The Use of Systematic Review in EPA's Toxic Substances Control Act Risk Evaluations

Systematic review - a scientific investigation that focuses on a specific question and uses explicit, prespecified scientific methods to identify, select, assess, and summarize the findings of similar but separate studies - has become the foundation for assessing evidence to be used for decision making in a variety of health contexts, including health care and public health. At the request of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), this publication reviews EPA's 2018 guidance document Application of Systematic Review in TSCA (Toxic Substances and Control Act) Risk Evaluations and associated materials to determine whether the process is comprehensive, workable, objective, and transparent. Table of Contents Front Matter Summary 1 Introduction 2 Evaluation of the TSCA Systematic Review Approach 3 Crosscutting Issues with the TSCA Approach References Appendix A: Biographical Information on the Members of the Committee to Review EPA's TSCA Systematic Review Guidance Document Appendix B: Public Meeting Agendas Appendix C: Documents Reviewed by the Committee