title: Risk estimation for environmental chemicals as a basis for decision making.
abstract: An account is given of the manner in which regulatory decisions for a number of environmental chemicals have been made in Canada. The sources of evidence for such decisions are reviewed and applied to tris(2,3-dibromopropyl)phosphate, drinking water contaminants, polychlorinated biphenyls, lead, dioxins, and urea-formaldehyde foam insulation. Finally, the societal implications of too mechanistic an approach to risk estimations are considered.
mesh_terms: D002170:Canada; D003657:Decision Making; D004147:Dioxins / Q000009:adverse effects; D004782:Environmental Health; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005411:Flame Retardants / Q000009:adverse effects; D005557:Formaldehyde / Q000009:adverse effects; D006077:Government Agencies; D006801:Humans; D007854:Lead / Q000009:adverse effects; D007878:Legislation as Topic; D010755:Organophosphates / Q000009:adverse effects; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls / Q000009:adverse effects; D012306:Risk; D014508:Urea / Q000009:adverse effects; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000009:adverse effects
chemical_list: D004147:Dioxins; D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D005411:Flame Retardants; D010755:Organophosphates; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; C012085:tris(2,3-dibromopropyl)phosphate; D005557:Formaldehyde; D007854:Lead; C028278:urea formaldehyde foam; D014508:Urea; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls