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Community-based cumulative risk assessment (CBRA) is an approach to: 1) investigate multiple chemical and non-chemical stressors (e.g., psychosocial stress, violence, poverty, poor nutritional status) faced by a community; and 2) work in partnership with the community to instill confidence and trust among the public.

EPA’s Human Health Research Program (HHRP) has a long-term goal to understand how cumulative exposures affect human health. Additionally, HHRP has an objective to understand more about community risk from exposure to both chemical and non-chemical stressors.

What is a "stressor"?

A stressor is any physical, chemical, or biological entity that can induce an adverse response. A stressor may also be the lack of an essential entity, such as a habitat. (EPA Framework for Cumulative Risk Assessment, 2002)

From: “Population-based assessments start with the receptors…” of the EPA Framework for Cumulative Risk Assessment document (pdf) found on the EPA Risk Assessment Forum Web site.  Online at: http://cfpub.epa.gov/ncea/raf/recordisplay.cfm?deid=54944
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