Risk assessment, the environment, and public health

Risks to human health arise from the environment in diverse ways and from many sources. Although there are many social forces to be considered when efforts are made to protect human health, it would seem that public health resources should be devoted to reducing risks arising from the environment in at least rough proportion to the toll they take on human health. Risk assessment, properly, conceived and practiced, is the appropriate tool for assigning risks their rightful order and should be a principal component of public health programs everywhere. The successful application of risk assessments to such goals depends on the developments of a broader view of its nature and content than has been customarily adopted.