Association of Government Toxicologists

Current Environmental Risk Assessments: Getting Ready for Century 21 

Michael Leonard Dourson, Ph.D., DABT, ATS   
President, Toxicology Excellence for Risk Assessment (www.tera.org) Cincinnati, Ohio  45211, USA     

 

 7:00 pm, Thursday May 5, 2011   

Preceded by AGT's traditional buffet available from 6:00 pm

 U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission

4330 East-West Highway, 4th Floor Bethesda, MD 20814

 

The Abstract:

Current environmental risk assessment is akin to preventive medicine.  Such assessment uses a mixture of traditional and contemporary methods based in part of concepts such as critical effect, No Observed Adverse Effect Level (NOAEL), PBPK, benchmark dose (BMD), categorical regression, and Chemical Specific Adjustment Factor (CSAF).  Challenges for risk assessment scientists include, among others, thinking like a clinician, challenging non-experts, and choosing among a limited number of dose response assessment techniques that generally focus on thresholds or their lack.  The future of environmental risk assessment will depend on creative solutions for current problems that necessitate collaboration in both the assessment and research into chemicals’ modes of action.  Indeed, we will all need to “Hang together, or hang separately” (paraphrased B. Franklin) for us to do credible risk assessment work on the plethora of chemicals in our environment.

 

The Guest Speaker:

 

Dr. Dourson is the President of Toxicology Excellence for Risk Assessment (www.tera.org) 2300 Montana Avenue, Suite 409, Cincinnati, Ohio  45211 USA, dourson@tera.org Ph.D., Toxicology, University of Cincinnati (1980) Diplomate, American Board of Toxicology (1985, 1990, 1995, 2000, 2005, 2010) Fellow of the Academy of Toxicological Sciences (2007) Fellow of the Society for Risk Analysis (2009) Michael Dourson founded Toxicology Excellence for Risk Assessment (TERA), a nonprofit corporation with a mission to protect public health. TERA develops partnerships among government, industry and other interested groups to address risk assessments of high visibility, such as formaldehyde, perchlorate, chloroform, and soluble nickel, and cooperative ventures such as the Voluntary Children’s Chemical Exposure Program (VCCEP), the International Toxicity Estimates for Risk (ITER) database (available at the National Library of Medicine’s ToxNet), and the Alliance for Risk Assessment (ARA).  Prior to TERA, Michael worked 15 years for EPA, holding several leadership roles and winning numerous awards for joint efforts, such as the creation of EPA’s Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS).  In 2003, he was selected for the Society of Toxicology’s Arnold J. Lehman award for major contributions that improve the scientific basis of risk assessment. In 2007, he was elected as a Fellow of the Academy of Toxicological Sciences.  In 2009, he was selected for the International Society of Regulatory Toxicology and Pharmacology’s International Achievement Award in recognition of his outstanding contributions nationally and internationally to the advancement of regulatory science.   In 2009, he was also selected as a Fellow for the Society for Risk Analysis for substantial achievement in science relating to risk analysis and service to SRA.    

 

Please RSVP by sending email to ahmokad@msn.com  before May 4, 2011. Please use in the email subject: Registration for May 2011 Seminar  

New Location for AGT Meeting :  U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission 4330 East-West Highway, 4th Floor Bethesda, MD 20814

 

CPSC is located in Bethesda Towers, which is across the street from Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School.  We are in the North Tower, which is one of 3 buildings that make up Bethesda Towers.  The North Tower is at 4330 East-West Highway, which is the tower farthest from the Metro/Wisconsin Avenue.  Take the elevator to the 4 th  floor.  The meeting is in room 410 B/C.  

 

CPSC is 2½ blocks from Bethesda Station on the Red Line, and about 2 miles from the Capital Beltway.  Underground parking is available until 7:00 p.m.  There are public garages and street parking with 2 blocks.   The building and garage entrances are locked at 7:00 p.m., so please arrive on time.  

 

Directions by Metro Rail

 At the top of the long escalator, turn right and go through the pedestrian tunnel, through the glass doors, up the short escalator, and out the doors in front of you. You'll be on East-West Highway. Turn right and walk about 2½ blocks to CPSC's offices -- in the last of three very large white office buildings -- on your right (4330 East-West Highway). Take the elevator to the 4th floor.  

 

Driving Directions from the Capital Beltway Inner Loop (East Bound)  

1. Exit South to Wisconsin Avenue (also called Rte. 355/Rockville Pike) into downtown Bethesda.

2. Get in the left lane and pass the major intersection of Wisconsin Avenue, Old Georgetown Road, and East-West Highway. (You can't turn left onto East-West Highway; it's one-way.) 3. Turn left at the next intersection onto Montgomery Avenue. Keep in the left lane and bear left when the road splits at East-West Highway.

4. CPSC's offices will come up very quickly on your left (look for very large white office buildings). Turn left into the driveway and follow the signs to the underground parking garage.

5. Take the elevator in the North tower/building to the fourth floor to the Guard Station.

 

From the Capital Beltway Outer Loop (West Bound)  

1. Exit South to Connecticut Avenue (also called Rte. 185).

2. Pass the major intersection at Jones Bridge Road.  

3. Turn right at East-West Highway.

4. CPSC's offices are on your left (look for very large white office buildings). Turn left into the driveway and follow the signs to the underground parking garage.

5. Take the elevator in the North tower/building to the fourth floor to the Guard Station. Note that East-West Highway is one-way (Westbound) in the area near CPSC.  The East bound alternate is Montgomery Ave. 

Note

Note that East-West Highway is one-way (Westbound) in the area near CPSC.  The Eastbound alternate is Montgomery Ave.

Parking

There is underground parking at Bethesda Towers, but you must arrive by 7:00 p.m.  (You can leave any time, but you cannot enter after 7:00).  The cost is $3 is you arrive after 6:00 p.m., and $6 if you arrive between 5:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m.  There is free street parking behind and on the East side of BCC high school after 5:00 p.m.  A metered public parking garage is located at Montgomery Ave. and Waverly St. about two blocks away.  Parking is also available at the Air Rights Center on Montgomery Ave.  

Security The conference room is in a public area, so there is no need to go through security.  However, the building entrance is locked at 7:00 p.m., so please arrive before then.    Questions

For questions about meeting logistics contact Mike Babich at 301-504-7253 or mbabich@cpsc.gov.  If you encounter any difficulties on the evening of the meeting, call Mike’s cell phone 240-620-2900.

 

Bethesda Map