strategy
Assessing chemical risks
Synonyms:
Promoting hazard assessment of chemicalsEvaluating chemical hazards
Context:
This strategy features in the framework of Agenda 21 as formulated at UNCED (Rio de Janeiro, 1992), now coordinated by the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development and implemented through national and local authorities. Agenda 21 recommends giving high priority to hazard assessment of chemicals, that is, of their intrinsic properties as the appropriate basis for risk assessment.
Paragraph 16 of the UN/ECE Ã…rhus Declaration requires signatories to conduct further evaluation of hazards and exposures from chemicals and their impacts on human health and the environment. It recommends such evaluations should be based on scientific evaluation, including risk assessment, and decisions should respect the precautionary principle.
Implementation:
At EU level the European NGOs, have continuously been asking for a fast track procedure in assessing priority substances, which goes immediately from hazard identification to action, taking into consideration the precautionary principle.
Counter Claim:
Corporations have succeeded in embedding risk assessment into all US government decision-making processes, so precautionary action is nearly inconceivable within most agencies of government. The public is much better informed, but its democratic institutions (public schools, the press, the judiciary, Congress and the executive branch) have been hijacked by corporate money and now mainly serve powerful elites, regardless of the general welfare.
Broader:
Assessing riskFurthering chemical scienceResearching exposure to environmental hazardsIncreasing international assessment of chemical risksIncreasing international cooperation on chemical managementExchanging information on programmes to reduce toxic chemical risk Narrower:
Coordinating chemical risk reduction programmesEstablishing chemical risk reduction programmesDeveloping chemical risk assessment capabilitiesDeveloping public information guidelines on chemical risksEvaluating cognitive effects of environmental health hazardsConducting epidemiological studies linking chemical exposure and diseasesEstablishing a globally harmonized hazardous chemical classification system Facilitates:
Applying chemical technologyPreventing chemical accidentsReducing chemical residues in foodUsing synthetic pesticides with careProviding public information on chemical safetyImproving information systems on toxic chemicalsStrengthening capabilities for dealing with chemical accidentsDeveloping emergency response procedures for chemical accidentsPreparing guidelines for enacting legislation on chemical safetyExpanding chemical safety research programmes at the local levelIncreasing technical training on chemical risk management in developing countries Facilitated by:
Applying environmental chemistryStandardizing chemical classificationTranslating international chemical safety reports into local languages Organizations:
ISSA International Section on Prevention in the Chemical Industry European Centre for Ecotoxicology and Toxicology of Chemicals International Programme on Chemical Safety Intergovernmental Forum on Chemical Safety Subjects:
Fundamental Sciences → ChemicalsCommunication → Promotion
Commerce → Assessment
Societal Problems → Hazards
Research, Standards → Evaluation
Type Classification:
G: Very Specific strategies Related UN Sustainable Development Goals:
