RA

Question 1

What does ERA stand for

Answer 1

Environmental Risk Assessment

Question 2

Defenition ERA

Answer 2

• risk to human beings and looks at ecological implications of large-scale environmental pollution, and arises from exposure and hazard
• provides objective info based on analysis of scientific data which describes the form, magnitude and characteristics of a risk

Question 3

Term: Hazard

Answer 3

chemical compounds that are toxic and can cause harm to human health and ecosystems

Question 4

Term: Exposure assessment

Answer 4

Part of RA methodology, where PEC (predictable env. concentration) is obtained and gives an estimation of the level of exposure for species in that env.

Question 5

Term: Risk categorization

Answer 5

Final step in RA. It is a framework to determine the significance of the risk.
Integrates the three steps before: hazard identification, exposure assessment, effect assessment

Question 6

Term: PEC

Answer 6

PEC - predicted environmental concentration

Question 7

Term: PNEC

Answer 7

PNEC - predicted no-effect concentration

Question 8

Term: NOEC

Answer 8

NOEC - no effect concentration level

Question 9

Methodology of ERA, 4 steps

Answer 9

1. Hazard identification
2. Exposure assessment
3. Effect assessment
4. Risk categorization

Question 10

What are the basis for RA methodology

Answer 10

• risk does not exist if exposure to a harmful substance or situation does not or will not occur
• Hazard is determined by whether a particular substance or situation has the potential to cause harmful effects

Question 11

What triggers Risk management

Answer 11

The Risk management process is triggered by concern about risk of particular uses of a chemical situation

Question 12

Describe step 1 of RA

Answer 12

1. Hazard identification
   - identification of the adverse effects that a substance has an inherent capacity to cause
   - the likelihood of harm due to exposure that distinguishes risk from hazard
   - involves gathering and evaluating data on the types of health effects or diseases that may be produced by a chemical and exposure conditions under which environmental damage, injury or disease will be produced

Question 13

Describe step 2 of RA

Answer 13

2. Exposure assessment
   - how much the endpoint will be exposed to, once a chemical is produced, used and emitted
   - involves estimating emissions, pathways and rates of movement of a substance to see how humans or env. compartments are exposed
   - describing the nature and size of human or environmental compartments exposed to a substance, and the magnitude and duration of their exposure - past, current or future
   - no exposure, no risk

Question 14

What determines magnitudes of exposure

Answer 14

• Geographic - chemicals often in water or air
• Degradation - break down time
• Bioconcentration - accumulation of a chemical in a bio organism
• Biomagnification - accumulation of a chemical in food chain
• Exposure path

Question 15

How to determine PEC

Answer 15

PEC = ((sum in)-(sum out))/(volume compartment)

Question 16

Describe step 3 of RA

Answer 16

3. Effect assessment
   - dose-response assessment
   - the estimation of the relationship between dose or level of exposure to a substance, and the incident and severity of effect

Question 17

What does toxic effect depends on

Answer 17

• Dose
• Organism
• How often exposed

Question 18

Describe step 4 of RA

Answer 18

4. Risk characterization
   - effect and exposure on endpoint (human or env.)
   - involves the integration of the three previous steps
   - Risk quotient

Question 19

Describe Risk Quotient (RQ)

Answer 19

RQ = PEC/NOEC

if RQ > 1 there is a risk

Question 20

What steps in applying is there

Answer 20

Source -> Hazard -> Fate -> Endpont/Receptor

Boat -> chemical -> Inhalation -> fish

Question 21

Examples of Fate

Answer 21

Inhalation, dermal contact, bioconcentration