EPA health risk assessments are conducted for both specific sites (such as Superfund sites) and specific chemicals. In site assessments, a four-part process is used to estimate the chance that contact with chemicals from that site will harm people now or in the future. The first step of the process is data collection and evaluation, including sampling. The next step is exposure assessment, followed by toxicity assessment and then risk characterization to reveal which chemicals are posing risks and what the health risks are. Chemical-specific assessments use a similar procedure to gauge the health risks posed by particular substances.

Recommended EPA Web pages

• NCEA: Human Health Risk Assessments
  Links to resources on Human Health Risk Assessments.
• Research Programs: Human Health Risk
  Provides information about human health risk assessment.
• Assessing Health Risks from Pesticides
  The Federal Government, in cooperation with the States, carefully regulates pesticides to ensure that they do not pose unreasonable risks.

Children's Health
School Environments

Exposure
Acute Exposure, Cumulative Exposure, Dermal Exposure, Dietary Exposure, Exposure Assessment, Exposure Route, Threshold Level

Food Safety
Irradiated Food

Health Assessment

Health Effects
Asthma, Genetic Damage, Respiratory Disease

Occupational Health
Worker Protection, Worker Safety

Seniors' Health
Aging Initiative

Sun Protection

Toxicity
Chronic Toxicity, Dermal Toxicity, Toxicological Profile