New Versus Classic Approaches for Chemical Risk Assessment and Management

Abstract

In recent years, the public has become increasingly aware of the presence of harmful chemicals in our environment. Many people express concerns about chemicals and other foreign substances in food, in drinking water, and toxic pollutants in the air. Exposure and risk assessment of chemical environmental pollution have been widely studied. Risk assessment provides a systematic approach for characterizing the nature and magnitude of risks associated with environmental health hazards. All activities, processes and products have some degree of risk. Particular attention will be given to models useful for the quantitative and qualitative identification, estimation of exposure and risk. This science is based on experimental data, measured concentration and biological mechanisms. Mathematical models have been used to estimate the concentrations of different substances in the environment. This justifies the need for development and studies on this field in the same interest as classic methodology. The ultimate aim of this chapter is to: (1) provide a basic explanation of risk assessment for people involved in environmental health issues; (2) evaluate existing knowledge and practical application of modern technologies for exposure and risk assessment of chemical environmental pollution with emphasis on methodologies, models used for the environmental security; (3) Review of computational modeling technology achievements for environmental fate, exposure and risk assessment of chemical pollutants in air, water, soil and biota; (4) Modeling of adverse health and environmental effects. In conclusion, Risk assessments can guide regulators in abating environmental hazards. Members of the public who learn the basics of risk assessment can improve their understanding of both real and perceived environmental hazards, and they can work more effectively with decision makers on solutions to environmental problems.