The Hazard Quotient (HQ) serves as a critical indicator in toxicological risk assessment, evaluating the potential health impact of chemical exposures by comparing actual exposure levels to scientifically established safety thresholds.
Represents the actual chemical intake an individual experiences, accounting for:
Expressed in milligrams of substance per kilogram of body weight per day (mg/kg-day).
An ultra-conservative safety benchmark developed through:
Also measured in mg/kg-day, representing exposure levels showing no observable adverse effects even with lifetime exposure.
Indicates exposure falls within acceptable safety margins. The lower the value below 1, the greater the safety buffer.
Suggests potential risk requiring further evaluation of exposure assumptions or toxicological data.
Signifies unacceptable risk demanding immediate exposure controls, with HQ > 100 indicating extreme hazard.