Approaches for assessing risks to sensitive populations: lessons learned from evaluating risks in the pediatric population

Assessing the risk profiles of potentially sensitive populations requires a "tool chest" of methodological approaches to adequately characterize and evaluate these populations. At present, there is an extensive body of literature on methodologies that apply to the evaluation of the pediatric population. The Health and Environmental Sciences Institute Subcommittee on Risk Assessment of Sensitive Populations evaluated key references in the area of pediatric risk to identify a spectrum of methodological approaches. These approaches are considered in this article for their potential to be extrapolated for the identification and assessment of other sensitive populations. Recommendations as to future research needs and/or alternate methodological considerations are also made.

Associating changes in the immune system with clinical diseases for interpretation in risk assessment

This overview unit discusses the relationship between immunosuppression, a potential consequence of immunotoxicity, and disease progression. It also discusses other factors, such as stress and age, that affect disease susceptibility. These factors play an important role in risk assessment for exposures to environmental factors.