title: The risk assessment paradigm and its application for trichothecenes.
abstract: Risk analysis for trichothecene mycotoxins and other food contaminants, which are to a significant extent unavoidable, presents considerable challenges. Risk assessment is constrained by uncertainties associated with the lack of adequate data, and risk management must consider the fact that mycotoxin contamination can have serious impacts on trade and food sufficiency. These factors necessitate good communication between the risk assessors and risk managers in formulating the questions to be addressed by the risk assessment. Risk assessment must be an iterative process, since the problem formulation and the risk assessment may need to be revised to reflect new data and theories. In addition to providing advice to risk managers, risk assessment should provide a blueprint for future research by illustrating what observations will influence a prediction. The international risk assessments completed for deoxynivalenol, T-2 and HT-2 toxins, and nivalenol have noted a number of issues regarding the lack of adequate intake data for exposure assessment and significant gaps in toxicological studies for hazard characterizations. Addressing these uncertainties would provide risk managers with better guidance for control measures.
authors.affiliation: International Programme on Chemical Safety, World Health Organization, Avenue Appia, 20, CH 121, Geneva 27, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Angelika M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Tritscher
authors.forename: Samuel W
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Page
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003257:Consumer Product Safety / Q000592:standards; D005260:Female; D005506:Food Contamination / Q000032:analysis*; D005517:Foodborne Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D018570:Risk Assessment / Q000379:methods; D014255:Trichothecenes / Q000506:poisoning*
chemical_list: D014255:Trichothecenes