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The Role of Risk Assessment in Public Health Policy Decisions

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Part of the book series: Environmental Pollution ((EPOL,volume 6))

Abstract

Risk assessment seems to be gaining wider grounds in making public health policy decisions on the control of risks associated with human exposures to chemicals. This situation may be attributed to the fact that, the very process of performing a risk assessment can lead to a better understanding and appreciation of the nature of the risks inherent in a study, and further helps develop steps that can be taken to reduce these risks. Overall, the application of risk assessment to chemical exposure problems helps identify critical receptor exposure routes, and other extraneous factors contributing most to total risks. It also facilitates the determination of cost-effective risk reduction policies. Ultimately, based on the results of a risk assessment, a more effectual decision can be made in relation to the types of risk management actions necessary to address a given chemical exposure problem or a hazardous situation.

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© 2002 Springer Science+Business Media New York

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Asante-Duah, K. (2002). The Role of Risk Assessment in Public Health Policy Decisions. In: Public Health Risk Assessment for Human Exposure to Chemicals. Environmental Pollution, vol 6. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-010-0481-7_11

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-010-0481-7_11

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4020-0921-1

  • Online ISBN: 978-94-010-0481-7

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

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