Step 5: Work out your introduction's risk to the environment
To be able to finish your categorisation you need to work out the risks of your introduction to the environment. To work this out start at 5.1 and continue as far as you need to through each step.
Once you have your answer for the risk of your introduction to the environment – medium to high, low or very low – go to Step 6. In Step 6 you'll combine the human health risk and the environment risk for the final category of your introduction.
Step 5.1 Introductions that are always medium to high risk to the environment
Start at this step if your chemical introduction is a type that is always medium to high risk to the environment.
Step 5.2 Introductions that can be low risk to the environment
This step relates to international assessments and how to work out if your introduction can be low risk to the environment based on its international assessment.
Step 5.3 Work out your environment exposure band
Part of the process to work out the risk to the environment of your introduction is to work out its exposure band. There 4 environment exposure bands - Exposure band 1 has the lowest level of environment exposure and exposure band 4 the highest level
Step 5.4 Work out your environment hazard characteristics
A chemical has an environmental hazard characteristic if it can cause damage, harm or adverse effects to the environment. Find out what you need to do to establish the environment hazard characteristics of your chemical.
Step 5.5 Outcome - your environment risk for your categorisation
Use the table on this page to confirm the risk of your introduction: medium to high, low or very low. After you this, go to step 6 to complete your categorisation.
By now you know the human health risk of your introduction – medium to high, low or very low – which you completed in step 4.
Step 5.1: Introductions that are always medium to high risk to the environment
Instructions
Go through A, B, C, D and E to work out if you are, or are not, introducing any of these types of chemicals. You must keep records of study reports and other information that you used to answer each question.
A. Is your chemical a certain gas?
B. Is your chemical a certain organotin chemical?.
*D. Is your chemical a certain polyhalogenated organic chemical?.
*E. Is your chemical a certain chemical at the nanoscale?.
*Note, these last 3 types of chemical introductions we describe on this page are the same as the ones that we describe in step 4.1 for human health. This means that they are medium to high indicative risk to the environment and to human health. So if you are introducing one of these types of chemicals, you should have already worked out that your introduction category is assessed because of its indicative human health risk being medium to high. Also, you now know that it’s also assessed because of its indicative environment risk being medium to high.
A. Is your chemical a certain gas?
Your chemical is a gas if it is in the gaseous phase at 20oC and 101.3kPa (ambient conditions).
All introductions of chemicals that are a gas and are persistent in the environment are a specified class of introduction.
No I am not introducing this type of chemical
You must be able prove this. For example, you might have a SDS or product information sheet that indicates the appearance. You also need to be able to provide the information if we ask for it.
Next step: Go to 'B. Is your chemical a certain organotin chemical?'
Yes I am introducing this type of chemical
If you are introducing a gas, you must consider which of the following circumstances apply to your introduction.
1. Introduced at volumes less than 100kg
Next step: Go to 'B. Is your chemical a certain organotin chemical?'.
2. Introduced at volumes higher than 100kg each year
You need to have information about the persistence of your gas. To prove that your gas is not persistent, we’ll accept information that shows your gas has a half-life in air of less than 2 days. This could be:
- an in silico prediction using EPI Suite AOPWIN or
- studies that use methods that are well established in published peer-reviewed scientific literature
Next step: If you do have the in silico predictions or studies to prove that your gas is not persistent, go to 'B. Is your chemical a certain organotin chemical?'.
or
If you do not have the required in silico predictions or studies described above, then you cannot prove that your gas is not persistent.
Outcome: Your introduction is medium to high indicative risk to the environment. This means your introduction is in the assessed category and called an 'assessed introduction'.
- Before you can introduce the chemical, you must apply for an assessment certificate and select 'Environment focus' as the application type or apply for a commercial evaluation authorisation (if you meet the strict criteria).
- When you apply for an assessment certificate, you need to answer ‘yes’ when we ask if your introduction is a specified class of introduction. When we receive your application, we’ll contact you to ask for extra information that we need to assess the risks of your introduction.
B. Is your chemical an organotin chemical?
Organotin chemicals are chemicals that contain at least 1 tin atom that is covalently bound to at least one carbon atom. They are widely used as polyvinyl chloride (PVC) stabilisers, biocides, and in antifouling paints.
No I am not introducing this type of chemical
You must be able prove this. You (or the chemical identity holder) need information about the identity of the chemical as proof you are not introducing this type of chemical. You also need to be able to provide the information if we ask for it.
