Calculated Risks The Toxicity and Human Health Risks of Chemicals in our Environment

'Calculated Risks demystifies the science and policies of risk assessment. It has become a staple in risk education, and is essential reading for students and professionals in public health, environmental protection, and public policy.' Thomas A. Burke, Professor and Associate Chair, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University ' ! Rodricks has made the difficult topic of risk assessment accessible to the regulatory, policy and scientific communities. Calculated Risks focuses on the science of assessing health risks and provides a framework for understanding this complex topic. It should be required reading for those concerned about environmental pollution and protection of health and environment. Carol J. Henry, Vice President Science and Research, American Chemistry Council 'Rodricks has written a book with a wealth of technical material that is so easy to read and follow, and which will be a gift to the students and fellow professionals he hopes will use it.' Alastair Hay, Nature Book Reviews 'Rodricks' book needs to be read by every medical scientist with any concern for public health issues as well as by environmental and food safety campaigners. It will sharpen debating skills enormously, broaden understanding of risk through chemicals and reveal not a few idiocies. Rodricks tells the scientists, the campaigners and the concerned citizens what they need to know. And they won't even need a dictionary. Dose-response curves, thresholds, environmental epidemiology and drug metabolism are all covered in simple and, at times, humorous terms. Toxicology is delightful - an art as well as science. Rodricks covers both.' Simon Wolff, New Scientist Review 'It is difficult to praise this book enough. An even-handed text that emphasizes complexity and reveals the gaps in our knowledge rather than oversimplifying the science of toxicology, [this book] belongs on the shelves of every environmental organization. Writing in a manner that neither condescends nor baffles his readers, Joseph V. Rodricks has produced a text that if used as a point of departure in discussing siting, pollution, and similar disputes could save time and effort ! This book is the basic text we all should read.' C. Ian Jackson, Environment ' ! presents a practical and balanced clarification of the scientific basis for our concerns and uncertainties. It should serve to refocus the debate.' Biology Digest ' ! a well-organized and readable text ! The book should be recommended reading for those interested in obtaining an understanding of risk assessment.' M. P. Schellenberg, Canadian Field Naturalist ' ! provides access to the science and uncertainty behind the oft-quoted risks of toxic chemicals ! The reader who completes the book is likely to know much more about the limitations of all assessments of risk.' Resha M. Putzrath, BioScience 'Rather than attempting to expose governmental and corporate ignorance, negligence or corruption, this book explores the underlying scientific issues. It presents a clarification of the scientific basis for our concerns and uncertainties.' The Bulletin of Sci., Tech and Soc. ' ! the best book we have yet seen on the theory of risk assessment - lucidly written, and even-handed ! If you want to understand the theory of risk assessment from the viewpoint of a successful risk assessor, this is the book for you." Rachel's Hazardous Waste News