Risk Assessment and Epidemiologic Evidence in Environmental Health Science
2006
Risk Assessment and Epidemiologic Evidence in Environmental Health Science
publication
Author Information
Author(s): Bernard D. Goldstein
Primary Institution: Graduate School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh
Hypothesis
There is a conceptual error regarding the role of environmental health sciences in assessing hazardous potential for human health.
Conclusion
Toxicologic evidence, not epidemiologic evidence, is primarily used to determine the hazardous potential of agents to human health.
Supporting Evidence
- Most risk assessment procedures require toxicologic evidence to ascribe hazardous potential to agents.
- Kundi's commentary suggests a misunderstanding of the role of epidemiology in risk assessment.
Takeaway
When figuring out if something is dangerous to our health, scientists mostly look at lab tests instead of studies on people.
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