How do the Guidelines account for the variability in susceptibility to carcinogens among the human population?
EPA’s Guidelines explicitly recognize that variability can exist among people in their susceptibility to carcinogens. Individuals in some subpopulations may experience increased susceptibility to carcinogens throughout their lives, such as people who have an inherited predisposition to certain cancer types or reduced capacity to repair genetic damage. Also, during certain lifestages the population may experience heightened susceptibility to carcinogens. In particular, EPA notes that childhood may be a lifestage of greater susceptibility for a number of reasons, such as that related to the rapid growth and development that occurs prenatally and after birth.
