantile plots indicated that the observed data had a multivariate normal distribution on a log scale. To validate the method in the present application, we performed a simulation study of four-parameter multivariate normal samples with up to 75% of the values below a detection limit. We were able to reliably recover the means, variances, and correlation structure of the source data. Using this method on the farmworker children data, we found significant positive correlations between the DAPs. The positive correlations between dimethyl and diethyl metabolites suggest that in some children higher exposures to multiple pesticides are associated. The magnitudes of the estimated standard deviations indicate exposures are highly variable. [This publication was made possible by grants PO2 ES09601 from NIEHS and EPA R826886. Its contents are solely the responsibility of the authors.]

P1.17  Taking into Account Genetic Polymorphisms in Assessing Health Risks-Sensitivity or Resistance to Environmental Chemical Exposure. J. D. Wilson, C.T. De Rosa; Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, Division of Toxicology, Computational Toxicology Laboratory   jdw0@cdc.gov Abstract: In the last 15 years, the advancement of molecular genetic technologies has provided a better understanding of individual genotypic differences in susceptibility of the effects of environmental chemical exposures. Common differences (prevalence greater than 1% in the human population) between people in the DNA sequences of a particular gene are called genetic polymorphisms. This variation may cause members of the population to have different biological responses when exposed to environmental pollutants. Xenobiotic metabolizing enzyme systems that prevent or cause adverse health effects following exposure to environmental chemicals are of strong interest and concern because most have genetic polymorphisms. As result, some members of the population are genotypically more susceptible (at greater health risk) or less susceptible (protected from health risk) to chemical insults and environmental disease. With this knowledge in hand, public health scientists responsible for protecting public health can adjust the traditional default method in the risk assessment process to reduce uncertainities about health risks. This presentation discusses some specific examples of genetic polymorphisms and the application of physiologically based pharmacokinetic modelling to investigate genetic polymorphisms of mixed function oxidase enzymes in methylene chloride metabolism. ATSDR’s views on incorporating such data in the development of health guidance values and the overall human health risk assessment process will be discussed.

P1.18  Statistical methods for biomarker based exposure estimation under non-steady-state conditions. S.M.* Bartell, W.O. Johnson; Emory University and University of California at Davis   sbartel@sph.emory.edu Abstract: Biomarker measurements such as blood lead concentrations and hair mercury concentrations are often used to make inferences about previous rates of toxicant intake under steady state assumptions. However, toxicant exposures are typically episodic and vary in magnitude over time, violating the steady state model. Moreover, the steady state model does not allow direct estimation of intraindividual exposure variability over time. Treating each biomarker measurement as linear combination of previous unobserved daily exposure magnitudes is a simple but reasonable toxicokinetic model for many situations. When exposure patterns are intermittent each daily exposure magnitude is described by a mixture distribution with a probability mass at zero and some continuous density over a range of positive values, and each biomarker measurement involves a convolution of differentially weighted mixture distributions. Likelihood functions are difficult to obtain and maximize in this setting, but generalized estimating equations and Bayesian Markov chain Monte Carlo approaches can be applied successfully. Simulation studies suggest that exposure estimates obtained using these methods are accurate under a wide variety of conditions, and offer substantial improvements compared to methods based on the steady state model. This research has been supported by a grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Science to Achieve Results (STAR) Fellowship Program.

