Epidemiological Product Assessment

Abstract

A number of concerns have been raised about health risks that may be associated with the consumption of consumer products or exposure to some of their components. Regulators as well as manufacturers are increasingly faced with the necessity of protecting and providing consumers with correct information regarding the potential hazards of consumer products. To appraise health risks properly, it is essential to estimate the magnitude, frequency, and duration of exposure to the hazards potentially embedded in consumer products. This chapter reviews the main epidemiological concepts of consumer health risk and the methods employed to establish a potential causal relationship between exposure and the occurrence of diseases, injuries, or adverse outcomes. Epidemiological investigations must select an appropriate study design, because each study design has strengths and limitations. Human behavior, social factors, and complex product characteristics play important roles in potential health risks. Improvements in the reliability of assessments of individual exposure can enhance the evidence generated through epidemiologic studies. In turn, this evidence can be used by consumers and policymakers to make better-informed consumption choices and policies.