Programme T10 Workshop: Mixtures: Toxicology and Exposure

Thursday 7 July 2005

A first research review meeting for the programme was held in Leicester on 1 November 2004. The meeting provided an opportunity for all researches funded by the programme and representatives from the Agency and other government bodies to meet and to discuss plans and progress to date, exchange views and establish new collaborations.

In 2003, the Food Standards Agency started a research programme on the toxicology of and exposure to mixtures of pesticides and similar substances. Through the programme, the Agency commissions research that was recommended in a 2002 report by the Working Group on the Risk Assessment of Mixtures and Pesticides. The goal of the commissioned research is to provide the tools needed to study possible interactions between mixtures of pesticides and to underpin risk assessment of such mixtures.

The programme currently funds eight research projects and more projects will be added over the next two years.

Most projects are only just beginning or are at a very early stage, so few results are available as yet. However, subsequent annual review meetings will provide opportunities for researchers to present their results to each other and to the sponsors of the programme.