In The Netherlands, risk assessment of air pollutants goes back to 1980. From 1985 onwards the risk assessment of chemicals has crystallized in a systematic multi-media approach taking into account air, water, soil, and food. Criteria Documents support the formulation of environmental quality standards. Until now, 23 documents were prepared. Some toxicological aspects of the risk assessment for man in these documents are discussed with emphasis on carcinogenicity. As examples the main aspects of the risk assessments of benzene and trichloroethylene are described. A list of proposed health based standards for air pollutants is added.
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