Risk Assessment and Risk Management

Human health risk assessment is the process of examining data to see if an environmental danger could harm people who are exposed to it. Many toxicological disciplines are incorporated into the risk-assessment process. It consists of four broad steps: hazard identification, dose-response assessment, exposure assessment, and risk characterization. It comprises both qualitative and quantitative components. Toxicogenomic data has the potential to be useful in all aspects of risk assessment. Toxicogenomic data, for example, could reveal the sorts of hazards a chemical pose (for example, whether it poses cancer or non-cancer risks) as well as the modes and processes of toxic action via which it functions in hazard identification. The method of action is also a factor to consider when determining the best technique to dose-response analysis. Toxicogenomic techniques may help with exposure assessment by indicating toxicant exposure in cells. Toxicogenomic data can also be utilised to better understand areas of ambiguity, such as human population variability, data extrapolation from one species to another, identification of vulnerable subpopulations, and quantitative data to improve risk assessments.

Risk management differs from risk assessment in that it focuses on the long-term consequences of an action. Risk assessment determines whether a risk exists and, if so, what the risk's range or magnitude is. The results of the risk assessment are combined with other factors, such as economic or legal issues, in the risk management process to make decisions on the need for and feasibility of undertaking various risk reduction activities. The results of risk assessments are also used by risk managers to communicate risks to interested parties and the general public.