CERM’s Chemical Hazard, Exposure, and Risk Screening Services are focused on the assessment of new and existing chemicals with incomplete data available. Assessment includes physical/chemical properties, environmental fate, any potential human and ecological hazard properties, as well as exposure and risk screening. Since our method of assessing chemicals closely resembles the EPA’s risk assessment steps for new chemicals, it can be especially useful in support of a PMN submission.
Hazard and Risk Assessment can also prove very useful for chemicals early in the R&D stage, before data are available. A company can have a screening assessment completed and know with some certainty the hazards and risks that may be associated with a potential product. Understanding potentials risks allows to select for more environmentally friendly alternatives or aiding in designing exposure controls during development. Additionally, these assessments can provide a guide for addressing any potential risk concerns prior to regulatory submissions, which may help with a smooth submission.
Hazard Assessment
The first step in evaluating a new chemical is to examine the potential hazards. A hazard assessment uses predictive modeling based on structure-activity relationships (SARs) to identify potential environmental fate, human health and environmental hazards. The hazard assessment uses estimation methods and software recognized and developed by the EPA to determine the persistence, bioaccumulation, and toxicity hazard concerns for a chemical.
For more information, see Why do a P2 Assessment?
Exposure and Release Assessment
In order to determine risk, it is important to accurately estimate exposure to a chemical. CERM has extensive experience with multiple exposure assessment screening tools, inclduing ChemSTEER and E-FAST. Understanding potential sources of exposure and release early in the process can allow you to take proactive measures to minimize risk.
More information on the models used for the release and exposure assessment, including free downloads of the models themselves, can be found here.
Risk Assessment
Building off of the Hazard and Exposure assessment, the Risk screening assessment is the determination any risk concern areas associated with the chemical substance. CERM, with client input, will estimate the nature, duration and magnitude of human and environmental exposures and releases, and characterize any potential risk. This analysis determines if any hazards identified in the initial stages of the assessment will present a potential risk to human health or the environment and also can help pinpoint areas to address and mitigate any concerns.
