Health Risk Analysis and Characterization

Risk cluuacterizaiion is tlie process of estimating tlie incidence of a health effect under the various conditions of human or animal exposure described in tlie exposure assessment. It is performed by combining the exposure (see Cliapter 

12) and dose response (see Cliapter 11) assessments. Tlie summary effects of the uncertainties in die preceding steps sliould also be described in tliis step. 

Hie quantitative estimate of the risk is tlie principal interest to tlie regulatory agency or risk manager making a decision. The risk manager must consider tlie results of tlie risk cliaracterization when evaluating tlie economics, societal aspects, and various benefits of the assessment. Factors such as societal pressure, technical uncertainties, and severity of tlie potential hazard influence how the decision makers respond to the risk assessment. As one iniglit suppose, there is room for improvement in this step of tlie risk assessment.  

A risk estimate indicates the likelihood of occurrence of the different types of health or enviromnental effects in exposed populations. Risk assessment should include both human healtli and environmental evaluations (i.e., impacts on ecosystems). Ecological impacts include actual and potential effects on plants and animal (otlier tlian domesticated species). Tlie numbers produced from the risk diaracterization, representing Uic probability of adverse health effects being caused, must be evaluated. 

Tliis brief introduction section is followed by a host of topics related to healtli risk analysis and characterization. The subject matter includes  

The authors gratefully acknowledge the assistance of Lou Carrea in researcliing, reviewing, and editing tliis chapter. 

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Health Risk Analysis and Characterization TABLE 13.2.1 Risk Level and Risk Rim> c... 

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