Risk assessment of peak exposures to carcinogenic substances. Report of a workshop

Short-term exposures to relatively high concentrations of chemical substances are a regular cause of concern, this holds especially for carcinogens. A report published by the Health Council of the Netherlands and some additional publications showed that tumor induction can result from peak exposures. The possibilities for the development of a decision tree for the risk assessment of peak exposures to carcinogenic substances were discussed by scientists and policy makers of several Ministries. A gradual development of a categorical decision tree by a multidisciplinary working group was endorsed. The workshop came up with a number of issues that should be addressed by the working group