MERLIN-Expo: An integrated advanced chemicalsexposure assessment tool for legislation requirements

The assessment of exposure and risks to human health from chemicals is of major concern for policy and ultimately benefits all citizens. The objective of the 4FUN project, funded under the EU 7th Framework Programme, is to merge and integrate advanced exposure assessment methodologies in a common tool (MERLIN-Expo), allowing the building of complex scenarios involving several pollution sources and targets. For example, using the river, soil, plant and animal models, available on the tool, it is possible to estimate concentrations of chemicals in these media in order to evaluate the risk to exceed a given regulatory threshold for environmental risk. Furthermore, coupling these models with a human ingestion model it is possible to evaluate the risk to exceed a given regulatory threshold for human health. The development and operational fusion of the advanced exposure assessment methodologies envisaged in the MERLIN-Expo tool will have a significant impact on several sectorial policies dealing with chemicals' management. There are more than 30 agencies in Europe related to exposure and risk evaluation of chemicals. These agencies have an important role in implementing EU policies, especially tasks of a technical, scientific, operational and/or regulatory nature. Therefore, the scope of MERLIN-Expo Tool is to facilitate policymaker's work for updating and improving the regulations.