The public authorities are alerted to emerging risks by published research studies
and the media and find themselves in need of technical support for their decision-making.
Data on exposure, transport and fate are crucial in clearly demonstrating
that an identified emerging substance is becoming a real threat to public health
and the environment.
These data are often lacking in the case of emerging substances and measurement methods
are often at the research level.
Further research is therefore needed. But it is also necessary to prepare suitable protocols
and validate them in order to ensure wide data comparability.
The role of
national reference laboratories is crucial in the appraisal of emerging risks.
A network of national reference laboratories will serve the following purposes:
-
Maintaining a scientific watch (observatory) in order to advise authorities
and anticipate research needs
-
Identifying, thanks to direct involvement in research programmes,
potential participants for starting further research projects
-
Bringing together partners to organise the application of measurement methods
at the regulatory level (e.g. preparation and validation of protocols,
organisation of inter-laboratory studies, etc..)
