What role does toxicology play in risk assessment?

Toxicology is fundamentally concerned with the study of the adverse effects that various substances and chemicals can have on living organisms. This includes understanding how these substances interact with biological systems and what the potential health impacts could be upon exposure. In the context of risk assessment, toxicology plays a crucial role because it provides the scientific basis for evaluating the level of harm that exposure to different chemicals might cause, helping identify both short-term and long-term effects.

By establishing dose-response relationships and exposure thresholds, toxicology aids in determining safe levels of exposure and informs necessary management decisions to protect human health and the environment. This understanding is central to the evaluation of risks associated with chemical substances and underpins assessments conducted by regulatory agencies and safety professionals.

While aspects such as economic assessments, legislative implications, and public perceptions are important to the broader context of risk assessment, the core of risk assessment relies heavily on the toxicological data that sheds light on the actual effects substances can have on health and safety. This is why the role of toxicology is critical in ensuring accurate and reliable risk assessments.