At the request of the Dutch State Secretary of the Environment the RIVM developed a set of procedures (rules) to manage (newly emerging) risks in a `sensible' manner, taking into account a number of controversial aspects of environmental health risks, such as: 1. The concept of risk is more than just numbers, it is a social construct as well. 2. There is no single universal measure to quantify health risk; all are value laden. 3. The result of quantitative risk assessment depends largely on the definition of the system boundaries. 4. The incertitude of risk assessments varies greatly, ranging from measurement error to ambiguity, from construct uncertainty all the way to complete ignorance. 5. Standard rights-based risk management strategies often fail cost-effectiveness tests. An approach is presented consisting of 4 steps of intricacy: simple quantitative risk assessment (e.g. tolerable risk criterion) on the one end and full participation of stakeholders and representatives of the public on the other. The report includes a discussion of a number of case studies (indoor radon, Legionella in drinking water systems, electric power lines, safety around airports). (Author/publisher)
Abstract