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Despite the fact that toxicological and epidemiological data are fundamental to health risk assessment (RA), the regulatory needs for RA play an important role in the recent advances in toxicology. This important role is well reflected in recent textbooks of general toxicology that include a chapter or more on risk assessment, and in such recent book titles as Toxicology and Risk Assessment. Also readily available on the Internet are numerous (new) courses advertised with the title of risk assessment and toxicology, or the like. In the United States, the Alabama Department of Public Health and the Texas Department of Agriculture are two example state agencies that have combined or consolidated toxicology and risk assessment into one functional program or branch. In California, health scientists have been filling the state toxicologist positions to work in various aspects of RA for chemicals considered as toxic to the state residents. The Reviews in Toxicology series (Pesticide Toxicology, Environmental Toxicology, etc.) and International Journal of Toxicology are two journals that specifically call for papers on risk assessment. In addition, the Society of Toxicology (SOT) is a professional and scholarly organization of scientists whose attendees to the annual meetings exceed two to three thousands each year. Risk assessment is now one of the regular specialty sections offered by the SOT.