Environmental (hazardous chemical) risk assessment- era in the European Union

Abstract

The use of chemical substances causes complex environmental problems characterized by scientific uncertainty and controversies. When a chemical is discharged into the environment, it is transported and may undergo transformation. Knowledge of the environmental compartments in which the chemical substance is present and of the form in which it exists is paramount in the assessment of the possible impacts of the chemical on the environment. In the European Union, the environmental risk assessment (ERA) is often carried out and interpreted in accordance with the principles of sustainable development as chemical substances can cause adverse effects in both short- and long-term exposure scenarios. According to the technical guidelines, ERA is completed in four steps: hazard identification, exposure assessment, effects assessment, and risk characterization. Attention is drawn toward the negative effects that chemicals may cause to the environment. The procedure is discussed with emphasis on the exposure and effects assessment.