ABSTRACT
In his definition of industrial toxicology, Robert R. Lauwerys (1990) makes a distinction between toxicity and risk associated with industrial chemical hazards. Toxicity is defined as the inherent capacity of a substance to produce a harmful effect on the organism. Risk is the probability with which a toxic effect may occur in the conditions of use of a given substance. Curtis D. Klaasen (1986) uses the notion of safety defined as the probability that a toxic effect may be avoided in given conditions. Industrial toxicology, defined by Robert R. Lauwerys (1986) is therefore the science which, from the study of toxicity and determination of the risk, establishes measures of safety: “This objective [of industrial toxicology] can be attained if the conditions of exposure and the workers’ tasks are defined in such a way that they do not cause an unacceptable health risk.’’
