Literature/Technical Review

Literature reviews are structured, comprehensive analyses of existing scientific and technical research on a specific topic.  In the environmental sciences, literature reviews synthesize findings from peer-reviewed studies, regulatory reports, and grey literature to provide a clear, evidence-based understanding of complex issues.

Why literature reviews matter?

Literature reviews provide a defensible and transparent synthesis of information that supports informed decision-making and can help organizations:

• Understand the current state of knowledge on environmental contaminants
• Support risk assessments and regulatory submissions
• Inform environmental monitoring and management strategies
• Identify research needs and uncertainties
• Provide credible, science-based evidence for stakeholders and decision-makers

How Intrinsik can help

Intrinsik’s environmental group is experienced in completing different types of literature reviews on behalf of industry and government agencies, and in support of expert testimony preparation and litigation support, on a variety of topics relating to toxicology, epidemiology, environmental contaminants, human and ecological risk assessment and occupational health.

Intrinsik experts are knowledgeable of the principles of the US National Toxicology Program’s Office of Health Assessment and Translation framework and the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions. Reviews completed by Intrinsik staff have employed the use of PECO statements (Populations, Exposures, Comparators and Outcomes) for the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis) and elements of GRADE (Grades of Recommendation, Assessment, Development and Evaluation). Simpler, focused literature reviews on specific themes also have been completed for clients, depending on their needs – for example, review of specific products or chemicals in support of industry environmental stewardship and responsible-use programs.

The Intrinsik team has experience with the innovative Distiller SR® software for the management of literature search data, resource screening and data extraction. Other software that has been used by Intrinsik includes SWIFT-Review® (Sciome LLC), Health Assessment Workspace Collaborative (HAWC) and RevMan® (Cochrane Reviews). In addition, Intrinsik has completed regulatory or jurisdictional “scans” of information available from governmental and non-governmental agencies on various topics relating to human health and ecological risk.

Examples of literature reviews completed by Intrinsik:

• Adverse health effects of chemical exposures (arsenic, boron, chloride, benzene, dioxins and furans, formaldehyde, lead, hydrogen sulphide (H₂S), methanol, sulphur dioxide (SO₂), petroleum hydrocarbons, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), borate cross-linkers)
• Estimated exposures to per and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS)
• Safety of polyacrylamides additives
• Evaluation of jurisdictional approaches to managing food consumption advisories for environmental contaminants
• Food security and traditional food consumption
• Health impact assessment
• Human exposure factors for use in risk assessment
• Mental health
• Radon in indoor air
• Review of potential health impacts of municipal solid waste (MSW) on human health
• Risk assessment tools and approaches
• Specific health conditions as they relate to environmental contaminants (liver and kidney disease, multiple chemical sensitivity)