Assessing Risks and Benefits

Risk vs. Benefit: Tipping the Scales

We make choices everyday…

How can risk-benefit assessment help us make better choices? What are the risks to health? What are the benefits to our every day living?

WHAT IS ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH RISK ASSESSMENT? A process that evaluates the likelihood that adverse health effects may occur as a result of exposure to a chemical, physical, or biological agent.

Risk Assessment Risk Characterization Data collection and evaluation Toxicity Assessment Exposure Assessment

Toxicology is the study of toxicants and their adverse effects. Adverse effects = Any change from an organism’s normal functioning. Toxicity Assessment

The Dose Makes a Difference

Different chemicals have different concentrations at which they are harmful. Different people (depending on age, size, genetics, and other health factors) may be more sensitive to chemicals than others.

Toxicologists study the adverse effects of toxicants at many levels: organism, organ, cell, organelle, molecule Toxicants may interfere with the normal functioning of proteins, lipids, and DNA.

Areas of concern when studying exposure: Frequency Duration Routes of entry Distribution/storage in the body Probability that exposure will cause adverse effects Exposure Assessment

Risk Characterization Toxicity Assessment Exposure Assessment

Risk Characterization Is an estimate of the likelihood that exposure to a toxicant may cause harm.

Risk is only part of the picture

Benefits As part of our society, you must make decisions which assess risks, costs, benefits, and trade-offs. –Thalidomide: Leprosy treatment vs. birth defects –Pesticides: Mosquito abatement vs. toxicity

Tradeoffs Planning to reduce risks to take advantage of the benefits offered by use of a particular ‘product.’ –BOTOX: Neurotoxin vs. wrinkles –Sunlight: Vitamin D and skin cancer

The decisions of this generation may choose tradeoffs that benefit them but pose risks for future generations. –Fossil fuels use vs. global warming –DES vs. reproductive system cancer –Hazardous waste disposal vs. increase of groundwater pollutants

PRECAUTIONARY PRINCIPLE If the consequences of an action are unknown, but judged to have some potential for negative consequences, then it is better to avoid that action.

“ Better safe than sorry.”

“The first principle of science is that you must not fool yourself - and you are the easiest to fool.” - Richard Feynman

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