Scientific-methodological aspects of risk assessment

The scientific-technical aspects of risk assessment for human health for arbitrary sources of risk and a more concrete variant for radiation are examined: the definition of the basic quantities; risk assessment in specific or generalized indicators of individual (cohort) or population risk in their possible dependence on time, age, and local conditions and in the integrated or averaged form; competition between different types of risks, and others. Standardized risk indicators, making it possible to eliminate the interference due to the competition between different types of risks, are proposed for practical applications. For radiation risk, the so-called deferred risk assessment (for individuals, who are alive today but who obtained a substantial dose several decades ago) is also studied. 2 figures, 32 references.