P1.19  GIS-Based Human Health Risk Assessment for Proposed Residential Development Impacted by Diesel Particulate Matter (DPM) Emission Sources. T.C.* Bernhardt, E. Farstad, C. Easter; Tetra Tech EM Inc.   todd.bernhardt@ttemi.com Abstract: Tetra Tech EMI performed an HHRA of diesel emissions on proposed future residences from heavy-duty vehicles serving an adjacent industrial park in the City of West Sacramento. This analysis was completed to fulfill requirements for the project proponent as required by the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). Diesel exhaust emissions were identified from the engines of heavy- and medium-duty delivery trucks transporting goods to and from warehouses at the industrial park, as well as from the Transportable Refrigeration Units (TRUs) installed on these vehicles. Diesel exhaust emission rates were estimated based on existing physical conditions at the site, loading dock surveys, and emission factors for trucks and TRUs developed by CARB. Hypothetical emissions were also projected for future activities. AERMOD modeling software was employed to identify concentrations of diesel exhaust at specific sensitive receptor locations. Finally, estimated concentrations of diesel particulate matter (DPM) were used in conjunction with exposure parameter distributions and the slope factor for DPM to determine potential health effects. The potential risks to resident receptors were above 1E-05 for exposure to emissions generated by idling trucks at loading docks and TRUs at close distances. With cancer risks exceeding significance criteria, a more sophisticated GIS-based approach was performed to produce cancer risk isopleths to graphically indicate the specific areas near the proposed residential development where cancer risks resulting from exposure to the diesel emission sources would be expected to exceed significance criteria. Upon completion of the HHRA, Tetra Tech EMI had successfully developed and simulated reasonable and foreseeable exposure scenarios using the latest diesel emissions and air dispersion modeling innovations, and was able to assist planners in reconfiguring the lines of residential development to reduce future risk and liability.

P1.20  Optimization of Seafood Biotoxin Monitoring to Reduce Human Exposure. NL Judd, WC Griffith, EM Faustman; University of Washington, Institute for Risk Analysis and Risk Communication   nlj@u.washington.edu Abstract: Algal blooms produce the biotoxin domoic acid (DA) which may lead to a variety of adverse health effects including amnesiac shellfish poisoning. To reduce DA exposure by preventing consumption, Washington State Department of Health (WA DOH) relies on early detection and beach closures when levels in shellfish exceed 20 ppm. Because algal blooms can lead to rapid seafood biotoxin increases and are difficult to predict, an appropriately sensitive and frequent monitoring program is critical. In Puget Sound (PS), DA has not historically been a problem, unlike the WA coast where closures are common and sampling is more frequent before limited shellfishing seasons open. In PS, sampling is performed biweekly and then more frequently if detectable levels are found. In samples analyzed by WA DOH through 2001, 9.7% of WA coast razor clams and 98.3% of PS blue mussels were reported as non-detects. In September 2003, the first PS DA closure occurred. People in the heavily populated PS area collect shellfish year-round and may be exposed for several days before a bloom is detected. Using data on DA in WA coast shellfish collected by the Olympic Region Harmful Algal Bloom (ORHAB) project, rates of concentration increase due to blooms were estimated. These values were used to generate probability based estimates of potential human exposure to DA with the current PS sampling regime and with more frequent sampling. The value of more sensitive analysis (better than current 1 ppm limit of quantitation) for early detection of blooms was also explored. Results indicate 4 or more days of exposure above 20 ppm may occur before closure with the current monitoring program. Evaluation of benefits of more frequent sampling and more sensitive analysis is complicated by uncertainties about PS bloom frequency and DA background levels. Support: Pacific Northwest Center for Human Health and Oceans (NIEHS:P50 ES012762, NSF:OCE-0434087), Center for the Study and Improvement of Regulation at CMU/UW.

P1.21  Assessment of Potential Human Health Risks from Arsenic in CCA-Treated Utility Poles. E.M.* Dubé, B.D. Beck; Gradient Corporation   edube@gradientcorp.com Abstract: A human health risk assessment was prepared to evaluate exposures to arsenic from existing chromated copper arsenate (CCA)-treated wooden utility poles. We identified a child resident ages 2-6 years old and an adult utility pole worker ages 18-30 years old as the receptors with the greatest potential exposure and risk, and concluded that incidental ingestion and dermal contact were the relevant and potentially most significant exposure routes. We used standard approaches to quantify exposures to arsenic in soil impacted by CCA-treated utility poles. However, because no standard approach exists for ingestion exposure to arsenic in dislodgeable residue (i.e., residue on the surface of CCA-treated wood that can be removed via dermal contact with the hands), we applied an empirical approach, using inference from studies of soil loadings on hands and soil ingestion rates to estimate the amount of dislodgeable residue (DR) on hands that is subsequently ingested. To more accurately assess exposure, the results of a large, recent study regarding hand loading of arsenic in DR for human volunteers rubbing CCA-treated boards were used. Also, two recent studies in swine were used to develop bioavailability estimates for arsenic in DR and in soil, and a recent study in primates was used to estimate dermal absorption of arsenic in DR. Reasonable maximum exposure (RME) parameters were used to quantify exposures to CCA-treated utility poles and adjacent soils. The current USEPA-recommended oral cancer potency factor for arsenic was used despite several recent studies indicating that this factor may overestimate cancer risk, especially in U.S. populations, adding conservatism to the analysis. The results of the risk assessment indicate that potential cumulative cancer risks for a child resident or an adult utility pole worker are 1.6E-05 and 5.7E-06, respectively. Our results indicate that potential cancer and non-cancer risk estimates do not exceed USEPA target risk levels.

