What is a simple definition of “point of departure?
” A: In risk assessment, the “point of departure” is the dose selected as the starting point to which uncertainty or safety factors are applied to derive a “safe” dose. (http://www.epa.gov/iris/gloss8.htm) Historically, this starting point is either the NOAEL or the LOAEL. The use of a NOEL is a dramatic departure from current policy and constitutes a much more conservative starting point than has been used for any other regulated chemical.
