Science and Decisions


Book Description

Risk assessment has become a dominant public policy tool for making choices, based on limited resources, to protect public health and the environment. It has been instrumental to the mission of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as well as other federal agencies in evaluating public health concerns, informing regulatory and technological decisions, prioritizing research needs and funding, and in developing approaches for cost-benefit analysis. However, risk assessment is at a crossroads. Despite advances in the field, risk assessment faces a number of significant challenges including lengthy delays in making complex decisions; lack of data leading to significant uncertainty in risk assessments; and many chemicals in the marketplace that have not been evaluated and emerging agents requiring assessment. Science and Decisions makes practical scientific and technical recommendations to address these challenges. This book is a complement to the widely used 1983 National Academies book, Risk Assessment in the Federal Government (also known as the Red Book). The earlier book established a framework for the concepts and conduct of risk assessment that has been adopted by numerous expert committees, regulatory agencies, and public health institutions. The new book embeds these concepts within a broader framework for risk-based decision-making. Together, these are essential references for those working in the regulatory and public health fields.




The Science of Risk Assessment


Book Description







Environmental Decisions in the Face of Uncertainty


Book Description

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is one of several federal agencies responsible for protecting Americans against significant risks to human health and the environment. As part of that mission, EPA estimates the nature, magnitude, and likelihood of risks to human health and the environment; identifies the potential regulatory actions that will mitigate those risks and protect public health1 and the environment; and uses that information to decide on appropriate regulatory action. Uncertainties, both qualitative and quantitative, in the data and analyses on which these decisions are based enter into the process at each step. As a result, the informed identification and use of the uncertainties inherent in the process is an essential feature of environmental decision making. EPA requested that the Institute of Medicine (IOM) convene a committee to provide guidance to its decision makers and their partners in states and localities on approaches to managing risk in different contexts when uncertainty is present. It also sought guidance on how information on uncertainty should be presented to help risk managers make sound decisions and to increase transparency in its communications with the public about those decisions. Given that its charge is not limited to human health risk assessment and includes broad questions about managing risks and decision making, in this report the committee examines the analysis of uncertainty in those other areas in addition to human health risks. Environmental Decisions in the Face of Uncertainty explains the statement of task and summarizes the findings of the committee.




Quality Risk Management in the FDA-Regulated Industry


Book Description

The purpose of this new edition is to offer an updated view of the risk management field as it applies to medical products. Since the publication of the first edition (2012), the emphasis on risk-based processes has growth exponentially across all sectors, and risk management is now considered as significant as quality management. ISO 9001 was revised and now requires that top management promote the use of risk-based thinking. ISO 13485:2016, which specifies the requirements for a quality management system specific to the medical devices industry, also now shows a greater emphasis on risk management and risk-based decision making. In addition, the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) is the most important reform of U.S. food safety laws in more than 70 years. This indispensable book presents a systematic and comprehensive approach to quality risk management. It will assist medical and food product manufacturers with the integration of a risk management system or risk management principles and activities into their existing quality management system by providing practical explanations and examples. The appropriate use of quality risk management can facilitate compliance with regulatory requirements such as good manufacturing practice or good laboratory practice. All chapters have been updated and revised, and a new chapter has been added to discuss some of the most common pitfalls and misunderstandings regarding risk management, specifically those related to the use of FMEA as the only element of risk management programs. One of the appendices includes 12 case studies, and the companion CD-ROM contains dozens of U.S. FDA and European guidance documents as well as international harmonization documents (ICH and GHTF-IMDRF) related to risk management activities, as well as a 30-question exam (with answers) on the material discussed in the book.




MTBE Remediation Handbook


Book Description

Here is a comprehensive and up-to date compendium of the technology and management of MTBE contamination, exploring the myths which impede successful clean-up techniques, and offering effective solutions. Section I looks at the history, properties, occurrence and assessment of MTBE. Section II discusses applicable remediation technologies. Section III offers remediation case studies.




Risk Communication


Book Description

A fully updated handbook on effectively communicating environmental, safety, and health risks Written by two well-known risk practitioners with over twenty-five years' experience in the field, this fully updated Fifth Edition of Risk Communication: A Handbook for Communicating Environmental, Safety, and Health Risks offers sound, scientific research with practical, hands-on advice for those in the public and private sectors. Highly accessible and easy to understand, this must-read includes real-life examples of such headline-making events as the tsunami and radiation release in Japan in 2011, the BP oil disaster in the Gulf of Mexico in 2010, and extreme weather events, along with the lessons learned from them. It offers new chapters on public health campaigns, and on the use and effectiveness of social media for risk communication purposes. Risk Communication is divided into five self-contained parts: Part I provides background information for understanding the basic theories and practices of risk communication Part II explains how to plan a risk communication effort Part III describes how to put risk communication into action Part IV discusses how to evaluate risk communication efforts, including techniques for measuring success Part V highlights special cases in risk communication, including disasters and other emergencies, international risk communication, and public health campaigns An ideal introduction to the field, this book is also a welcome reference for those involved in communicating environmental, safety, and health risks in government, industry, and academia.




Information Resources in Toxicology


Book Description

History: -- K.D. Watson, P. Wexler, and J. Everitt. -- Highlights in the History of Toxicology. -- Selected References in the History of Toxicology. -- A Historical Perspective of Toxicology Information Systems. -- Books and Special Documents: -- G.L. Kennedy, Jr., P. Wexler, N.S. Selzer, and L.A. Malley. -- General Texts. -- Analytical Toxicology. -- Animals in Research. -- Biomonitoring/Biomarkers. -- Biotechnology. -- Biotoxins. -- Cancer. -- Chemical Compendia. -- Chemical--Cosmetics and Other Consumer. -- Products. -- Chemical--Drugs. -- Chemical--Dust and Fibers. -- Chemical--Metals. -- Chemicals--Pesticides -- Chemicals--Solvents. -- Chemical--Selected Chemicals. -- Clinical Toxicology. -- Developmental and Reproductive Toxicology. -- Environmental Toxicology--General. -- Environmental Toxicology-- Aquatic. -- Environmental Toxicology--Atmospheric. -- Environmental Toxicology--Hazardous Waste. -- Environmental Toxicology--Terrestrial. -- Environmental Toxicology--Wildlife. -- Ep ...