Scientific Issues Regarding Product Safety and Risk Assessment Procter & Gamble has used risk assessment as the basis of its safety evaluations for many years. Here we provide our views on some of the recent issues that can influence our safety programs, including new research on assessing chemical hazards, exposures, and risk assessment methods.   Hazard Assessment Issues The first step of P&G's safety evaluation process is understanding the hazards associated with a product's ingredients. This typically involves evaluating potential toxicity to people and organisms in the environment. Here we discuss some of the current issues related to assessing chemical toxicity, and the consequences for our safety evaluations. Read More about Hazard Assessment Issues   Exposure Assessment Issues In general, the risk or safety of a product is determined by the extent to which people or the environment are exposed to its ingredients, in combination with its potential hazards. Procter & Gamble has developed a broad understanding of how consumers use products, and where they go in the environment, so that we can accurately evaluate exposure. We are also involved in research related to new methods of exposure evaluation. Read More about Exposure Assessment Issues   Risk Assessment Issues P&G believes that risk assessment should continue to be the preferred basis for evaluating and ensuring the safety of consumer products and their ingredients. Understanding hazards and possible exposures is a key first step. But there are also questions regarding how these are used to characterize risk. Read More about Risk Assessment Issues   Links