文章基本信息

标题：Introduction of risk size in the determination of uncertainty factor UFL in risk assessment
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作者：Jinling Xue ; Yun Lu ; Natalia Velasquez 等
期刊名称：Environmental Research Letters
印刷版ISSN：1748-9326
电子版ISSN：1748-9326
出版年度：2012
卷号：7
期号：3
页码：034036
DOI：10.1088/1748-9326/7/3/034036
语种：English
出版社：IOP Publishing Ltd
摘要：The methodology for using uncertainty factors in health risk assessment has been developed for several decades. A default value is usually applied for the uncertainty factor UF_L, which is used to extrapolate from LOAEL (lowest observed adverse effect level) to NAEL (no adverse effect level). Here, we have developed a new method that establishes a linear relationship between UF_L and the additional risk level at LOAEL based on the dose–response information, which represents a very important factor that should be carefully considered. This linear formula makes it possible to select UF_L properly in the additional risk range from 5.3% to 16.2%. Also the results remind us that the default value 10 may not be conservative enough when the additional risk level at LOAEL exceeds 16.2%. Furthermore, this novel method not only provides a flexible UF_L instead of the traditional default value, but also can ensure a conservative estimation of the UF_L with fewer errors, and avoid the benchmark response selection involved in the benchmark dose method. These advantages can improve the estimation of the extrapolation starting point in the risk assessment.