Criteria for conducting quantitative risk assessments for silica.

Should quantitative risk assessment using epidemiologic data be performed for a substance such as silica dust? The criteria for conducting this step have been described by Hertz-Picciotto (1995) for individual epidemiology studies, and this paper applies the criteria to a body of cancer epidemiology research, indicating what the evidence is lacking. Discussion focuses on the cancer risk assessment calculations currently in the literature, the need for more research, and the relevance to decision making.