Outline

Bioavailability of chemicals is impacted by many factors in both the environment in which the chemical exists and within the target organisms. There are still gaps in our knowledge of how these factors interact and how they impact human health and exposure risk. However, bioavailability has been identified by scientists and regulators as a key mechanism in the assessment of risk posed by contaminants in our environment. To be able to give bioavailability an accepted role in our regulation and risk assessment procedures, it is necessary to develop a common view on bioavailability.

The 2011 workshop will provide the opportunity for scientists, environmental consultants and regulators to exchange knowledge and experience on contaminant bioavailability and to further develop a common view on bioavailability.

The three-day event will include invited keynote addresses, platform and poster presentations. Platform presentations will be scheduled in a single daytime track, culminating in a combined panel discussion on the Friday afternoon. Breakout sessions will enable more detailed discussions. Major conference themes include:

1. Incorporating bioavailability in risk assessment and   
    decision making

• Bioavailability as a tool in risk assessment
• Application of bioavailability data to derive clean-up levels for site management
• Bioavailability – the underlying basis for sustainable remediation
• Developments in different countries

2. Role of bioavailability in site management

• Role of bioavailability in in-situ management of wastes and contaminated material
• Establishing the foundation of reduced bioavailability – basis for risk-based clean-up
• Remediation techniques to reduce bioavailability
• Case studies

3. Bioavailability assessment

• Speciation and bioavailability
• Bioavailability, bioaccessibility and mobility of environmental contaminants
• Information needs of regulation and standardised protocols
• Method development and validation studies

4. Role of bioavailability in new fields

• Climate change and its effects on bioavailability and contaminant biogeochemical cycles
• Engineered nanoparticles as contaminant carriers – implications for bioavailability, toxicity and bioaccumulation