| Summary: | When people say they must make a decision involving risk, they often mean that the decision involves the possibility of an adverse consequence. This report does not deal with risk and decision making so broadly defined, since almost every important decision in life entails the possibility of an adverse consequence. To narrow its task, the committee concentrated on those decisions involving the possibility of adverse effects for human health, safety, and the environment. This narrowing does not reflect a belief that other types of risks are less important--certainly the personal risks in a career choice or the economic risks faced by people in business are no less important. The focus reflects the committee's expertise and, more important, a growing public awareness of and concern about adverse consequences to human health, safety, and the environment
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