Weight of evidence

{
  "id": "MLC-T-ENV-030260",
  "term": "Weight of evidence",
  "field": "Environment",
  "definitions": [
    "Weight of evidence (WOE) category. Based on the quality and adequacy of data on carcinogenicity, EPA places a chemical in one of the following five weight of evidence categories, as specified in 51 FR 33996: A. Carcinogenic to humans; B. Probable carcinogen; B1. Indicates limited human evidence; B2. Indicates sufficient evidence in animals and inadequate or no evidence in humans; C. Possible carcinogen; D. Not classifiable; E. Evidence of non-carcinogenicity.",
    "1. In determining carcinogenicity, a system for characterizing the extent to which the available data support the hypothesis that an agent causes an adverse health effect in humans. For example, under EPA's 1986 cancer risk assessment guidelines, the WOE was described by categories \"A through E,\" Group A for known human carcinogens through Group E for agents with evidence of noncarcinogenicity. The approach outlined in EPA's proposed guidelines for carcinogen risk assessment (1996 and updates) considers all scientific information in determining whether and under what conditions an agent may cause cancer in humans, and provides a narrative approach to characterize carcinogenicity rather than categories.\n\n2. Describes the process of evaluating multiple lines of evidence, which includes quantitative weightings to information, in addition to other factors."
  ],
  "abbreviation": "WOE",
  "subject": [
    "Chemicals, toxics and pesticides",
    "Water"
  ],
  "references": [
    "Risk-Screening Environmental Indicators (RSEI) Glossary",
    "EPA 2003, 2004",
    "N-STEPS Online Glossary of Terms"
  ],
  "url": "https://mlchart.com/terminology/environment/weight-of-evidence/"
}