Risk assessment has become a dominant public policy tool for making choices, based on limited resources, to protect public health and the environment. It has been instrumental to the mission of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as well as other federal agencies in evaluating public health concerns, informing regulatory and technological decisions, prioritizing research needs and funding, and in developing approaches for cost-benefit analysis. However, risk assessment is at a crossroads. Despite advances in the field, risk assessment faces a number of significant challenges including lengthy delays in making complex decisions; lack of data leading to significant uncertainty in risk assessments; and many chemicals in the marketplace that have not been evaluated and emerging agents requiring assessment. Science and Decisions makes practical scientific and technical recommendations to address these challenges. This book is a complement to the widely used 1983 National Academies book, Risk Assessment in the Federal Government (also known as the Red Book). The earlier book established a framework for the concepts and conduct of risk assessment that has been adopted by numerous expert committees, regulatory agencies, and public health institutions. The new book embeds these concepts within a broader framework for risk-based decision-making. Together, these are essential references for those working in the regulatory and public health fields.

Though overall cancer incidence and mortality have continued to decline in recent years, cancer continues to devastate the lives of far too many Americans. In 2009 alone, 1.5 million American men, women, and children were diagnosed with cancer, and 562,000 died from the disease. There is a growing body of evidence linking environmental exposures to cancer. The Pres. Cancer Panel dedicated its 2008¿2009 activities to examining the impact of environmental factors on cancer risk. The Panel considered industrial, occupational, and agricultural exposures as well as exposures related to medical practice, military activities, modern lifestyles, and natural sources. This report presents the Panel¿s recommend. to mitigate or eliminate these barriers. Illus.

Learn to implement effective control measures for mutagenic impurities in pharmaceutical development In Mutagenic Impurities: Strategies for Identification and Control, distinguished chemist Andrew Teasdale delivers a thorough examination of mutagenic impurities and their impact on the pharmaceutical industry. The book incorporates the adoption of the ICH M7 guideline and focuses on mutagenic impurities from both a toxicological and analytical perspective. The editor has created a primary reference for any professional or student studying or working with mutagenic impurities and offers readers a definitive narrative of applicable guidelines and practical, tested solutions. It demonstrates the development of effective control measures, including chapters on the purge tool for risk assessment. The book incorporates a discussion of N-Nitrosamines which was arguably the largest mutagenic impurity issue ever faced by the pharmaceutical industry, resulting in the recall of Zantac and similar drugs resulting from N-Nitrosamine contamination. Readers will also benefit from the inclusion of: A thorough introduction to the development of regulatory guidelines for mutagenic and genotoxic impurities, including a historical perspective on the development of the EMEA guidelines and the ICH M7 guideline An exploration of in silico assessment of mutagenicity, including use of structure activity relationship evaluation as a tool in the evaluation of the genotoxic potential of impurities A discussion of a toxicological perspective on mutagenic impurities, including the assessment of mutagenicity and examining the mutagenic and carcinogenic potential of common synthetic reagents Perfect for chemists, analysts, and regulatory professionals, Mutagenic Impurities: Strategies for Identification and Control will also earn a place in the libraries of toxicologists and clinical safety scientists seeking a one-stop reference on the subject of mutagenic impurity identification and control.

Despite increasing knowledge of human nutrition, the dietary contribution to cancer remains a troubling question. Carcinogens and Anticarcinogens assembles the best available information on the magnitude of potential cancer riskâ€"and potential anticarcinogenic effectâ€"from naturally occurring chemicals compared with risk from synthetic chemical constituents. The committee draws important conclusions about diet and cancer, including the carcinogenic role of excess calories and fat, the anticarcinogenic benefit of fiber and other substances, and the impact of food additive regulation. The book offers recommendations for epidemiological and diet research. Carcinogens and Anticarcinogens provides a readable overview of issues and addresses critical questions: Does diet contribute to an appreciable proportion of human cancer? Are there significant interactions between carcinogens and anticarcinogens in the diet? The volume discusses the mechanisms of carcinogenic and anticarcinogenic properties and considers whether techniques used to evaluate the carcinogenic potential of synthetics can be used with naturally occurring chemicals. The committee provides criteria for prioritizing the vast number of substances that need to be tested. Carcinogens and Anticarcinogens clarifies the issues and sets the direction for further investigations into diet and cancer. This volume will be of interest to anyone involved in food and health issues: policymakers, regulators, researchers, nutrition professionals, and health advocates.