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Epidemiology in risk management for chemicals

Epidemiology in risk management for chemicals
Epidemiology in risk management for chemicals
Risk management is the process by which choices are made between alternative actions or policies according to the likelihood of beneficial or adverse outcomes. It entails an assessment of the potential risks and benefits associated with each possible option, and the application of value judgements to decide which option should be chosen. Informal risk management for chemicals, a distinction is made between hazard (a potential adverse effect of the substance) and risk (the probability that that a hazard will be realised given the circumstances and extent of exposure to the substance). Where there is uncertainty about the existence of a hazard or about the level of risk associated with an exposure, this must also be taken into account. Of the various measures of risk, the two that are most relevant to risk management are the individual attributable risk and the population attributable risk. Assessment of risk entails the identification and characterisation of hazards, and estimation of the risks associated with the exposure circumstances that will follow from different policy options. Examples are given of the way in which epidemiology can contribute to this process, and also to checking that the outcomes of decisions in risk management accord with what was predicted by underpinning risk assessments. The strengths and limitations of epidemiology as a tool in risk management are discussed.
exposure, chemically induced, review, hazardous substances, safety management, probability, methods, population, epidemiology, risk, risk management, humans, outcome assessment (health care)
0025-7818
190-194
Coggon, D.
2b43ce0a-cc61-4d86-b15d-794208ffa5d3
Coggon, D.
2b43ce0a-cc61-4d86-b15d-794208ffa5d3

Coggon, D. (2006) Epidemiology in risk management for chemicals. La Medicina del Lavoro, 97 (2), 190-194.

Record type: Article

Abstract

Risk management is the process by which choices are made between alternative actions or policies according to the likelihood of beneficial or adverse outcomes. It entails an assessment of the potential risks and benefits associated with each possible option, and the application of value judgements to decide which option should be chosen. Informal risk management for chemicals, a distinction is made between hazard (a potential adverse effect of the substance) and risk (the probability that that a hazard will be realised given the circumstances and extent of exposure to the substance). Where there is uncertainty about the existence of a hazard or about the level of risk associated with an exposure, this must also be taken into account. Of the various measures of risk, the two that are most relevant to risk management are the individual attributable risk and the population attributable risk. Assessment of risk entails the identification and characterisation of hazards, and estimation of the risks associated with the exposure circumstances that will follow from different policy options. Examples are given of the way in which epidemiology can contribute to this process, and also to checking that the outcomes of decisions in risk management accord with what was predicted by underpinning risk assessments. The strengths and limitations of epidemiology as a tool in risk management are discussed.

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More information

Published date: 13 June 2006
Keywords: exposure, chemically induced, review, hazardous substances, safety management, probability, methods, population, epidemiology, risk, risk management, humans, outcome assessment (health care)

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 61730
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/61730
ISSN: 0025-7818
PURE UUID: 1f49469e-0f15-4269-b92f-ced2abdcd865
ORCID for D. Coggon: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0003-1930-3987

Catalogue record

Date deposited: 09 Sep 2008
Last modified: 09 Jan 2022 02:51

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Contributors

Author: D. Coggon ORCID iD

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