PubMed:29916577 JSONTXT

[Classification and risk assessment: complementary or mutually exclusive approaches?] Classificazione delle sostanze e valutazione del rischio chimico: approcci complementari o incompatibili? OBJECTIVES: Most classification schemes are based on hazard identification: this is particularly true for carcinogenic and reproductive effects. METHODS: These schemes are no longer adequate to take adequate decisions on risk management, and they appear outmoded. In addition, the induce communication and perception problems in the population, causing health scares and anxiety that are difficult to control and recover. RESULTS: Risk assessment requires an estimation of human exposure to be compared with the safe dose for humans (exposure or intake limits) estimated after hazard characterization based on dose-response relationship. CONCLUSIONS: The risk based approaches provide quantitative information on the potency of the substance that can be compared with duration, frequency and intensity of exposure and, therefore, properly inform graded risk management decisions, in relation to the expected characteristics of exposure.