Occupational epidemiological studies in risk assessment and their relation to animal experimental data

The role of epidemiological and animal experimental studies in the process of qualitative and quantitative risk assessment is discussed. So far little agreement exists between animal experimental data and epidemiological outcomes in the procedure of qualitative risk assessment. Several reasons for these discrepancies are mentioned. The application of existing epidemiological study results in quantitative risk assessment is hampered by factors, such as the lack of exact exposure information (compound, level, duration), undefined other exposures in and outside the working environment, small sample sizes, the comparatively short duration of epidemiological studies and the absence of detailed information about the specific effects. All this resulted in a relatively small impact of epidemiological studies in risk assessment. Recommendations are made in order to improve the impact of epidemiology in risk assessment.