PRA involves several key components, including hazard identification, dose-response assessment, exposure assessment, and risk characterization. However, the unique aspect of PRA is the use of sensitivity analysis and uncertainty analysis:
Hazard Identification: Determining whether a substance can cause harm. Dose-Response Assessment: Quantifying the relationship between dose and occurrence of adverse effects. Exposure Assessment: Estimating the magnitude, duration, and frequency of exposure to the chemical. Risk Characterization: Integrating data from the previous steps to estimate the risk, often expressed as a probability of adverse effects.
The use of sensitivity analysis helps identify which variables have the most significant impact on risk estimates, while uncertainty analysis quantifies the confidence in these estimates.
