Health
New EPA guidelines for assessing carcinogen exposure risks
NEWS IN BRIEF — Posted May 2, 2005
The Environmental Protection Agency released March 29 updated principles and procedures to guide EPA scientists in assessing cancer risk from exposures to environmental pollutants.
The two documents, a cancer guideline as well as a supplemental guidance focusing on assessing susceptibility from early-life exposure to carcinogens, reflect what the agency termed was its "evolving approach to cancer risk assessment."
Both were generally complimented by environmental groups.
The cancer guideline, last revised in 1986, reflects changes in scientific knowledge, setting forth updated recommendations to guide assessment of cancer risk resulting from exposure to chemicals or other agents in the environment. The document is also used to inform decisions about risk assessment procedures.
The additional supplemental guidance, which describes possible approaches to assess cancer risk exposures in children from birth to 16 years, is the first such agency document specifically related to children and is consistent with a 1994 recommendation by the National Research Council.
"These guidelines will help us apply the most up-to-date science and to incorporate new science as it becomes available," said Tim Oppelt, acting assistant administrator for the Office of Research and Development. "EPA's guiding principle is that our cancer risk assessments be public health protective."
Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2005/05/02/hlbf0502.htm.
