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Characterization of risks posed by combustor emissions
G Rice1, J Swartout, E Brady-Roberts
1U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, National Center for Environmental Assessment, Cincinnati, OH 45268, USA.
Drug and Chemical Toxicology
|April 6, 1999
Summary
Risk characterization integrates scientific evidence to conclude health risks from environmental hazards. Evaluating uncertainty and variability is key to refining risk assessments, as shown in the 1997 Mercury Study.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Health Sciences
- Toxicology
- Risk Assessment
Background:
- Risk characterization is the concluding phase of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's risk assessment process.
- It involves integrating evidence from hazard identification, dose-response, and exposure assessments to determine overall risks.
- This process is iterative, potentially requiring re-evaluation of earlier steps.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explain the risk characterization process.
- To illustrate the evaluation and integration of scientific evidence and assessment results.
- To highlight the roles of uncertainty and variability in risk assessment.
Main Methods:
- Review of the risk assessment framework, emphasizing the risk characterization step.
- Application of mathematical models to assess environmental fate, exposure, and human dose-response for atmospheric emissions.
- Analysis of uncertainty and variability in quantitative risk estimates.
Main Results:
- Risk characterization synthesizes data to form conclusions about risks.
- Mathematical modeling is crucial for assessing risks from atmospheric emissions.
- Quantitative risk estimates are refined by examining uncertainty and variability.
Conclusions:
- Risk characterization provides an overall conclusion on risks by integrating scientific data.
- Understanding and quantifying uncertainty and variability are essential for robust risk assessment.
- The 1997 Mercury Study serves as a case example for these principles.