HAWC

What HAWC is

HAWC is a free, web-based content management system for storing and synthesizing data used in human health and environmental risk assessments. Its modules cover study quality evaluation, data extraction from human epidemiology, animal bioassay and in vitro studies, evidence synthesis, and dose-response analysis. Assessment teams can assign managers, members, and reviewers role-based permissions to manage, view, or edit material. Anyone can view published content without an account. External users who want to collaborate on an ongoing assessment with EPA scientists must create a Login.gov account and request access to the EPA HAWC user group; an EPA system administrator reviews the request. Interactive visualizations connect study, experiment, endpoint, and dose information. Available datasets can be downloaded as Microsoft Excel files, and figures can be exported to PDF or other formats. EPA uses HERO, SWIFT Review, and DistillerSR for literature searches and screening before HAWC synthesizes study information. Benchmark dose modeling is performed endpoint by endpoint at the chemical manager’s discretion, and released outputs can be viewed publicly. HAWC supports most modern browsers, with Chrome preferred; functionality errors have been reported in Internet Explorer. Available visualizations are selected at the discretion of the chemical project manager and typically accompany assessment text.