"MANHAZ" MANAGEMENT OF HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARDS
FP5 Contract: EVG1-CT-2002-8001 MANHAZ

Management of Health and Environmental Hazards

"MANHAZ"

Problems to be solved

Protecting human health, welfare, and the environment in an increasingly complex world is a major challenge for the global community. The cumulative risk analysis process provides an approach for improving our understanding of risks and impacts in a full, real-world context. Integrated information about the range of possible effects of contaminants and other stressors, and of different actions that can be taken to address them, can lead to stronger policies for achieving a healthy, sustainable environment. While the cumulative risk process continues to evolve and has many conceptual variations, continued progress in health and environmental protection is a common underlying theme.

Scientific objectives and approach

1. to apply advanced scientific approach and technologies in management of environmental risk,

2. to enhance the combined understanding of multiple health and resource factors and their interrelationships, to better inform decisions made to protect ourselves and our environment,

3. to become a catalyst for improved environmental decisions through sound risk management.

The main targets of the Centre

1. to create a common forum both for developers of the models for risk assessment, management of major accidents and decision support systems, and for members of emergency centres, inspectors of environmental protection and people responsible for safety management in chemical plants. The forum will enable to initiate a broader discussion and interaction, both to provide essential feedback to the developers and to familiarise the users with the nature and level of support they can expect in practice,

2. to consolidate efforts of experts in environmental protection to include advanced models in the currently used software,

3. to familiarise a broad spectrum of specialists working in the field of environmental protection with new trends in mathematical methods used in risk assessment.