The perils of prudence: how conservative risk assessments distort regulation.
An analysis of several agencies' risk assessments reveals that the present conservative approach through several stages of estimates of amounts of regulated substances, the exposure levels, and cancer risks often tends to distort the actual final regulation. Changes in this process are desirable and possible and would reduce overestimation of cancer risk assessments. These possible changes are discussed.
Nichols
A L
AL
John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138.
Zeckhauser
R J
RJ
D000818:Animals; D001554:Benzene / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity; D002273:Carcinogens / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity; D006801:Humans; D007854:Lead / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity; D007880:Legislation, Drug / Q000639:trends*; D007881:Legislation, Food / Q000639:trends*; D012307:Risk Factors; D013045:Species Specificity; D014481:United States; D014484:United States Environmental Protection Agency
D002273:Carcinogens; D007854:Lead; D001554:Benzene