Which step is part of environmental health risk assessment after a disaster?

• A. Exposure assessment
• B. Hazard identification
• C. Economic forecasting
• D. Community engagement

Answer: (B)

Hazard identification is the first step in environmental health risk assessment after a disaster. It involves determining whether a substance, agent, or condition present in the post-disaster environment could cause adverse health effects, using toxicology data, epidemiologic evidence, and an understanding of how people might be exposed in the affected setting. This step tells you which hazards need to be studied further and informs subsequent analysis like exposure assessment, dose–response assessment, and risk characterization. Economic forecasting focuses on costs and logistics rather than health risk quantification, and community engagement, while crucial for effective communication and public trust, isn’t a formal step in the risk assessment process itself.