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Dietary Reference Intakes for Energy, Carbohydrate, Fiber, Fat, Fatty Acids, Cholesterol, Protein, and Amino Acids (2005) / Chapter Skim
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Appendix L: Options for Dealing with Uncertainties
Pages 1244-1249

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From page 1244...
... The most significant inference uncertainties arise in risk assessments whenever attempts are made to answer the following questions (NRC, 1994) : ·What sets of hazard and dose­response data (for a given substance)
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From page 1245...
... The NRC committee recognized that throughout a risk assessment, data and basic knowledge will be lacking and risk assessors will be faced with several scientifically plausible options (called inference options by the NRC) for dealing with questions such as those presented above.
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From page 1246...
... Although presenting a number of plausible risk estimates has the advantage that it would seem to more faithfully reflect the true state of scientific understanding, there are no wellestablished criteria for using such complex results in risk management. The various approaches to dealing with uncertainties inherent in risk assessment are summarized in Table L-1.
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From page 1247...
... 1986. Proposed guidelines for car cinogen risk assessment; Notice.
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From page 1248...
... 1248 DIETARY REFERENCE INTAKES TABLE L-1 Approaches for Dealing with Uncertainties in a Risk Assessment Program Program Model Advantages Case-by-case judgments by Flexibility; high potential to experts maximize use of most relevant scientific information bearing on specific issues Written guidelines specifying Consistent treatment of different defaults for data and model issues; maximization of uncertainties (with allowance transparency of process; resolution for departures in specific of scientific disagreements possible cases) by resorting to defaults Presentation of full array of Maximization of use of scientific estimates by assessors from all information; reasonably reliable scientifically plausible models portrayal of true state of scientific understanding
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From page 1249...
... APPENDIX L 1249 Disadvantages Potential for inconsistent treatment of different issues; difficulty in achieving consensus; need to agree on defaults Possible difficulty in justifying departure or achieving consensus among scientists that departures are justified in specific cases; danger that uncertainties will be overlooked Highly complex characterization of risk, with no easy way to discriminate among estimates; size of required effort may not be commensurate with utility of the outcome
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Key Terms

  • relevant scientific
  • true state
  • risk characterization
  • allow risk
  • inference options

  • sensitive set
  • basic knowledge
  • based answers
  • predetermined risk
  • uncertainties arise

  • uncertainties inherent
  • support alternatives
  • significant inference
  • definitive empirical
  • various approaches

  • provide explicit
  • estimates based
  • inference uncertainties
  • default assumptions
  • scientifically plausible

  • assessments whenever
  • fill knowledge
  • faithfully reflect
  • model uncertainties
  • empirically based

  • human population
  • assessing nutrient
  • past national
  • effects endpoint
  • assessment issued


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