ABSTRACT
Risk assessment is a complex process aimed at determining, evaluating, and predicting the potential for harm to a deÞned community from exposure to chemicals and their by-products. The tolerance of chemicals in the public domain is initially determined by the need for such chemicals, by the availability of alternative methods for obtaining the desired qualities of the chemicals, and by the economic impact of the presence or absence of chemical agents on the economic status of the region. For example, over the last few decades, the amounts and frequency of use of pesticides and herbicides have increased exponentially, especially in the agricultural industry. The beneÞts of these chemicals have been proven, with time, to generate greater yields of agricultural products, as a result of reduced encroachment by insects and wild-type plant growth. Indeed, greater availability of food products and more sustainable produce has been realized. The balance between safe and effective use of such chemicals and the risk to the population constantly undergoes reevaluation, to determine whether pesticides or herbicides are associated with developmental, carcinogenic, or endocrine abnormalities.
