What is the purpose of toxicological risk assessment?

The purpose of toxicological risk assessment is to evaluate the likelihood of adverse health effects resulting from exposure to chemicals. This process involves identifying potential hazards, assessing the dose-response relationship, and considering exposure levels to determine how likely it is that harmful effects will occur in humans or the environment.

Risk assessments help inform regulatory decisions and the development of guidelines to protect public health and the environment. By systematically examining hazardous substances, scientists and regulators can prioritize actions to minimize health risks associated with chemical exposures, ensuring that safety measures are based on scientific evidence.

The other options relate to important activities but do not capture the primary focus of toxicological risk assessment. Determining costs, establishing marketing strategies, or identifying safe handling practices all serve different purposes and are not primarily aimed at assessing the likelihood of health risks from toxic substances.