Evolving Science and Practice of Risk Assessment

AbstractManaging public health risks from environmental contaminants has historically relied on a risk assessment process defined by the regulatory context in which these risks are assessed. Risk assessment guidance follows a straightforward, chemical ‐by‐chemical approach to inform regulatory decisions around the question “what is the risk‐based concentration protective of human and ecological health outcomes?” Here we briefly summarize regulatory risk assessment in the context of innovative risk assessment approaches based on an evolv ing understanding of the underlying scientific disciplines that support risk analysis more broadly. We discuss scientific versus regulatory tensions in the application of these approaches for future risk assessments, and challenges in translating our improved understanding of the underlying scientif ic complexity to the regulatory landscape to better inform decision making that extends beyond conventional regulatory mandates.
Source: Risk Analysis - Category: International Medicine & Public Health Authors: Tags: Perspective Source Type: research