The dangers of pesticides linked to Parkinson's disease, the increased risk of cancer for people living near Tata Steel or Chemours factories, and the potential health risks of PFAS in sea foam or cosmetics – we are inundated with information and warnings about the toxicity of the chemicals we are exposed to in our daily lives as residents, consumers or professionals. Toxicologist Martin van den Berg provides a nuanced view of the potentially harmful effects and explains what we truly need to be concerned about.
Please note that this program will last until 13:40 hrs. It will not be possible to leave the hall earlier.
Our society has flourished over the last century thanks to the use of synthetic substances, but their presence is increasingly being questioned. What can still be considered safe when it comes to chemicals in products, food and the environment? Much improved analytical methods and the results of long-term epidemiological studies have increased our knowledge. At the same time, this means that we have to be particularly careful about the conclusions we draw. Martin van den Berg argues for a sound scientific approach to health risk assessment. He will explain how health risks are investigated and how they relate to the risks of other lifestyle factors, such as smoking. He will also discuss how misunderstandings and misinterpretations in the public debate can lead to unfounded policy decisions or even public fear.
About the speaker
Prof. Dr. Martin van den Berg is an Emeritus Professor in Toxicology (since November 2019) at Utrecht University. He is also appointed as an honorary professor in Environmental Toxicology at the University of Queensland (Brisbane) and a visiting professor at the Royal Chulabhorn Research Institute and Graduate School in Bangkok. His research includes a broad range of toxicological topics, such as effects of mixtures of organic persistent pollutants and interactions of endocrine chemicals on steroidogenesis. He is actively involved in the international risk assessment process and the development of regulatory guidelines. Over the last decades, he chaired or participated in many expert meetings organized by e.g. the WHO, FAO and IARC. As a consultant toxicologist, he is also attached to the Police National Unit, Specialist Operations Service. Currently he is also Editor-in-Chief of Current Opinion in Toxicology and Regulatory Toxicology & Pharmacology from Elsevier.
Ticket reservation recommended
To be assured of a seat, we recommend reserving a ticket (black "order" button).
SG & USE/ITEC registration
Please register for SG & USE/ITEC by scanning your student ID at the venue prior to the start of the program.
More information about SG & USE/ITEC can be found here.