Use of information: environmental standards, assessments of risk, prevention and clinical implications

Information which relates morbidity or mortality to environmental conditions (exposure-response relationships) forms the basis for public health as well as for clinical action. For both types of action, the information base is the same, neither complete nor comprehensive. So, both types of action are based on hypothesis, the best available to explain the facts, but subject to review in the light of new facts. Even though the volume of information may be considerable, as in the case of asbestos, there are always gaps in knowledge to be bridged by judgement. This should be made on the basis of as complete an evaluation as possible of all the available evidence.