Table 2 . Framework for use of genetic and epigenetic data in occupational and environmental risk assessment.
Genetic | Epigenetic | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Risk Assessment | ||||
Functions | Inherited | Acquired | Inherited | Acquired |
Hazard Identification | • Screening chemicals | • Screening chemicals | • Screening chemicals | • Screening chemicals |
• Mutation endpoint | • Serve as endpoints | • Serve as endpoints | • Serve as endpoints | |
• Effect modifier | • MOA | • MOA | • MOA | |
• MOA | ||||
Dose-Response Modeling | • Modify gene-environment interaction | • Changes in gene expression with dose | • Modify gene-environment interactions | • Modify gene-environment interactions |
• Use as adjustment factors | ||||
Exposure Assessment | • Effect modifier | • Deviations from normal pattern of gene expression | • Effect modifier | • Effect modifier |
• Indicator of exposure | • Indicator of exposure | |||
Risk Characterization | • Prevalence of mutations | • Prevalence of gene expression patterns | • Prevalence of “marks” | • Prevalence of “marks” |
• Identification of high-risk groups | • Understand variability | • Understand variability | • Understand variability | |
• Understand variability | • Identification of high-risk groups | • Identification of high-risk groups | • Identification of high-risk groups |
MOA: mode of action.