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. Table of ContentsFront MatterSummary1 Introduction2 Evolution and Use of Risk Assessment in the Environmental Protection Agency: Current Practice and Future Prospects3 The Design of Risk Assessments4 Uncertainty and Variability: The Recurring and Recalcitrant Elements of Risk Assessment5 Toward a Unified Approach to Dose-Response Assessment6 Selection and Use of Defaults7 Implementing Cumulative Risk Assessment8 Improving the Utility of Risk Assessment9 Toward Improved Risk-Based Decision-MakingAppendix A: Biographic Information on the Committee on Improving Risk Analysis Approaches Used by the Environmental Protection AgencyAppendix B: Statement of Task of the Committee on Improving Risk Analysis Approaches Used by the Environmental Protection AgencyAppendix C: Timeline of Selected Environmental Protection Agency Risk-Assessment ActivitiesAppendix D: Environmental Protection Agency Response to Recommendations from Selected NRC Reports: Policy, Activity, and PracticeAppendix E: Environmental Protection Agency Program and Region Responses to Questions from the CommitteeAppendix F: Case Studies of the Framework for Risk-Based Decision-Making

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