ABSTRACT
Toxic chemical risk is a composite function that depends both on a chemical’s intrinsic toxicity and the exposure of a susceptible population to a chemical (Figure 1.1). When it comes to managing toxic chemical risk, intrinsic toxicity is a given; it cannot be changed. Exposure, on the other hand, can be reduced. Indeed, reducing exposure is the preeminent tool for managing chemical risk. Reducing exposure depends on understanding how chemicals move through the environment. The more accurately the environmental pathways of chemicals are known, the more effectively exposure and, therefore, risk can be managed.