P1.22  Determination of mercury levels in blood of residents Living in urban area in Korea. M.K. Ho, D.C. Shin, Y.W. Lim, J.H. Lim, J.Y. Yang; Institute for Environmental Research, Yonsei University College of Medicine   moonge@nownuri.net Abstract: Heavy metal pollution has become a serious health concern in recent years. Continuous exposure to low levels of heavy metals may result in bioaccumulation and adverse health consequences in human. Although, mercury (Hg) is not a naturally abundant element in the environment, residues frequently occur in many environmental compartments because of widespread contamination from industrial and agricultural practices. This research evaluated Hg-B concentrations of general population who was not occupationally exposed. Also we evaluated the association between life factor and health effect with Hg-B concentration of general adult through interrelationship estimation and index about kidney function and oxidative damage that appeared by questionnaire survey and medical examination. The mean concentrations of Hg-B were 3.19㎍/ℓ(ND~8.64㎍/ℓ), and showed normal distribution on the whole. 35(15.2%) of 230 participant were below detection limit. Participants divided to nephropathy group and normal group. The mean concentration of Hg-B was 5.30㎍/ℓ on Nephropathy group and normal group was 3.35㎍/ℓ(p<0.05), but there was limitation on analysis by different classification number between groups. Hg-B concentration classified to three ranges (Hg-B<2, 2≤Hg-B<5, 5≤Hg-B) and evaluated differences for kidney function index. According to the result, difference as creatinine and β2 microglobulin observed significantly (p<0.05). As classified range by Hg-B concentration, MDA (Malonydialdehyde) and 8-Hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8-OHdG)(oxidative damage index) increased but it is not statistically significant. In this study, considering factors that influence to Hg-B concentration, divided participant by high-risk group (smoking and meat main intake group) and low-risk group (non-smoking and vegetable diet main intake group). High-risk group had significantly higher Hg-B concentration than low-risk group(p<0.05, low-risk group : 3.30㎍/ℓ(ND~8.64㎍/ℓ), high-risk group : 4.27㎍/ℓ(ND~7.84㎍/ℓ)).

P1.23  Nickel Absorption Following Water Ingestion in Adults: A Probabilistic Approach to the Estimation of Nickel Bioavailability. T.L.* Negley, W. Thayer, G.L. Diamond, P.E. Goodrum; Syracuse Research Corporation   goodrum@syrres.com Abstract: Efforts to quantify oral bioavailability of metals often focus on deriving media-specific absorption fractions. However, for some metals, bioavailability for any medium is likely to vary as a function of meal times relative to exposure. Previous studies with lead in soil have demonstrated that bioavailability among adults is generally greater when exposures occur on an empty stomach. By understanding the relationship between interindividual variability in bioavailability under similar fasted states, as well as variability in meal patterns, it is possible to model the expected variability in bioavailability of metals among the general adult population for a variety of plausible exposure scenarios. Human health risks associated with environmental contamination of nickel is often determined by exposures via drinking water. Experimental estimates of nickel absorption in humans by Nielsen et al. (1999) suggests that, as with lead, absorption of water soluble nickel decreases as the time between the dose and meal decreases, and absorption appears to be lower in females, compared to males, when the nickel is ingested during a fasted state. In the current study, we used Monte Carlo simulation to combine these findings with meal consumption data from NHANES III, and drinking water consumption data from CSFII in order to estimate a meal-weighted average daily absorption of water soluble nickel in the U.S. adult male population. Variability in absorption is expressed as a function of variability in meal patterns, drinking water patterns, and human physiology. Preliminary results are used to develop a distribution for the absorption fraction of nickel in drinking water relative to the absorption fraction under a fed state. Since the oral RfD for nickel reflects a fed state, the relative absorption fraction may be used to reduce a source of uncertainty in estimates of non-cancer human health risks.

