Hazard identification animal bioassays

The first step in risk assessment is to gather health-related information associated with an exposure. Ideally, hazard identification starts before there is significant use of the agent. The structure of the compound is compared with that of compounds with known toxicity profiles. Cell-based studies are often performed to screen for toxicity. Finally, animal bioassays and human studies are performed to characterize and develop a toxicity profile. Multiple health-related endpoints are evaluated to determine if the compound is associated with adverse effects. Advantages of animal studies include experimental control and accurate knowledge of the dose. 

Hazard identification as determined from an adequate assessment of data from chronic/cancer bioassays in animals has been reviewed in Maronpot (1994), Health... 

The importance of continuing refinement and improvement of the hazard identification and risk assessment process based on newly developed scientific information may be illustrated by another example using a pesticide, DB or ethylene dibromide. Critics of cancer risk assessment based on animal bioassays frequently make reference to a paper by Ramsey 21). In that paper ( ),... 

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