Table 5.

Recommended criteria for risk assessment and mitigation proposals.

1.Reliability and confidence of the available data The accuracy or reliability of the data that are available is very important, because often there are insufficient data from which to confidentially extrapolate high quality estimations of risks (or benefits) for a whole population. 2.Choice of assumptions and models When data are missing or uncertain, the assumptions and models used by experts to estimate the risks and benefits may contain hidden values of the existing ideologies. 3.Sensitivity of the estimates The estimations depend on different plausible assumptions about exposures to hazards or benefits and on the method used for converting available data into estimations or prognoses. The choices of the methods are very important as they affect the decisions/proposals. This is also based upon the responsibility and values of the decision-maker. 4.Trust and confidence The boundaries or confidence limits, within which the correct risks (or benefits) are estimated, are very important and are subject to ethical values and ideologies.