P1.24  Human Health Risk Assessment and Risk Communication for a Subsistence Population using the Northeast Cape, Saint Lawrence Island, Alaska. B.N Narloch, K.M. Rodriguez, L.K. Geist; MWH and USACE   bruce.narloch@mwhglobal.com Abstract: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Alaska District and MWH conducted a human health risk assessment for the Northeast Cape installation on St. Lawrence Island, Alaska. The assessment evaluated subsistence foods harvested in the site vicinity by members of the Siberian Yupik community. The military used the Northeast Cape area from the early 1950’s until 1972. Various contaminant releases occurred including spills of diesel fuel up to 180,000 gallons, and smaller releases of persistent organic pollutants including polychlorinated biphenyls to the Suqitughneq River. The Suqitughneq River is the primary surface drainage feature at the Northeast Cape, and ultimately discharges to the Bering Sea. Local residents harvest anadromous fish (e.g., salmon and Dolly Varden) and marine mammals from coastal waters and inland streams surrounding Northeast Cape. Exposure assessment methods included the performance of a site-specific subsistence food use survey, and collection of fish tissue samples from the Suqitughneq River and a reference location. Polychlorinated biphenyl concentrations in fish tissues collected from the Suqitughneq River were not significantly different (p<0.05) from those obtained from a hydrologically distinct watershed unimpacted by historic military operations. The polychlorinated biphenyl concentrations in fish tissue samples collected from both locations were within the range of concentrations reported in the global marketplace. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons were detected in fish tissue samples collected from the Suqitughneq River but not in samples collected from the reference location. However, the primary risk driver was arsenic, which was detected in equal concentrations in fish tissue samples collected from both locations. High ambient levels of arsenic are observed throughout Alaska. This project demonstrated the importance of site-specific dietary and reference sampling data to exposure assessment and risk communication activities.

P1.25  Development of a Sub-Acute Oral Reference Dose for Selenium and Probabilistic Risk Assessment on a Selenium Impacted Regional of Southeast Idaho. W.E. Wright, B.N. Narloch; MWH   bruce.narloch@mwhglobal.com Abstract: On behalf of the Selenium Committee of the Idaho Mining Association, MWH conducted a five-year investigation on the potential impacts of phosphate mining operations on human and ecological uses of a 1,200 square mile area of rural lands located in Southeast Idaho. Evidence of elevated selenium body burdens in elk harvested from Game Management Units 76 and 66A led to concerns regarding potential human health effects in hunters from consumption of selenium-impacted animals. Skeletal muscle concentrations of selenium were below the 1 mg/kg limit established by the USDA for commercial beef. However, selenium concentrations in elk livers up to 13 mg/kg were measured in impacted elk. MWH performed a risk assessment to evaluate Idaho Department of Environmental Quality concerns regarding human consumption of elk organ meats including livers. The USEPA has developed a chronic oral RfD for selenium of 0.005 mg/kg-day, based on long-term human exposures in a seleniferous area of China. However, the USEPA RfD was deemed too conservative for evaluating potential short-term consumption of elk livers harvested from the study area (i.e., hunting permits are limited to one elk per hunter per season). Therefore, MWH conducted a detailed search of the available sub-chronic toxicological literature for selenium, and identified a range of doses without observed effects in humans following sub-acute exposures. A clinical study in which a daily selenium intake up to 0.050 mg/kg-day body weight for several weeks was tolerated without clinical signs of poisoning or detectable effects on human lymphocytes was used to identify a sub-acute NOAEL. A NOAEL of 0.050 mg/kg-day was divided by a safety factor of 3 to generate a sub-acute oral RfD of 0.017 mg/kg-day. A stochastic risk assessment based on the derived sub-acute RfD suggests that hunters have a 0.1% probablilty of experiencing minor symptoms of selenium toxicity from consumption of elk livers harvested from the study area.

