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RE: How to express low dose risk



Paul,

In the Society for Risk Analysis' Newsletter for the second quarter of 2000,
there is an opinion piece that addresses your question. The article is by
Steve Brown. His last recommedation is

"Report individual lifetime risks calculated to be less than 1E-4 as <1E-4.
Risk estimates in that range are unlikely to be validated or invalidated by
any currently available observational means, even in the event that millions
of people experience the exposure level used in the assessment. [He expnads
on this a little in a footnote.] Lower risk estimates may be used in
cost/risk/benefit calculations to assess population risk, but appropriate
disclaimers should be included. If a decision to regulate is taken below the
1E-4 boundary, make it clear that it was based on policy regarding
uncertainty, not on scientific confidence in the risk estimates."


This is the last in a series of four recommendations that Steve Brown makes
in an opinion piece titled, "Looking Beyond the LNT Debate.

Good luck,
Jerry

The above comments and opinions are mine and mine alone. They do not
intentionally represent the views of any other being, living, dead, or
yet-to-be.

Jerry Falo, Ph.D., CHP
HMJF Professional Associate
Health Physics Program
USACHPPM
410-436-3548
gerald.falo@apg.amedd.army.mil
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