ABSTRACT
Quantitative cancer risk assessment has become increasingly used as a part of government regulation, industrial process design and development, safety and hazard analyses for liability control and insurance coverage, and even financial analysis. Cancer is a dread disease in society and public sentiment is great to reduce any environmental cancer threat. Scientists in regulatory agencies understand the large degree of uncertainty in estimating cancer risks and seek to protect the public by using highly conservative estimates. A number of bioassays are considered tools for assessing cancer risk. Carcinogens may or may not have thresholds of effect like common toxic substances, but the greater the dose, the greater the likelihood of developing cancer. The doses people are exposed to by different carcinogens vary greatly. The chapter also provides an overview of the key concepts discussed in this book.
