Risk assessment hazardous substances

Pollutants — Handbooks, manuals, etc. 2. Hazardous substances — Risk assessment — Handbooks, manuals, etc. 3. Environmental chemistry — Handbooks, manuals, etc. 4. Environmental risk assessment — Handbooks, manuals, etc. I. Title. 

Major Industrial Accidents Council of Canada (MIACC). 1994. Hazardous Substances Risk Assessment A MiniGuide for Municipalities and Industry. 

As mentioned previously, the assessment of hazard and risk to humans from exposure to chemical substances is generally based on the extrapolation from data obtained in smdies with experimental animals. In the absence of comparative data in humans, a basic assumption for toxicological risk assessment is that effects observed in laboratory animals are relevant for humans, i.e., would also be expressed in humans. In assessing the risk to humans, an assessment factor is applied to take account of uncertainties in the differences in sensitivity to the test substance between the species, i.e., to account for interspecies variability (Section 5.3). If data are available from more than one species or strain, the hazard and risk assessment is generally based on the most susceptible of these except where data strongly indicate that a particular species is more similar to man than the others with respect to toxicokinetics and/or toxicodynamics. Two main aspects of toxicity, toxicokinetics and toxicodynamics, account for the namre and extent of differences between species in their sensitivity to xenobiotics this is addressed in detail in Chapter 5. 

Acute toxic effects are considered as being threshold effects, i.e., effects for which there are expected to be a threshold of substance concentration below which the effects will not be manifested. For the hazard and risk assessment, it is important to identify those dose levels at which signs of acute toxicity are observed, and the dose level at which acute toxicity is not observed, i.e., to derive a NOAEL for acute toxicity. However, it should be noted that a NOAEL is usually not derived in the classic acute toxicity smdies, partly because of the limitations in smdy design. 

Data from studies in experimental animals are the typical starting points for hazard and risk assessments of chemical substances and thus differences in sensitivity between experimental animals and humans need to be addressed, with the default assumption that humans are more sensitive than experimental animals. The rationale for extrapolation of toxicity data across species is founded in the commonality of anatomic characteristics and the universality of physiological functions and biochemical reactions, despite the great diversity of sizes, shapes, and forms of mammalian species. 

To some extent, public institutions may be involved in hazard and risk assessments and decide on risk management, such as for (harmonised) classification and labelling of chemical substances, for authorisation of biocides and of plant protection products and for specific regulatory activities like bans or restrictions on the use of certain very hazardous chemicals. 

Responds to the release of hazardous substances in a defensive manner without actually trying to stop the release. Requires Level 1 competency and 8 hours of additional training in basic hazard and risk assessment, personal protective equipment selection, containment and control procedures, decontamination, and standard operating procedures. 

Nabholz, 3.V. 1991. Environmental hazard and risk assessment under the United States Toxic Substances Control Act. Sci. Total Environ. 109/110 649-665. 

Prior to commencing any experimentation, you are required to complete a hazard and risk assessment of the chemicals and apparatus that you will use, i.e. a Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) assessment (see Chapter 1). 

The Directive defines a system for the classification and categorization of substances according to their hazard potential. Risk assessment, evaluating hazard in the context of quantitative exposure information, is not carried out [3]. Generally, the classification and categorization procedure is conducted by a committee of National Experts who represent Member States. If necessary, a committee of Specialized Experts in a particul field may be convened to review the scientific evidence and attempt to reach a consensus. 

The information used to classify a chemical substance as dangerous , either to health or the environment, can be used for hazard assessment, which can be combined with chemical exposure data to produce a risk assessment. Further information on toxicity or exposure may be needed to refine the risk assessment, before any necessary risk management action is taken to ban or restrict the use of the chemical. (See also chapter by Cowie and Richardson.) Defined hazard and risk assessment procedures may be used by regulatffls, or informal assessments based on practical experience can be undertaken by chemical users, either voluntarily or to fulfil statutory obligations. 

Existing chemical substances, especially those supplied in high volume, may be subject to review in one of the national or international evaluation programs, such as the OECD Screening Information Data Set (SIDS) scheme [7]. Existing data are reported initially, but new studies may be required subsequently to fill data gaps, especially if necessary for adequate assessment of the substance. The hazard and risk assessment could lead to risk management. 

The CSEC use the information in the notification for the toxicity examination of the new substance. If the substance has a high probability of human or environmental exposure and is also hazardous, the risk assessment could establish there is a potential to cause serious harm and hence the MoE may restrict its use, require annual reporting of the amount supplied or designate it as a Toxic Chemical or Specified Toxic Chemical. 

The TSCA inventory (a list of 70,000 toxic chemicals) was established to record all products manufactured, imported, sold, processed, or used for commercial purposes. Exemptions include R D chemicals and by-products without commercial purpose. The TSCA also controls premanufacture review of new chemical substances, risk assessment by testing and information gathering, recordkeeping and reporting on health and environmental effects associated with chemical substances, and restrictions on known hazardous chemicals. 

Hazard evaluation of new and existing substances Risk assessment for new substances... 

Under CCSHH, an employer is required to carry out a suitable and sufficient assessment of the risks to the health of their employees created by work involving hazardous substances. The assessment must be kept under review and any necessary changes made following the review. In addition, control measures to reduce the risks posed by the substances must also be subject to maintenance, e.g. local exhaust ventilation systems (LEV) for the removal of flammable mixtures from the atmosphere. 

That would save about 20 million. One OSHA wag told me recently Forget about standards. Even in an second Obama term, you re not going to see standards. OSHA hasn t been productive in this department in decades. Let NIOSH put out substance-and hazard-specific risk assessments and guidelines. That s if there is anything left of NIOSH after it faces the axe. 

Major hazard aspects of the transport of dangerous substances 1991 Recommendations for training users of non-agricultural pesticides Health surveillance under COSHH. Guidance for employers Anaesthetic agents. Controlling exposure under COSHH Risk assessments of notified new substances... 

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