Risk-Based Policies and Regulations

Risk-Based Policies and Regulations 2.7.1 Anticipated Transients Without Scram... 

There has been a gradual move in environmental policy and regulation from hazard-based to risk-based approaches. This is partly due to the recognition that for many environmental issues a level of zero risk is unobtainable or simply not necessary for human and environmental protection and that a certain level of risk in a given scenario is deemed acceptable after considering the benefits. 

Cefic claims that polymeric materials, reaction intermediates and substances used for R D should not be subject to the REACH evaluation and authorisation process being proposed by the European Commission in its White Paper on future chemicals policy, it is briefly reported. On specific issues, Cefic wants a risk-based approach to chemicals assessment and regulation realistic deadlines for the REACH process and exemption from REACH of finished articles, so that it applies only to substances marketed as substances or as constituents of a preparation. 

This Report culminates in the presentation of the principles and framework for a comprehensive and risk-based hazardous waste classification system. NCRP does not propose a particular implementation of the proposed classification system (e.g., a particular quantification in terms of limits on concentrations of hazardous substances in each waste class) this is most appropriately left to governmental policy organizations. The relationship of the proposed risk-based waste classification system to existing regulations is discussed in Section 7.2. 

Risk characterization includes a comparison between toxicity values and/or exposure criteria and exposure (dose or media concentration) to determine whether the exposure is acceptable. US EPA developed a formalized system that is commonly used to determine whether chemicals are likely to present an unacceptable risk based on current and likely future use of the property. The estimated dose is used to calculate an additional lifetime cancer risk for each chemical regulated as a carcinogen. Typically, a total site risk (sum of the risk associated with all carcinogens identified at the site) is presented. Acceptable risk is defined by the agency, in the appropriate laws, or by regulations that govern the site. Acceptable risk is a function of policy or law but is supposed to be rooted in science. 

Black, J. and Baldwin, R. (2010) Really Responsive Risk-Based Regulation , Law and Policy, 32 (2) 181-213. 

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