P1.26  The Selection of Sampling and Analysis Methods for Indoor Air Evaluations. Nadine Weinberg, Shawn Sager; ARCADIS   mbock@arcadis-us.com Abstract: Evaluation of volatile chemicals released from soil and groundwater into indoor air at residential, commercial, and industrial facilities has increased dramatically in recent years. Although modeling tools are available and widely used (e.g., Johnson and Ettinger, 1991) their usefulness and accuracy is often unclear. The direct monitoring of chemical concentrations eliminates much of the uncertainly associated with modeling. A variety of sampling methodologies and analysis methods are available for air monitoring (e.g. summa canisters, sorbent tubes, and carbon traps). Little guidance is available on the selection of appropriate methods to unsure the data is of sufficient quality to meet the objectives. The authors compared the detection limits associated with various techniques to OSHA and EPA screening values for selected volatile chemicals in indoor air. Our comparisons show that detection limits vary widely between analytical methods. For example, selective ion monitoring mass detection provides lower detection limits than scan mode mass detection. However, this increased sensitivity comes at the expense of a reduced analyte list and increased costs. These comparisons show that sampling methods and analysis methods must be matched to the required detection limits to meet the required data quality objectives while controlling costs. If detection limits are not considered, collecting and analyzing new samples may be required to demonstrate compliance to standards and/or acceptable health risks.

Preparedness and Perceptions for Terrorism/Extreme Events

P1.27  Systematic Emergency Response Planning for Hospitals. H.M. Hartmann, L.A. Nieves, S.R. Filer; Argonne National Laboratory   hmhartmann@anl.gov Abstract: The relatively recent emphasis on the possibility of terrorist attacks has resulted in the need for hospitals to re-examine their plans and readiness for all types of emergencies, ranging from natural disasters (i.e., floods, tornadoes) to the possibility of a bioterrorism attack or an outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS). Argonne National Laboratory has developed a software tool, the “Emergency Response Synchronization Matrix” (ERSM), as a framework for developing and documenting comprehensive plans. ERSM provides a systematic structure for displaying the activities needed in the event of a specific emergency, the appropriate sequence of the activities, the activity implementer, and resources needed for each activity. The process of creating the ERSM charts for various hazard scenarios is beneficial in itself, in terms of identifying gaps or weaknesses in existing plans and policies. After the ERSM charts are developed, they can be tested through tabletop drills, in which the various implementers are required to respond to a hypothetical emergency situation. This poster presentation outlines the key components of the ERSM planning process and discusses the lessons learned in pilot tests and tabletop drills at several large hospitals.

P1.28  Individual Differences in Risk Perception: A Pre- and Post-9/11 Comparison. J.L. Hitchcock; University of Southern Maine, Lewiston   hitch@usm.maine.edu Abstract: The attacks of 9/11 constitute a watershed event in how United States citizens view issues of “risk” and “safety.” Given greatly increased social and political vigilance around terrorism, what is the nature of individual differences in the perception of this and other risks? The present research utilizes a cross-sectional comparison pre- and post-9/11 of individual variation in risk perceptions, including of the likelihood of “injury from terrorist attack.” Findings will be presented from analyses of data collected in 1996-‘97 and 2004 from 109 and 143 adults, respectively, attending a “commuter campus” in a small northern New England city. The samples are comparable demographically, with no statistically significant differences in gender, age, parenting status, semesters attending college, or household income. The average age of the two samples was 33.6 and 34.2 years; the majority of respondents at both times were female. The detailed questionnaire combined measures of risk perception drawn from the psychometric literature as well as measures earlier developed for research on individual differences in cognitive and emotional dispositions relevant to risk. As predicted, a significant group difference, pre- and post-9/11, was found in ratings of the likelihood of personally experiencing “injury from terrorist attack” in the next five years, the average rating shifting upwards in 2004. Nonetheless, nearly 40% of the respondents in 2004 rated their risk as either “no chance at all” or “1 in a million.” Analyses of the earlier data revealed that higher perceived risk of injury from terrorist attacks was correlated with a greater belief in chance, lower levels of attitudes of “self-worth,” and the recent experience of life change events. Analyses of the 2004 data will re-visit these and other potential correlates towards examining the nature of individual differences in the perception of a category of risk that has recently moved to the forefront of public attention.

