title: The assessment of low-dose carcinogenicity.
abstract: The assessment of carcinogenic risk from very low doses of substances to which the population is exposed depends mainly on animal experiments. A variety of statistical models has been proposed for extrapolation to low doses from the much higher doses administered to animals. The most conservative approach uses a multistage model, and is almost equivalent to linear extrapolation. Cornfield has argued against a conservative approach, but linear extrapolation may also be close to the 'best' solution. Species conversion and specification of allowable risks are very difficult problems, and some form of cost-benefit analysis seems to be required.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002273:Carcinogens; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D006801:Humans; D008954:Models, Biological; D009374:Neoplasms, Experimental / Q000139:chemically induced; D012306:Risk; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D014116:Toxicology / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D002273:Carcinogens