What Are the Key Steps in Toxicological Assessment?
The toxicology process generally follows several critical steps:
Exposure Assessment: This step involves identifying the sources, pathways, and levels of exposure to a chemical. Understanding the routes of exposure—such as inhalation, ingestion, or dermal contact—is crucial. Hazard Identification: This involves determining whether a chemical poses a risk to health, based on data from animal studies, human epidemiological studies, or cellular research. Dosage and Response Evaluation: This step assesses how different doses affect the severity of the response in the organism. The dose-response relationship is pivotal in understanding the potential impact of a toxicant. Risk Characterization: This final step evaluates the potential health risks by integrating data from exposure assessment and dose-response evaluation to determine the likelihood of adverse health effects.
