Standard Setting Threshold Effects

In the hazard assessment process, described in detail in Chapter 4, all effects observed are evaluated in terms of the type and severity (adverse or non-adverse), their dose-response relationship, and the relevance for humans of the effects observed in experimental animals. For threshold effects, a No- or a Lowest-Observed-Adverse-Effect Level (N/LOAEL), or alternatively a Benchmark Dose (BMD), is derived for every single effect in all the available smdies provided that data are sufficient for such an evaluation. In the last step of the hazard assessment for threshold effects, all this information is assessed in total in order to identify the critical effect(s) and to derive a NOAEL, or LOAEL, for the critical effect(s). 

The approach of deriving a tolerable intake by dividing the N/LOAEL, or alternatively a BMD for the critical effect(s) by an assessment factor has been described and discussed extensively in the scientihc literature. It is beyond the scope of this book to review all these references. This chapter presents an overview of pubhshed extrapolation methods for the derivation of a tolerable intake based on the assessment factor approach, i.e., limited to address effects with threshold characteristics, and is not meant to be exhaustive. The main focus is on the rationale for and the use of the assessment factors. Pertinent guidance documents and reviews for the issues addressed in this chapter include WHO/IPCS (1994, 1996, 1999), US-EPA (2002, 2004), IGHRC (2003), ECETOC (2003), KEMI (2003), Kalberlah and Schneider (1998), Vermeire et al. (1999), and Nielsen et al. (2005). 

The approach of standard setting for non-threshold effects is addressed in Chapter 6. 

The development of regulatory standards derived from a standard such as, e.g., the Tolerable Daily Intake or a Reference Dose, is addressed in Chapter 9. 

According to the OECD/IPCS dehnitions listed in Annexure 1 of Chapter 1 (OECD 2003)  

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