ABSTRACT
This chapter characterizes the process of estimating the chances of an adverse effect to happen. Both toxicity assessment and exposure assessment are combined to gauge the risk of chemicals; the approach differentiates those chemicals that cause cancer and those that do not. A specifically important question is the one about a dose threshold for cancer-causing agents, as well as that about “acceptable” risks. Also, the currently used (required by law) life-long carcinogenicity testing in laboratory rodents is critically illuminated with an everyday example.
