Specify Hazard Criteria for Each Benchmark in the Green Screen

Specify Hazard Criteria for Each Benchmark in the Green Screen 

The Green Screen defines four benchmarks on the path to safer chemicals  

It is critical to include a chemical s metabolites and degradation products in a hazard assessment because they may be more hazardous than the parent compound. The final benchmarkfora parent chemical is the lowest benchmark achieved by either it or its breakdown products. For example, if parent chemical Z achieved Benchmark 2, but its breakdown product Y achieved Benchmark 1, the final benchmark for parent chemical Z is Benchmark 1. Thus the degradation product or metabolite of a chemical is equivalent to the parent compound with respect to its benchmark. The burden of proof in this case lies with those who would demonstrate that the degradate or metabolite is insignificant (i.e. transient, not actually formed, etc.). 

THE GREEN SCREEN FOR SAFER CHEMICALS EVALUATING FLAME RETARDANTS FOR TV ENCLOSURES 23 

The chemicals that stop at Benchmark 1 are those for which any release into the environment and exposure to humans is viewed as problematic and not amenable to management through pollution control measures. 

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