Risk Assessment and Epidemiologic Evidence: Kundi Responds
2006
Clarifying the Role of Epidemiology in Risk Assessment
Commentary
Evidence: moderate
Author Information
Author(s): Michael Kundi
Primary Institution: Medical University of Vienna
Hypothesis
Can epidemiologic evidence establish a causal relationship between environmental agents and chronic diseases?
Conclusion
Epidemiologic evidence is essential to establish a causal relationship between an agent and chronic diseases, but we can never fully prove causation.
Supporting Evidence
- An agent cannot be proven to be carcinogenic unless substantial epidemiologic evidence is available.
- Knowledge about causation is always incomplete, and what seems to cause a disease may turn out to be unrelated.
Takeaway
Scientists need to gather evidence to show that something in the environment can make people sick, but they can never be completely sure.
Limitations
The commentary acknowledges the limitations of current classifications and the incomplete nature of knowledge regarding causation.
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