The safety assessment process typically involves several steps:
Hazard Identification: Determining whether a substance is inherently toxic. This can involve in vitro (test tube) and in vivo (animal) studies, as well as epidemiological studies. Exposure Assessment: Estimating the extent, duration, and frequency of human exposure to the substance. This involves understanding how the substance is used and how people come into contact with it. Risk Characterization: Integrating hazard identification and exposure assessment to describe the nature and magnitude of health risks. Risk Management: Implementing measures to control or mitigate identified risks, such as establishing safety guidelines and permissible exposure limits.
