制定饮用水污染物监管标准的过程基于使用标准数学模型向人类推断动物毒性数据。所涉及的假设和判断在过程的定性和定量方面都引入了相对高度的不确定性和保守性。根据致癌的具体机制知识制定标准将减少风险评估中涉及的不确定性。理解这些机制对于获得计算更合理标准的最合适的数学结构是必要的。 这篇文章的大部分解释了致癌性的机制。包括16个参考文献和表格。

The process by which regulatory standards are established for drinking water contaminants is based on extrapolating animal toxicity data to humans using a standard mathematical model. The assumptions and judgments involved introduce a relatively high degree of uncertainty and conservativeness into both the qualitative and quantitative aspects of the process. Setting standards based on knowledge of specific mechanisms of carcinogenicity would decrease the uncertainty involved in risk assessment. Understanding these mechanisms is necessary for arriving at the most appropriate mathematical construct for calculating more rational standards. The bulk of this article explains the mechanisms of carcinogenicity. Includes 16 references, tables.