Public Health Risk Assessment for Human Exposure to Chemicals (Environmental Pollution Book 27)

This book provides a concise, yet comprehensive overview of the many facets relating to human health risk assessments in relation to chemical exposure problems. It presents some very important tools and methodologies that can be used to address chemical exposure and public health risk management problems in a consistent, efficient, and cost-effective manner. On the whole, the book represents a collection and synthesis of the principal elements of the risk assessment process that may be used to more effectively address issues pertaining to human exposures to chemicals found in modern societies. This also includes an elaboration of pertinent risk assessment concepts and techniques/methodologies for performing human health risk assessments. Written for both the novice and the experienced, the subject matter of this book is an attempt at offering a simplified and systematic presentation of public health risk assessment methods and application tools – all these facilitated by a layout that will carefully navigate the user through the major processes involved. A number of illustrative example problems are interspersed throughout the book, in order to help present the book in an easy-to-follow, pragmatic manner. Front Matter....Pages i-xxi Front Matter....Pages 1-1 Introduction....Pages 3-33 Anatomical and Physiological Perspectives on Human Exposure to Chemicals....Pages 35-58 Archetypical Chemical Exposure Problems....Pages 59-72 Front Matter....Pages 73-73 Principles and Concepts in Risk Assessment....Pages 75-100 Attributes of a Public Health Risk Assessment....Pages 101-115 General Basic Planning Considerations for a Chemical Exposure Characterization Activity....Pages 117-146 Front Matter....Pages 147-147 Principal Elements of a Public Health Risk Assessment for Chemical Exposure Problems....Pages 149-167 Chemical Hazard Determination....Pages 169-188 Exposure Assessment: Analysis of Human Intake of Chemicals....Pages 189-229 Determination of Chemical Toxicity....Pages 231-287 Chemical Risk Characterization....Pages 289-329 Uncertainty and Variability Issues in Public Health Risk Evaluation....Pages 331-354 Front Matter....Pages 355-355 Determination of ‘Acceptable’ and ‘Safe’ Levels for Human Exposure to Chemicals....Pages 357-384 Designing Public Health Risk Management Programs....Pages 385-407 Utility of Risk Assessment in Public Health Policy Decisions....Pages 409-433 Back Matter....Pages 435-600