Hazard categories, chemicals

Globally Harmonized System for the Classlf cation and Labeling of Chemicals Hazard category 4 ... 

As with the case of mass, there are several approaches to metrics for this aspect. One can simply sum numbers and/or mass of chemicals possessing hazards in different areas for example, process safety, occupational exposure, or environmental hazard. Typically, most companies will use a banding approach for materials that allows a quick identification of the hazard category, and usually marries hazard with a suggested control approach for example, layers of protection, pressure relief valves, and so on. One is then able to rapidly identify issues and potential opportunities for elimination, substitution, or control. 

In addition to regulated chemicals, examples of hazard categories that may be selected for identifying chemicals of concern include but are not limited to Box 8.1. 

There are three major categories of filth and extraneous material that constitute contamination potentially hazardous, indicators of insanitation, and aesthetic defects (Zimmerman et al., 2003). Potentially hazardous material includes physical hazards such as hard or sharp objects, chemical hazards such as mites that can cause allergic reactions (Olsen, 1998), or insects that may carry food-borne diseases. Even if insects do not present a health hazard, the presence of insects as foreign matter in food is considered an indication of unsanitary conditions (Zimmerman et al., 2003). The presence of unsanitary conditions can be indicated by the presence of live or dead insects and by intact insects, fragments of insects, or insect products such as... 

There are no occupational exposure limits for many hazardous substances which may require control of inhalation exposures. The necessary data and other resources required for setting such limits is restricted and unlikely to match the potential demand. A hazard categorisation scheme was, therefore, developed for application within the chemical industry. The scheme used readily-available information on toxicological endpoints to place hazardous substances into a limited range of hazard categories, expressed as Occupational Exposure Bands. These Bands could be used as a basis for risk assessment and the selection of appropriate control regimes. 10 refs. EUROPEAN COMMUNITY EUROPEAN UNION UK WESTERN EUROPE... 

The data required for the risk assessment in relation to human health can be categorized as data on the identity of the substance, its physico-chemical and toxicological properties, and on exposure. The minimum data set required for a risk assessment depends on the chemical use category (industrial chemical, pesticide, biocide, food additive, food contact material, etc.), the regulation involved, and the goal of the risk assessment. This chapter will focus on the data used in the hazard assessment. 

ECETOC (2004) has proposed a concept of generic threshold values based on hazard categories primarily intended to be used in the risk assessment procedure of industrial chemicals within REACH. The hazard categories are based on EU classihcation limits and for each substance to be risk assessed, inclusion in hazard categories depends on the substance s specific classification (or no classification) according to the Commission Directive 67/548/EC (EC 1967). Three hazard categories have been suggested ... 

We should keep in mind that the term "pesticide" refers to a chemical use category and not a specific chemical characteristic. It does impart the knowledge that a substance has toxic properties which can be used to advantage. Only with proper chemical characterization of residues found in the body and knowledge of their potential influence on homeostasis will it be possible to dispel popular misconceptions to the effect that pesticide chemicals are handled differently from other chemicals which enter the body or are unique in the hazards they present to the system. 

The harmonized classification system for acute toxicity has been developed in such a way as to accommodate the needs of existing systems. A basic principle set by the lOMC Coordinating Group/Harmonization of Chemical Classification Systems (CG/HCCS) is that harmonization means establishing a common and coherent basis for chemical hazard classification and communication from which the appropriate elements relevant to means of transport, consumer, worker and environment protection can be selected . To that end, five categories have been included in the acute toxicity scheme. 

Carcinogen classification is a one-step, criterion-based process that involves two interrelated determinations evaluations of strength of evidence and consideration of all other relevant information to place chemicals with human cancer potential into hazard categories. 

For the purpose of classification for reproductive toxicity, chemical substances are allocated to one of two categories. Effects on sexual function and fertility, and on development, are considered. In addition, effects on lactation are allocated to a separate hazard category. 

Table 1. Hazard Categories and Selected Examples for Designing Safer Chemicals...

SARA (311/312) Hazard Categories Fire, Acute SARA 313 This product contains the following SARA 313 Toxic Release Chemicals ... 

Identification of Special Wastes under the Special Waste Regulations (SWR) under Section 2 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990. Hazardous categories include the category Ecotoxicity , defined as substances and preparations that present or may present immediate or delayed risks for one or more sectors of the environment. Most waste is likely to be classified according to its individual chemical components and information abstracted from toxicity databases. However, there is provision in the SWR for bioassays to be performed, specifically those in Annex V of EC Directive 67/548/EEC. 

The main categories included in CWRT metrics are energy, mass, water usage, pollutant, human health and eco-toxicity. Indicators of human health and eco-toxicity are based on the parameters already widely used in the assessment of chemical hazards, that is, permissible exposure limits and 50% of lethal concentration. The indicators also take into account the life-time of chemical pollutants in various media of the environment. 

The results are presented as amounts of waste for different hazardous categories (i.e., chemical tiers) as percentage of annual production volume. The categories, or tiers, are as follows ... 

Agents, type A, type B. See Chemical hazard prediction. Air stability category, 2-2—2-3 Alarm. See M8A1. 

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