Applicability of the USEPA Risk of Death Model - Assignment Example

The risk factors associated with ill health include the air pollution caused by vehicular pollution and industries.

2. Identify the uncertainties in the USEPA risk assessment model and how each one affects risk

Though several health risk factors can be assessed and precautionary measures can be taken, some factors can’t be assessed properly which may be called uncertainties. They include asthma-related or induced factors and other respiratory disorders due to excess air pollution, the residual effect of toxic elements present in fruits and vegetables. We can’t avoid consuming fruits and vegetables and they contain several carcinogenic substances which may risk a person’s health. Asthma-related factors like the presence of dust and pollen in the air may cause bronchitis and asthma. Similarly, consumption of fruits and vegetables grown with chemical fertilizers and pesticides may result in cancer. The presence of heavy metals in groundwater may also become another important uncertainty for human health risk as they may damage the digestive and respiratory system in long run.

3. Explain how to “conservatively” estimate risk, what terms in the risk calculation this assumption
   affects, and whether a conservative risk will be larger or smaller.

 The accurate estimation of risk to human health is important for proper diagnosis. Hence there is a necessity of estimating risk in the most conservative manner so that some hidden factors also would be considered for the accumulated effect of the risk to human health which would facilitate faster and prompt diagnosis. For example, the risk assessment of Cryptosporidium parvum in reclaimed water was done using the conservative method in San Francisco (Jolis et al., 1999).  The conservative risk element will be larger in terms of assessment because it takes into consideration of each minute aspect with the objective of protecting human life, however, in terms of real risk to human health, it is always smaller as it provides ideal precautionary measures.