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.

Autorentext
Dr. Kofi Asante-Duah is a Scientific Advisor and Environmental Consultant at the Human Health Risk Assessment Practice in Washington, DC.

Inhalt
Part1 Problem Diagnosis:A general overview of the origins and nature of chemical exposure problems.- Introduction.- anatomical and physiological perspectives on human exposure to chemicals.- archetypical chemical exposure problems.- Part2 a public health risk assessment taxonomy: nomenclatural components, concepts, principles,& evaluation strategies.- principles and concepts in risk assessment.- attributes of a public health risk assessment.- general basic planning considerations for a chemical exposure characterization activity.- Part 3 the risk assessment framework & paradigm for chemical exposure problems.- principal elements of a the public health risk assessment process for chemical exposure problems.- chemical hazard determination.- exposure assessment: analysis of human intake of chemicals.- determination of chemical toxicity.- chemical risk characterization.- uncertainty and variability issues in public health risk evaluation.- Part4 development of public health risk management strategies for human exposure to chemicals.- determination of 'acceptable' and 'safe' levels for human exposure to chemicals.- design of public health risk management programs.- utility of risk assessment in public health policy decisions.- Part5 Appendices