Which statement best distinguishes hazard assessment from risk assessment in regulatory decision making?

• A. Hazard assessment estimates actual risk by combining hazard with exposure.
• B. Hazard assessment identifies potential adverse effects and dose–response; risk assessment combines hazard with exposure to estimate actual risk.
• C. Hazard assessment quantifies the probability of occurrence; risk assessment identifies dose–response relationships.
• D. Hazard assessment only uses animal data; risk assessment uses human data only.

Answer: (B)

In regulatory decision making, hazard assessment characterizes what adverse effects can occur and the dose–response relationship, independent of how much exposure happens. Risk assessment takes that hazard information and combines it with exposure to estimate the actual risk to people or the environment. The best statement captures this distinction precisely: hazard assessment identifies potential adverse effects and dose–response, while risk assessment combines hazard with exposure to estimate actual risk. The other options mix in exposure or data sources incorrectly or imply hazard alone can quantify real-world risk.