Principles of Risk Assessment

Abstract

^_ This review discusses the basic principles of risk assessment as used in general toxicology and in monitoring side-effects of therapeutic treatments. It also outlines how these principles may apply to assessment of biological reactions to dental restorative materials. Mercury exposure from amalgam fillings is used as an example. The calculations performed are intended only as illustrations, and many other factors must be taken into account. Thus, the calculations are not intended as the last word in risk assessment of amalgam fillings.

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

Abraham JE , Svare CW , Frank CW (1984). The effect of dental amalgam restorations on blood mercury levels. J Dent Res 63:71-73.

Barnes DG , Dourson M. (1988). Reference dose (RfD): Description and use in health risk assessments. Regul Toxicol Pharmacol 8:471-486.

Clarkson TW , Friberg L. , Hursh JB , Nylander M. (1988). The prediction of intake of mercury vapor from amalgams. In: Clarkson TW , Friberg L , Nordberg GF , Sager PR , editors. Biological monitoring of toxic metals. New York: Plenum Press, 261.

Diamond G. (1991). Personal communication.

Epa (1989). The Science Advisory Board: making a difference. Director's report fiscal year 1988, issued March, 1989. Washington, DC: Science Advisory Board, Office of the Administrator, United States Environmental Protection Agency, 9.

Gotelli CA , Astolfi E. , Cox C. , Cernichiari E. , Clarkson TW (1985). Early biochemical effects of an organo-mercury fungicide on infants: "Dose makes the poison". Science 227:638-640.

Kimmel CA (1990). Quantitative approaches to human risk assessment for noncancer health effects. Neurotoxicol 11:189-198.

Magos L. (1991). Mercury metabolism and toxicology. In: Hørsted-Bindslev P , Magos L , Holmstrup P , Arenholt-Bindslev D , editors. Dental amalgam-a health hazard? Copenhagen: Munksgaard , Chapter 2.

Nrc (1983). Risk assessment in the Federal Government: managing the process. Washington, DC: Committee on the Institutional Means for Assessment of Risks to Public Health, Commission on Life Sciences, National Research Council, National Academy Press.

10.

Patterson JE , Weissberg BG , Dennison PJ (1985). Mercury in human breath from dental amalgams. Bull Environ Contam Toxicol 34:459-468.

11.

Skerfving S. (1991). Exposure to mercury in the population. In: Suzuki T , Imura N , Clarkson T , editors. Advances in the mercury toxicology. New York: Plenum Press (in press).

12.

Svare CW , Peterson LC , Reinhardt JW , Boyer DB , Frank CW , Gay DD , Cox RD (1981). The effect of dental amalgams on expired air. J Dent Res 60:1668-1671.

13.

Vimy MJ , Lorscheider FL (1985). A serial measurement of intra-oral air mercury: estimation of daily dose from dental amalgam. J Dent Res 64:1072-1075.