It is unimaginable to think of a society without substances and their derivatives. However, production, storage and removal of these substances can pose risks, both to humans and to the environment. 

Risk assessment
Some substances can pose dangers to both humans and the environment through food, consumer products, soil, water and air. Besides doing research on these substances, RIVM also evaluates the associated risk in Dutch society, for example, in the case of calamites where exposure is short but extreme or where it is long and drawn out.

Relationship between environment and public health
There is research taking place on the relationship between impacts on the environment and human health. RIVM’s role here is to develop methods and models to improve risk assessments. RIVM also advises the Dutch government on setting standards for risks and adopting measures to deal with risks. This task is also carried out via RIVM’s participation in a number of national and international bodies carrying out risk assessment with respect to humans and the environment. 

RIVM’s website forms an excellent platform for disseminating information on risks and standards for substances (in Dutch only). One of the publications advertised here highlights the influence of the environment and physical surroundings on health and well-being (see, for example, the link to the website, ‘Health and the Environment’ (in Dutch only). 

A second source of information available via the RIVM website is formed by the Bureau for Genetically Modified Organisms(GGO) (in Dutch only) and the Chemical Substances Bureau (BMS).