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Joint project on Benchmark Dose modelling with RIVM

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The present document has been produced and adopted by the bodies identified above as author(s). In accordance with Article 36 of Regulation (EC) No 178/2002, this task has been carried out exclusively by the author(s) in the context of a grant agreement between the European Food Safety Authority and the author(s). The present document is published complying with the transparency principle to which the Authority is subject. It cannot be considered as an output adopted by the Authority. The European Food Safety Authority reserves its rights, view and position as regards the issues addressed and the conclusions reached in the present document, without prejudice to the rights of the authors.

Abstract

A web application for PROAST, a software package for BMD modelling, was developed to make the use of the BMD approach significantly easier for toxicologists and risk assessors. In addition, model averaging was included in the software, for the most frequently occurring types of data in toxicological studies. The PROAST web application now allows for applying model averaging for the case of both quantal and continuous data, as well as for combined datasets (dose‐response data for different subgroups), and for developmental data with potential litter effects. The PROAST web application is generally considered as very user‐friendly by toxicologists and risk assessors, which will favour the acceptance and wider use of the BMD approach. The comprehensive implementation of model‐averaging in the tool will lead to more harmonized results from BMD analyses in general, and more harmonized values of the RPs (reference points) for risk assessments.