title: Making decisions from numbers.
abstract: Regulatory agencies require numbers to provide health protection. The manner in which these numbers are derived from animal experiments and human epidemiology is considered together with the limitations and inadequacies of these numbers. Some recent examples of risk assessment in Canada are given including asbestos, drinking water, and indoor air quality. The value of these numbers in providing a measure of the hazard in a wider perspective is stressed, although they can never be the sole determinant of public policy.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002170:Canada; D003657:Decision Making; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000633:toxicity*; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D006801:Humans; D007880:Legislation, Drug; D012306:Risk
chemical_list: D004785:Environmental Pollutants