Risk at a glance
The Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) prepares health assessments for the areas of food, consumer products and chemicals. These scientific opinions are then published on the BfR website together with easily understandable lead paragraphs. As a new service, the results of the opinions will be summarised graphically in future on the BfR website. "In this way, the readers and affected consumer groups will be able to grasp the severity of possible health impairments, the data basis and the controllability of the risk quickly and easily," says BfR President Professor Dr. Dr. Andreas Hensel. "BfR risk profiles enhance the transparency of scientific risk assessment for laymen and experts alike". The risk profile was presented today at the joint symposium ´What really does threaten our lives? Statistical assessment of health risks` organised by the German Consortium in Statistics (DAGStat) and the BfR.
The conveyance of scientific assessments in a clear and concise manner is the main focus of BfRshort forGerman Federal Institute for Risk Assessment risk profiles. With the risk profile, the readers can quickly recognise the circumstances and main characteristics of the risk assessed in the BfRshort forGerman Federal Institute for Risk Assessment opinion. The chart is structured as a table containing the following information: affected groups of persons, probability and severity of impaired health in the event of exposureExposureTo glossary, validity of the available data and possibilities for consumers to control the risk through such measures as avoidance or caution.
BfRshort forGerman Federal Institute for Risk Assessment risk profiles offer value added to all addressees of the BfRshort forGerman Federal Institute for Risk Assessment opinions. The graphic presentation of the risk characteristics increases the transparency of BfRshort forGerman Federal Institute for Risk Assessment risk assessments through standardised terminology, thus improving comprehensibility. An illustration of the risk profile, the opinions with the risk profile already added and other information can be found on the BfRshort forGerman Federal Institute for Risk Assessment homepage at External Link:http://www.bfr.bund.de/en/bfr_risk_profile-186391.html.
The BfRshort forGerman Federal Institute for Risk Assessment risk profile was developed by the BfRshort forGerman Federal Institute for Risk Assessment in various internal and external test phases in cooperation with scientists from various disciplines. It now enters a three-month evaluation phase during which readers can send their comments on the BfRshort forGerman Federal Institute for Risk Assessment risk profile to the BfRshort forGerman Federal Institute for Risk Assessment at risikoprofil@bfr.bund.de.
Risk profiles supplement BfRshort forGerman Federal Institute for Risk Assessment opinions and are based on the BfRshort forGerman Federal Institute for Risk Assessment Guideline for Health Assessments. They will be contained in future in all suitable opinions published by the BfRshort forGerman Federal Institute for Risk Assessment in the internet. Their purpose is not, however, to compare various risks with one another and they should only be read in conjunction with the related opinion.
About the BfR
The Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfRshort forGerman Federal Institute for Risk Assessment) is a scientific institution within the portfolio of the Federal Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Consumer Protection (BMELV). It advises the Federal Government and Federal Laender on questions of food, chemical and product safety. The BfRshort forGerman Federal Institute for Risk Assessment conducts its own research on topics that are closely linked to its assessment tasks.