Taking Socioeconomic Factors into Account

If an environmental quality standard is not met, a regulator would not normally be expected to engage in assessing stakeholder views or to analyze the benefits and costs of action in achieving that standard. 

It is likely that there might be different sources of the substance for which a standard has been set, each requiring different approaches to control each of those sources. Thus, there is a need to consider the optimum distribution of costs in an equitable way — those responsible for the greatest impact should bear the larger part of the cost. The deadline for compliance will also provide further opportunities for economic analysis, examining different investment strategies, for example. 

Many control measures affect not only the substance for which a standard has been set but also other contaminants as well. For example, improved water treatment may reduce emissions of other contaminants. Therefore, the analysis undertaken for implementation should take this into account in examining benefits and costs. 

Environmental and Human Health Standards for Water and Soil 

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Application of a nonscientifically based safety factor to take into account political aspects, socioeconomic aspects (cost-benefit considerations), or risk perception factors (the nature of the effect may justify the use of an additional factor). 

The setting of a hygiene limit is a two-stage process - it involves firstly the collection and evaluation of scientific data and secondly the decision making process by a committee which also has to take into account socioeconomic and political factors. 

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