Hazard characterization
- Slovak term: Slovenský termín
- The qualitative and, wherever possible, quantitative description of the inherent property of an agent or situation having the potential to cause adverse effects. This should, where possible, include a dose–response assessment and its attendant uncertainties.
Explanation
Hazard characterization is the second stage in the process of hazard assessment and the second of four steps in risk assessment.
Related terms: Dose–effect relationship, Effect assessment, Dose–response relationship, Concentration–effect relationship
Example
"Hazard characterization would be based on the available dose-response data for cancer, which would mostly be derived from studies in rodents givent daily doses many orders of magnitude greater the the estimated intakes in humans." [ftp://ftp.fao.org/es/esn/jecfa/jecfa64_summary.pdf Summary and conclusions of the sixty-fourth meeting of the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA)]
References
- WHO (2004). IPCS Risk assessment terminology, Geneva.
