Assessment of mixtures : review of regulatory requirements and guidance

Humans and the environment are continuously exposed to a multitude of substances via different routes of exposure. However, the risk assessment of chemicals for regulatory purposes does not generally take into account the "real life" exposure to multiple substances, but mainly relies on the assessment of individual substances. This report summarises the different methodologies that are used to assess the toxic effects of mixtures. It also provides an overview of current legislation in the European Union (EU) that deals with the safety assessment of chemicals in different matrices and the extent to which the current legislation addresses the toxicological risk of mixtures. Relevant Guidance Documents from the EU and other countries (USA, Canada) and international organisations, such as the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) are also included in this review.