P1.29  Communicating uncertainty following a chemical, biological and radiological attack. B T Sheppard; King's Centre for Risk Management   ben.sheppard@kcl.ac.uk Abstract: Drawing upon the lessons of the 2001 anthrax attacks in America and the 1995 sarin attack on Tokyo’s subway system, the presentation will assess the societal responses to chemical, biological and radiological (CBR) attacks and the unique characteristics for effective risk communication and emergency response strategies. Prior to this the presentation will first assess the variables of control and certainty influencing the public’s perception of fear and anxiety caused by terrorism. As oppose to attacks using conventional weapons (eg. high explosives) where there is a higher degree of certainty surrounding the lethality of an attack, the ambiguity concerning a CBR strike can cause complications for authorities in identifying the nature of the threat and convey what measures the public should embark upon. Examples include the 2001 anthrax attacks where there lacked published data concerning secondary aerolisation of anthrax spores indoors. In 2001 data focused on the release of anthrax outdoors. The challenge became having to alter the advice given to the US Postal Service and the public upon acquiring further details of the lethality of the anthrax spores without loosing credibility and trust. With potentially a higher degree of uncertainty surrounding the lethality of a CBR device and emergency response strategies to CBR events, the presentation will suggest pre- and post-incident risk communication should include informing the public to expect a degree of uncertainty in the initial interpretation of a device’s lethality and what measures the targeted populace will be advised to take in the event of a CBR attack. Without this there runs the risk that uncertainty exhibited by authorities following a CBR incident may be interpreted by the public as incompetence. Individuals may then take actions to minimise risk to them that could be detrimental to their own safety and hinder an effective response by authorities.

P1.30  What do Canadians think about Terrorism? – An investigation of Terrorism-related Imagery and Perceived Risk in a Representative Sample of Canadians. L Lemyre, J Lee; University of Ottawa, Canada   jlee007@uottawa.ca Abstract: Terrorism is increasingly being recognized as a threat to which no country is immune. In light of this, the Canadian federal Government has launched a campaign to encourage counter-terrorism research with the goal of improving preparedness. Since fear and threat are the active ingredients in terrorism, improving preparedness begins with a better understanding of the way that members of the public perceive the risk. As part of the 2004 Health Canada-funded National Health Risk Perception Study, 1503 Canadians representative of the Canadian population in terms of age, gender, income, education, and province of residence were surveyed on their thoughts and perceptions about risks from terrorism. Using a word association task (Benthin et al., 1995; Slovic et al.; 1989; 1991), Canadians were asked to identify the words or images that come to mind when they think about risks from terrorism. Terrorism was also rated on level of risk, in addition to a number of dimensions proposed to play a role in perceptions of risk such as controllability, knowledge, and acceptability using a Likert-type scale (Fischhoff, Slovic, Lichtenstein, Read, & Combs, 1978; Slovic, 1987). Canadians most frequently referred to concrete events in their word associations, and almost exclusively to the events of September 11th, 2001. References were also frequently made to weapons, terrorist groups, and to emotional responses. Consistent with previous literature, multivariate analyses demonstrated that perceptions of the risk of terrorism (to both Canadians in general and to the self) were associated with degree of worry, knowledge, and uncertainty associated with terrorism. Results are discussed in terms of their implications on policy in a Canadian context. *This research was made possible with funding from Health Canada. A special thanks to Graham Gaylord for his contribution.

