Health risk assessments describe and estimate the likelihood of adverse health outcomes from,for example, environmental exposures to a particular agent. Using health risk assessments andother socio-economic factors, governments can set regulatory exposure standards to reduce therisk of experiencing health problems. There is a clear distinction to be drawn here between the roleof WHO in presenting information regarding risks to health such as risk factors, and settingregulations: the latter is the province solely of national and regional governments, who may wishto allow for other factors, such as cost implications and the level of public concern.