strategy
Increasing international assessment of chemical risks
Synonyms:
Improving international cooperation on risk assessment of chemicalsHarmonizing chemical exposure assessment
Implementation:
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 expanding and accelerating international assessment of chemical risks. It recommends reviewing strategies for exposure assessment and environmental monitoring to allow for the best use of available resources, to ensure compatibility of data and to encourage coherent national and international strategies for that assessment. In particular it recommends promoting mechanisms to increase collaboration among governments, industry, academia and relevant non-governmental organizations involved in the various aspects of risk assessment of chemicals and related processes, in particular promoting and coordinating research activities to improve understanding of the mechanisms by which toxic chemicals act. Narrower:
Assessing chemical risksStrengthening programmes on chemical risk assessmentSecuring chemical data from industry for assessing potential risksSetting assessment priorities for toxic chemicals of global concernIncreasing research on safer alternatives to harmful toxic chemicalsIncreasing chemical risk research by industry in developed countriesIncreasing international exchange of chemical risk assessment reportsFinding alternatives for chemical research methods which use test animalsConducting ecotoxicological studies to assess chemical risk to the environmentCoordinating research activities on the mechanisms of action of toxic chemicalsAssisting developing countries to strengthen chemical risk assessment capabilitiesConducting epidemiological studies linking chemical exposure and diseases Facilitated by:
Researching transboundary water pollutionExchanging information on transboundary water pollution Values:
RiskIncreaseExposureUnexposedCooperationOverexposureRisk-aversionUnderexposureNoncooperation Subjects:
Fundamental Sciences → ChemicalsCommerce → Assessment
Societal Problems → Hazards
Research, Standards → Quality unification
Development → Reform
Type Classification:
C: Cross-sectoral strategies Related UN Sustainable Development Goals:
