INTEGRATION OF METAL BIO AVAILABILITY IN RISK ASSESSMENT POLICY DECISION MAKING

摘要

Metals are used in construction, automobiles, aerospace, electronics, and other manufacturing industries as well as in paints, pigments, and catalysts. Many metals accumulate in selective organs and tissues and therefore have potential for chronic toxicity. Models may be used to predict environmental distribution of metals for which available measurements must be considered. Prevention of chronic toxicity remains a challenge for children exposed to metals, particularly lead. New concepts like social marketing should be used to decrease exposure to metals. Risk assessment is being employed in legislation as a mechanism to establish responsibility to impose liability on those creating risks to humans and the environment, to formulate and implement appropriate measures to eliminate or control such risks, to decide what products should be marketed, and to assess compliance with regulations. It is difficult to say where risk assessment ends and risk control begins. Decision makers using risk assessment must adopt criteria for establishing how much risk is acceptable, taking into account the willingness of the public to tolerate the risks in return for benefits.