Risk of Death in Canada

Jeffrey Moon is head of the Documents Reference/Data Centre at Queen’s
University.

Risk of Death in Canada aims to provide (i) “a summary of accessible
health risk information,” and (ii) “an explanation of the underlying
source (evidence and inferential basis) and the certainty of health risk
information.” Put succinctly, what are we at risk of dying of, and how
worried should we be?

The infectious diseases and difficult living conditions faced by
Canadians a century ago have given way to chronic diseases affecting an
aging population. Our exposure to a host of chemicals, pesticides,
additives, and drugs has greatly complicated the measurement of “risk
of death.” Chapters dealing with direct evidence, indirect
evidence/inference, and predictive inference explain how researchers
approach the question of risk.

Risk of Death in Canada is aimed primarily at students in the health
sciences and professions, health professionals, and policymakers. Topics
covered include risk factors, risk perception, risk assessment,
uncertainty, and “numerical data” in the context of analyzing risk.
The book is well written and well organized, makes effective use of
tables and charts, and includes a glossary, a list of abbreviations,
extensive references, and a section on additional information sources.
The authors’ extensive use of Canadian data makes their book a unique
and essential text for Canadian students of epidemiology and public
health.