The National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory (NHEERL), as part of the Environmental Protection Agency's Office of Research and Development (ORD), is responsible for conducting research to improve the risk assessment of chemicals for potential effects on human health. This research is intended to address key Agency problems in a timely and responsive manner. To meet this responsibility, NHEERL is developing research implementation plans to achieve the following objectives: Optimizing responsiveness of research activities to Agency needs; Sharpening the focus of research programs where needed; Providing a forum for engagement of scientific staff on issues and approaches; Focusing on multi-year planning explicitly linked to Agency performance goals; and Providing a mechanism for prioritizing research. This approach builds on the ORD planning process that identifies and prioritizes research needs. Current areas for research include protection of susceptible subpopulations, harmonization of risk assessment approaches, and improving aggregate and cumulative risk assessment in support of the Agency's Program and Regional Offices and legislative mandates, including the Safe Water Drinking Water Act, Clear Air Act, Toxic Substances Control Act, and Federal Insecticide Fungicide and Rodenticide Act. This document identifies the scientific problems and research that will be conducted concerning human health. The ultimate goal of this research is to develop scientifically valid approaches for improving human health risk assessment.

Includes bibliographical references.