EPA Eyes Greater Use Of 'Probabilistic' Risk To Improve Policy Decisions

摘要

EPA is looking to greater use of "probabilistic" risk assessment (PRA) methods - which can create ranges of potential risk compared to the traditional approach of a single point risk estimate - as a way to improve the quality of the risk data it uses as the basis for a slew of agency decisions on air, water, waste and other pollution policies. The agency's Risk Assessment Forum (RAF), a group of EPA risk assessors who write science policy documents intended to improve and standardize risk assessment approaches used agency-wide, recently released a white paper and "frequently asked questions" (FAQ) document outlining the suggested shift to greater use of PRA. The RAF notes that while the approach might have higher costs and be more resource-intensive, it could produce better results.