title: [Evaluation of the relative potency of carcinogens: a critique of the HERP index].
abstract: In 1987 researchers from Berkeley (CA), proposed an index (HERP) for ranking human carcinogens. The index was derived from human exposure data and rodent carcinogen potency. They concluded that the risks for the US population from man-made industrial carcinogens are trivial compared with the risks from naturally occurring carcinogens in the diet. Analysis of the assumptions and data upon which the HERPs were based revealed major limitations and we concluded that such a simplified approach is inappropriate given the underlying uncertainties. However, when we made a comparison consistently based on estimates of average daily exposure to common carcinogens, the HERP scores of man-made pollutants were comparable to those of naturally occurring carcinogens.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Boffetta
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Perera
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015197:Carcinogenicity Tests; D002273:Carcinogens; D006801:Humans; D008452:Maximum Allowable Concentration; D051379:Mice; D051381:Rats
chemical_list: D002273:Carcinogens
vernacular_title: La valutazione della potenza relativa dei cancerogeni: critica dell'indice "HERP".