[Toxicology and environment as regards their positions in society. Recognizing health risks to humans]

The nature of hazard identification and risk assessment for human health of chemicals in the environment are examined. Sources of uncertainty in the experimental approach to defining toxic hazards and risks are described and so are factors that limit the quality of many epidemiological studies of population toxicity. It is important for the toxicologist to consider all forms of risk both as probabilities and in terms of the nature and severity of the harm done to those affected. Toxicology, especially in its application to man and environmental hazards, may be influenced by societal and other politico-economic factors. Toxicologists must take care, therefore, to be recognised as true professionals, by recognising their obligations both to the proximate user of their results ad their wider responsibilities to society.