C: Chemical Concentration in Food

Definition: The amount of a chemical substance present in a given quantity of food.

Example: If the concentration of pesticide residue in apples is 0.5 mg/kg, it means that for every kilogram of apples, there is 0.5 milligrams of pesticide residue.

K: Food Consumption

Definition: The amount of food consumed by an individual or population, often measured in grams per day (g/day).

Example: If an average adult consumes 200 grams of apples per day, this value (200 g/day) is used in exposure calculations.

EF: Exposure Frequency

Definition: How often an individual is exposed to a hazardous substance, usually expressed as the number of days per year.

Example: If a person eats apples 300 days per year, the EF is 300 days/year.

ED: Exposure Duration

Definition: The total length of time an individual is exposed to a hazardous substance, often measured in years.

Example: For chronic exposure assessment, if a person has been consuming apples for 30 years, the ED is 30 years.

IR: Ingestion Rate

Definition: The rate at which a substance is ingested, typically measured in grams per kilogram of body weight per day (g/kg/day).

Example: If an adult weighing 70 kg consumes 200 grams of apples daily, the IR is calculated as 200 g / 70 kg = 2.86 g/kg/day.

AT: Average Exposure Time

Definition: The average duration over which exposure occurs, used to normalize chronic exposure data.

Example: For lifetime exposure assessment, the AT might be 70 years (the average lifespan).

B.W: Average Body Weight

Definition: The body weight of an individual, used to normalize exposure data.

Example: If the average body weight of the population is 70 kg, this value is used in risk assessment calculations.

CSF: Cancer Slope Factor

Definition: A factor used to estimate the risk of cancer associated with exposure to a carcinogenic substance, expressed in (mg/kg/day)^-1.

Example: If the CSF for a particular pesticide is 0.01 (mg/kg/day)^-1, it means that for every milligram per kilogram per day of exposure, there is a 1% increase in cancer risk.

CPs: Cancer Potency Slope

Definition: A measure of the strength of a substance’s carcinogenic potential, similar to the cancer slope factor.

Example: If the CPs for a chemical is 0.05 (mg/kg/day)^-1, this indicates a higher potency compared to a CSF of 0.01 (mg/kg/day)^-1.

HQ: Hazard Quotient

Definition: The ratio of potential exposure to a substance and the level at which no adverse effects are expected.

Example: If the estimated daily intake (EDI) of a chemical is 0.001 mg/kg/day and the reference dose (RfD) is 0.01 mg/kg/day, the HQ is 0.001 / 0.01 = 0.1. An HQ less than 1 indicates no significant risk.

HI: Hazard Index

Definition: The sum of hazard quotients for multiple substances, indicating the overall risk.

Example: If the HQs for three different chemicals are 0.1, 0.2, and 0.3, the HI is 0.1 + 0.2 + 0.3 = 0.6. An HI less than 1 suggests no significant cumulative risk.

ILCR: Incremental Lifetime Cancer Risk

Definition: The additional risk of developing cancer over a lifetime due to exposure to a carcinogenic agent.

Example: If the chronic daily intake (CDI) of a carcinogen is 0.0001 mg/kg/day and the cancer slope factor (CSF) is 0.01 (mg/kg/day)^-1, the ILCR is 0.0001 * 0.01 = 0.000001, or 1 in a million.

TR: Target Cancer Risk

Definition: The risk level considered acceptable for exposure to a carcinogenic agent.

Example: Regulatory agencies might set a TR of 1 in 100,000 (0.00001) for a specific carcinogen, meaning the acceptable level of risk for exposure is 0.00001.

MOE: Margin of Exposure

Definition: A ratio that helps prioritize and communicate risks associated with unavoidable exposure to genotoxic chemical carcinogens.

Example: If the benchmark dose lower confidence limit (BMDL10) for a chemical is 1 mg/kg/day and the estimated daily intake (EDI) is 0.001 mg/kg/day, the MOE is 1 / 0.001 = 1000. A higher MOE indicates a lower risk.

BMDL10: Benchmark Dose Lower Confidence Limit

Definition: A dose associated with a specified risk level, used in risk assessment.

Example: If the BMDL10 for a toxic substance is 1 mg/kg/day, this value is used as a reference point to assess safety thresholds.

RfD: Reference Dose

Definition: An estimate of a daily exposure to the human population that is likely to be without appreciable risk of harmful effects during a lifetime.

Example: If the RfD for a pesticide is 0.01 mg/kg/day, it means that daily exposure below this level is considered safe for humans over a lifetime.

ADI: Acceptable Daily Intake

Definition: The amount of a chemical that can be ingested daily over a lifetime without appreciable health risk.

Example: If the ADI for a food additive is 0.05 mg/kg/day, it means that daily intake below this level is considered safe for humans.

TDI: Tolerable Daily Intake

Definition: The amount of a substance that can be ingested daily over a lifetime without appreciable health risk.

Example: If the TDI for a contaminant is 0.01 mg/kg/day, it indicates the safe daily intake level.

ARfD: Acute Reference Dose

Definition: The amount of a substance that can be ingested in a short period without appreciable health risk.

Example: If the ARfD for a pesticide is 0.1 mg/kg, it means that single-day exposure below this level is considered safe.

PTWI: Provisional Tolerable Weekly Intake

Definition: The maximum amount of a contaminant that can be ingested weekly without posing a health risk.

Example: If the PTWI for a heavy metal is 0.025 mg/kg, it means that weekly intake below this level is considered safe.

POD: Point of Departure

Definition: A data point derived from experimental studies used to calculate safety thresholds.

Example: The POD might be the lowest observed adverse effect level (LOAEL) or no observed adverse effect level (NOAEL) from a study.

UF: Uncertainty Factor

Definition: A factor used in risk assessment to account for gaps in data and knowledge.

Example: If the NOAEL for a substance is 1 mg/kg/day and an uncertainty factor of 100 is applied, the RfD is 1 / 100 = 0.01 mg/kg/day.

TTC: Threshold of Toxicological Concern

Definition: A risk assessment tool used to establish exposure thresholds for chemicals.

Example: The TTC for a certain chemical class might be set at 0.0025 mg/kg/day, indicating the threshold below which no significant risk is expected.

NOAEL: No Observed Adverse Effect Level

Definition: The highest exposure level at which there are no significant increases in the frequency or severity of adverse effects.

Example: If a study finds no adverse effects at 0.5 mg/kg/day, this level is the NOAEL.

LOAEL: Lowest Observed Adverse Effect Level

Definition: The lowest exposure level at which there are significant increases in the frequency or severity of adverse effects.

Example: If a study identifies adverse effects at 1 mg/kg/day but not at 0.5 mg/kg/day, the LOAEL is 1 mg/kg/day.

HBGVs: Health-Based Guidance Value

Definition: A range of exposures that are expected to be without appreciable health risk.

Example: HBGVs include values such as RfD, ADI, and TDI, which are used to guide safe exposure levels.

Select Risk Type