A Small Dose of Risk Assessment

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References / Additional Information

An Introduction ToRisk Assessment – Risk Management and Precautionary Principle

“What is food to one man may be fierce poison to others.”
Lucretius (c. 99 B.C.–c. 55 B.C.)

Risk Assessment
Process of estimating association between an exposure to a chemical or physical agent and the incidence of some adverse outcome.

REFERENCES / ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

• European, Asian, and International Agencies
• England - Department of Health - Risk Research. Online. (accessed: 10 April 2003).
  The Department of Health has published information and research outcomes on risk and public health.
• World Health Organization - The International Programme on Chemical Safety (IPCS) - Risk Assessment. Online. (accessed: 10 April 2003).
  Information on global risk assessment issues.
• EnviroLink - The Online Environmental Community. Online. (accessed: 10 April 2003).
  "EnviroLink is a non-profit organization... a grassroots online community that unites hundreds of organizations and volunteers around the world with millions of people in more than 150 countries. EnviroLink is dedicated to providing comprehensive, up-to-date environmental information and news."
  

North American Agencies

• U.S. Environmental Protection Agencies - National Center for Environmental Assessment (NCEA). Online. (accessed: 10 April 2003).
  NCEA goals are to apply "science to improve risk assessment and environmental decision making."
• California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA). Risk Assessment - Online. (accessed: 10 April 2003).
  "OEHHA is responsible for developing and providing risk managers in state and local government agencies with toxicological and medical information relevant to decisions involving public health."
• U.S. Brookhaven National Laboratory - Safety & Health Services Chemical Management. Online. (accessed: 10 April 2003).
  Site contains a comprehensive table listing chemicals and compares their designation as carcinogens by national and international agencies.
  

Non-Government Organizations

• American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH). Online. (accessed: 10 April 2003).
  "The ACGIS community of professionals advances worker health and safety through education and the development and dissemination of scientific and technical knowledge.
• Toxicology Excellence for Risk Assessment (TERA). Online. (accessed: 10 April 2003).
  "TERA is a nonprofit[501(c)(3)] corporation dedicated to the best use of toxicity data for the development of risk values."
• Society for Risk Analysis (SRA). Online. (accessed: 10 April 2003).
  "SRA provides an open forum for all those who are interested in risk analysis. Risk analysis is broadly defined to include risk assessment, risk characterization, risk communication, risk management, and policy relating to risk."
• Harvard Center for Risk Analysis. Online. (accessed: 10 April 2003).
  This Center focuses on "using decision science to empower informed choices about risks to health, safety, and the environment."
• The Hampshire Research Institute (HRI). Online. (accessed: 10 April 2003).
  "HRI uses scientific, engineering, and computing expertise to make a difference on environmental issues."
• Ag BioTech InfoNet - Precautionary Principle. Online. (accessed: 10 April 2003).
  Site has wide array information on the precautionary principle.
• The Science & Environmental Health Network - Precautionary Principle. Online. (accessed: 10 April 2003).
  SEHN advocates the wise application of science to protecting the environment and public health.
  

References

A Guide to Health Risk Assessment. California Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment. Available as a pdf file. Online. (accessed: 10 April 2003).

The Precautionary Principle In Action a Handbook. Science and Environmental health Network, Joel Tickner, Carolyn Raffensperger, and Nancy Myers. Online. (accessed: 10 April 2003).