The LQM/CIEH Dose-Response Roadmaps

What are they?

Under Part 2A, a significant possibility of significant harm (SPOSH) to human health arises from an unacceptable intake of a contaminant. While toxicology has focussed on defining contaminant intakes that are tolerable or pose minimal risk, there have been no attempts to define unacceptable intakes that constitute SPOSH. Instead, the contaminated land community has thus far concentrated how far over a tolerable daily intake or index dose an exposure has to be for it to be unacceptable. However, such an approach ignores the vast quantity of toxicological information above a health criteria value that is available for each contaminant from toxicological and epidemiological studies.

An example UI roadmap showing the dose response cloud (surrounded by the red dotted line) at higher doses that the current health criteria value (green dotted line)

In July 2010, LQM and CIEH held a workshop to analyse the toxicological reviews underpinning the development of the ‘new’ Environment Agency SGVs and the 2nd Edition LQM/CIEH GAC.

The workshop outputs comprised initial dose-response datasets and charts (collectively termed ‘LQM/CIEH Dose-Response Roadmaps’) for a number of contaminants for both oral and inhalation pathways. The workshop outputs were subsequently built upon and peer reviewed leading to the development of Dose-Response Roadmaps for 18 of the most commonly encountered and difficult contaminants including arsenic, naphthalene and benzo(a)pyrene.

The Roadmaps employ a pioneering approach involving the meta-analysis of dose-response data for humans and animals to produce a visual indication of the toxicological data that can provide a rapid and cost-effective basis for interpreting site-specific exposure estimates (e.g. predicted by CLEA). In the absence of a quantitative definition of SPOSH, this tool will help local authorities and their advisors to determine whether SPOSH is likely to exist.

For each substance, the Roadmap comprises comprehensive dose-response charts (for oral, dermal and inhalation pathways as appropriate) showing the range of doses that correspond with observed health effects in humans and animals. This can be used by informed users to help evaluate SPOSH for any given site.

A more detailed description is provided on this LQM/CIEH Dose-Respose Roadmap brochure.

Licencing and registration

Organisations purchase an annual Licence to use The LQM/CIEH Dose-response Roadmaps. The annual licence fee is designed to provide revenue for the ongoing maintainance and development of the roadmaps; both updating the current substances and expanding the range of substances covered.

In order to use the Roadmaps an organisation must own a current licence and employ a Registered User to interpret them. A Registered User will need to attend one of our Registration Courses courses that explain the technical basis behind the Roadmaps, their purpose and limitations and how to use them to interpret exposure at potential Part2A sites. The Licence Fee covers the cost of one employee attending a Registration Course.

Details of the current prices are available in the LQM/CIEH Dose-Respose Roadmap brochure. Please download a copy of the licence agreement for further details; different versions are available for companies, local authorities and individuals. The Licence also includes details of minimum qualifications and experience for Registered Users. Details our training courses, including Registered User Courses, are available on our Training pages, or download a booking form.

LQM also offer a complimentary 1-year license, including one Registration Course for a LA employee, for every Local Authority commissioning LQM to carry out contaminated land work worth £5000 (excl. VAT) in a 12 month period.

How to order

Details of how to order the LQM/CIEH Dose-response Roadmaps are explained within the LQM/CIEH Dose-Respose Roadmap brochure. To reserve you copy and start to arrange a training course, please complete the form and return it to us

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