Estimating risk for carcinogenic environmental contaminants and its impact on regulatory decision making

Increasingly risk analysis and risk estimation are important tools used in regulatory decision making. To appreciate the complexities of this multifaceted field and gain some understanding of it, a broad overview is the first step. This paper attempts to do this. The view is admittedly imperfect and incomplete, but should help the reader see more clearly many of the features and limitations of risk estimation for environmental contaminants. A scheme is suggested for use of quantitative individual risk rates and population risk rate estimates in regulatory decision making.