A Risk Sciences International Case Study
Communication material on lithium in drinking water and health risks
Client:Â AWWA
Listing of the client in no way affirms the client's support, sponsorship, or validation in any form of Risk Sciences International or the RSI staff member(s) who conducted this project during their stay with RSI or prior to joining the company. This case study is displayed for informative purposes only to demonstrate the capacity of RSI staff members. This case study reveals no proprietary information or information deemed sensitive.
Project description:
Communication material on lithium in drinking water and health risks
To support public communication around emerging drinking water concerns, RSI was engaged to develop accessible, scientifically grounded materials on lithium exposure and its potential health effects. The work focused on equipping stakeholders with clear, credible information that could inform both internal understanding and broader public messaging.
Deliverables included a structured review and synthesis of current scientific literature, a well-designed summary report tailored for clarity and relevance, and an optional slide presentation suitable for webinar use. Initial consultations helped refine the communication goals, ensuring alignment with both expert and lay audiences. The process emphasized responsiveness to feedback from target users and stakeholders, culminating in finalized materials that reflected scientific integrity and practical communication value.
Experts related to this case study
Senior Analyst
Dr. Anne Wiles joined Risk Sciences International (RSI) in 2008, where she currently serves as a Senior Analyst specializing in risk communication, perception, and governance. With a distinctive blend of expertise in language, regulation, and the use of science in...
Vice-President Chemical and Product Safety
Dr. Franco Momoli joined Risk Sciences International (RSI) in 2019 and currently serves as Vice-President, Chemical and Product Safety. In this role, he leads a multidisciplinary team of epidemiologists, risk assessors, toxicologists, and biostatisticians in conducting human health risk assessments...
Vice-President Communications and Strategic Initiatives
Cemil ‘Jim’ Alyanak joined Risk Sciences International (RSI) in 2018 and serves as Vice-President, Communications and Strategic Initiatives. In this senior leadership role, he leads RSI’s risk communications practice, drives cross-cutting initiatives, advances strategic in-house projects, and expands the company’s...
More RSI Case Studies
RSI presents a very small selection of case studies to highlight some of its key work.
To support the Chemicals Management Plan under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act (CEPA), Health Canada sought expert peer consultation for a draft screening assessment report (DSAR) evaluating 47 inorganic substances identified as priorities. The client required independent scientific and technical...
Government authorities faced recurring challenges in communicating health risks from smoke caused by both wildfires and residential burning. While these events were becoming more frequent and more severe, the public health messages often failed to resonate with affected communities or...
Demonstrating the safe use of chemical mixtures remains a critical challenge in toxicological science. In recent years, studies have suggested that chemicals can exhibit dose additivity—causing a combined effect—even when each chemical individually is below its effect threshold. This project...
The client sought support to finalize a Commission Member Document (CMD) for the re‑licensing of a nuclear facility. Recognizing the complexity and sensitivity of reactor re‑licensing, they requested assistance in crafting communication materials that were both technically comprehensive and accessible...
In response to public and ministerial concerns about the timeliness and adequacy of information shared during a major prescription drug recall, Health Canada commissioned an independent review to assess its response to the event. The situation involved a recall of...
The World Health Organization and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations asked RSI to develop a suite of online tools to support food regulators and the food industry in applying risk-based approaches to food safety. These organizations...
The College of Physicians & Surgeons of Alberta (CPSA) commissioned a systematic review and meta-analysis to support evidence-informed decision-making around age-related cognitive decline among practicing physicians. The initiative was led by CPSA’s Physician Health Monitoring Program (PHMP), which sought to...
To support the quality and defensibility of regulatory decision-making under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 (CEPA), Health Canada engaged Risk Sciences International to coordinate an independent external peer review of the Draft Screening Assessment Report (DSAR) for Selected C3-C5...
UN-Habitat sought to establish a new global platform to bring coherence to international dialogue on sustainable urbanization. At the outset, this initiative had no name, no identity, and no governing structure, only the recognition that cities faced pressing challenges requiring...
In response to increasing public concern about the historical use of McIntyre Powder—an aluminum-based substance once administered to miners in Ontario to prevent silicosis—the client sought expert guidance on managing risk communication related to potential health implications. Widespread media coverage...
The Financial Consumer Agency of Canada (FCAC) engaged Risk Sciences International to provide strategic advisory services aimed at enhancing its regulatory compliance model through risk-based methodologies. FCAC’s objective was to explore new approaches that would integrate digital tools and data-driven...
To support more effective health policy and pandemic preparedness, this project examined how environmental health factors intersect with chronic disease and influence pandemic resilience. The client sought evidence to clarify how exposures to contaminants in air, water, and soil contribute...
Authorities in Vietnam sought targeted expertise to strengthen the country’s ability to detect, assess, and respond to food safety threats. This initiative had two linked objectives: building a comprehensive, transparent, and reliable national food safety information system, and enhancing risk...
An independent regulatory organization responsible for oversight of Alberta’s safety codes system sought to strengthen its capacity for risk-based decision-making. The organization aimed to ensure that regulatory actions—particularly in the area of petroleum storage tanks—were guided by clear, evidence-based prioritization...
To support international efforts in mitigating deliberate threats to the food system, the World Health Organization commissioned an update to its earlier guidance titled Terrorist Threats to Food. The revision aimed to broaden the original scope by addressing not only...
To enhance the effectiveness of health product risk communications, a systematic evaluation was requested to assess the performance of key instruments used to disseminate safety and efficacy information. The aim was to support efforts under the Evaluating the Effectiveness of...
To support the refinement and implementation of its ecological risk guidance, a federal department responsible for marine conservation engaged expert assistance in risk communication. The primary objective was to ensure that the national guidance for ecological risk assessment—developed as part...
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency sought RSI’s support in exploring how human health impacts from zoonotic diseases could be compared consistently with other public health risks. Traditionally, animal disease control decisions relied on veterinary and economic measures, but there was...