P1.31  Guiding Principles in Modeling and Managing Homeland Security Risk. V Guthrie; ABS Consulting Inc.   vguthrie@absconsulting.com Abstract: No organization or country has the resources necessary to adequately protect all potential security targets. Ultimately, only a small fraction of these targets can receive the funding required for meaningful security risk reduction. This requires security managers/decision makers to make difficult security resource allocation choices. Security risk is fundamentally different from safety and other risks because of the intentional desire to do harm. This difference must be taken into account in modeling expected security-related losses and in defining cost-effective strategies for reducing these expected losses to an acceptable level. Ultimately, both security risk and non-security risk must be considered in the overall allocation of risk management resources. Thus, the security manager/decision maker needs high certainty that the allocated risk resources will provide the desired reduction in security risk. This paper presents guiding principles for modeling and managing homeland security risk and describes the practical implementation of these principles.

P1.32  Multiple Regression with Scaled Dummy Variable as a Model for Extreme Values. N.-J. Park, K.M. George, N. Park; Oklahoma State University   {noh,kmg}@cs.okstate.edu Abstract: In this paper, we propose Multiple Regression with Scaled Dummy Variable (MRSDV) as a model for analyzing extreme values. This model is expected to serve as the theoretical foundation for ad-hoc risk management system (ARMS). ARMS and MRSDV focus on the forecast and management of risky events of concern and the Gumbel distribution is employed to measure and enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of forecasting and management of risky yet extreme values in the range of ad-hoc events. The proposed Gumbel Distribution-based MRSDV specifically aims at forecasting terror related events. Extensive numerical simulation results will be provided to demonstrate the efficiency and effectiveness of the proposed method.

P1.33  Managing the Anthrax Remediation Process: Addressing Risk Assessment, Management and Communication Issues at the Department of State Mail Facility. J Kelly, DA Canter, T Sgroi, T Bundy; US Environmental Protection Agency and US Department of State   canter.dorothy@epa.gov Abstract: In a series of bioterrorism attacks in 2001, letters containing weapons-grade Bacillus anthracis (B.a.) spores were sent through the US. mail system. Eleven persons developed inhalational anthrax, of whom five died. One of the survivors was a postal worker at the Department of State (DOS) mail facility (SA-32) in Sterling, VA. Initial environmental sampling revealed widespread B.a. contamination in the facility, and the DOS concluded that the facility needed to be fumigated. The DOS established a multi-disciplinary Technical Working Group (TWG) to provide expert advice to the DOS Project Manager on all facets of the remediation process, including the preparation of the Remedial Action Plan and the post-remediation Sampling and Analysis Plan. The DOS also created an independent Environmental Clearance Committee (ECC) to review the cleanup following completion and make recommendations on whether the facility was safe for re-occupancy. Throughout the remediation process the DOS undertook coordinated activities to keep the multiple stakeholders involved in the process. These three activities led to a highly successful and uneventful remediation. This paper will provide data on the roles of the TWG, ECC, and stakeholders in addressing the risk assessment, risk management and risk communication activities associated with the SA-32 cleanup process.

P1.34  RISK ANALYSIS OF THE CHERNOBYL ACCIDENT CONSEQUENCES. N.I. Borodyanskiy; International Solomon University   naumb@list.ru Abstract: In the report presented risk analysis of the different Chernobyl consequences is done. The greatest technological catastrofe affected many countries cousing the cancellation of the different nuclear power programmes and became a turning point for the world nuclear industry strategy. Such factors as economical, health effects, liquidators problems, different aspects of sarcophagus modernization are described. The analysis of wider governmental actions in the areas of emergency prevention and responce, rehabilitation measures is done. The recommendations for different international cooperation projects in the above mentioned fields are given. The main priorities are underlined in the fields of joint international projects develop- ment within the frame of United Nation Agencies, NATO, European Council. and European Union programmes, International Risk Governance Council.