Risk uncertainty matters: an engineer's view
by Demetrios Moschandreas, Sudjit Karuchit
International Journal of Risk Assessment and Management (IJRAM), Vol. 5, No. 2/3/4, 2005

Abstract: Risk assessment is a multi-disciplinary endeavour that synthesises scientific, social and economic factors and protects public health and natural resources. This paper assesses the literature and discerns the impact of risk uncertainty on human risk assessment, risk management and risk communication. This literature assessment is illustrative rather than comprehensive and regards risk assessment from the point of view of the environmental engineer. This paper puts forward exposure, dose and risk models used to estimate carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic deterministic (point estimates) or probabilistic risk and uncertainty values. The emphasis is on the uncertainty of risk estimates, uncertainty taxonomy and estimation of parameter uncertainty and uncertainty associated with selection of models and scenarios of exposure. This paper attempts to assess the current scientific schism among proponents of deterministic risk estimation and supporters of probabilistic risk and uncertainty estimates and asserts that either may be used as a factor of the risk assessment objectives and available data.

Online publication date: Thu, 02-Jun-2005

The full text of this article is only available to individual subscribers or to users at subscribing institutions.

 
Existing subscribers:
Go to Inderscience Online Journals to access the Full Text of this article.

Pay per view:
If you are not a subscriber and you just want to read the full contents of this article, buy online access here.

Complimentary Subscribers, Editors or Members of the Editorial Board of the International Journal of Risk Assessment and Management (IJRAM):
Login with your Inderscience username and password:

Username:        Password:          Forgotten your password?

Want to subscribe?
A subscription gives you complete access to all articles in the current issue, as well as to all articles in the previous three years (where applicable). See our Orders page to subscribe.

If you still need assistance, please email subs@inderscience.com