Next step: Go to 'C. Chemicals that contain a sequence of 4 to 20 fully fluorinated carbon atoms (including per- and poly-fluorinated alkyl substances, known as PFAS).
Yes I am introducing this type of chemical
If you are introducing an organotin chemical, you must consider which of the below circumstances apply to your introduction.
1. Introduced at volumes less than or equal to 10kg per year
Next step: Go to 'C. Does your chemical contain a sequence of 4 to 20 fully fluorinated carbon atoms (including per- and poly-fluorinated alkyl substances, known as PFAS)'.
2. Introduced at volumes greater than 10kg per year
Outcome: If this applies to your introduction, it is in the assessed introduction category and is called an 'assessed introduction'. Before you can introduce the chemical, you must apply for an assessment certificate and select 'Environment' focus as the application type or apply for a commercial evaluation authorisation (if you meet the strict criteria).
C. Does your chemical contain a sequence of 4 to 20 fully fluorinated carbon atoms (including per- and poly-fluorinated alkyl substances, known as PFAS)?
Fluorinated chemicals contain fluorine atoms and include per- and polyfluorinated chemicals (PFAS). These are commonly used in products to add resistance to heat, other chemicals, and abrasion. They also act as dispersion, wetting or surface treatment agents. We have an increased level of concern for introductions of chemicals that contain a sequence of 4 to 20 fully fluorinated carbon atoms (including PFAS) because these chemicals, or their degradation products, may be persistent in the environment, bioaccumulate and be highly toxic.
No I am not introducing this type of chemical
You must have information about your chemical's identity as proof that you're not introducing this type of chemical. You (or the chemical identity holder) need to provide the information if we ask for it.
Next step: Go to 'D. Is your chemical a certain polyhalogenated organic chemical?' below.
Yes I am introducing this type of chemical
Outcome: Your introduction has a medium to high indicative risk to both human health and the environment. This means your introduction is in the assessed category and called an 'assessed introduction'.
- Before you can introduce the chemical, you must apply for an assessment certificate and select 'Health and environment focus' as the application type or apply for a commercial evaluation authorisation (if you meet the strict criteria).
- When you apply for an assessment certificate, you need to answer ‘yes’ when we ask if your introduction is a specified class of introduction. When we receive your application, we’ll contact you to ask for extra information that we need to assess the risks of your introduction.
D. Is your chemical a polyhalogenated organic chemical?
Polyhalogenated organic chemicals are carbon-based chemicals that contain more than 1 covalently bonded halogen atom, such as bromine, chlorine, fluorine, or iodine. Polyhalogenated organic chemicals are commonly used as flame retardants in plastics, textiles, and electronic circuitry. They may have long-term effects on human health and the environment. We have an increased level of concern for introductions of chemicals that are polyhalogenated organic chemicals because these chemicals, or their degradation products, may be persistent in the environment, bioaccumulate and be highly toxic.
No I am not introducing this type of chemical
You must have information about your chemical's identity as proof that you're not introducing this type of chemical. You (or the chemical identity holder) need to provide the information if we ask for it.
Next step: Go to 'E. Is your chemical a certain chemical at the nanoscale?' below.
Yes I am introducing this type of chemical
All introductions of polyhalogenated chemicals are a specified class of introduction.
If the chemical identity information that you (or the chemical identity holder) have confirms you are introducing this type of chemical, you must consider which of the following circumstances apply to your introduction.
1. Introduced at volumes less than or equal to 100 kg each year
Next step: Go to 'E. Is your chemical a certain chemical at the nanoscale?' below.
2. Introduced at volumes higher than 100 kg each year
You need to have test results about the persistence of your chemical and any of its known environmental degradation products.
- Known environmental degradation products refer to the expected breakdown products of the chemical under environmentally relevant conditions. These breakdown products are ones that have been found in studies or reported in scientific literature.
- A persistent chemical remains intact in the environment for long periods of time. A chemical is persistent if its degradation half-life (T1/2) is greater than or equal to:
- 2 days in air or
- 2 months in water or
- 6 months in soil or
- 6 months in sediment.
To prove that your chemical and any of its known environmental degradation products are not persistent, we accept study results in option 1 or 2.
Option 1
A study conducted following OECD test guideline 301 (Ready Biodegradability) that results in the pass levels being reached within one of the following time periods:
- specified time period – such that the chemical is considered to be readily biodegradable or
- duration of the test – but not within the specified time period for the chemical to be considered readily biodegradable, provided biodegradation has started within the specified time period
If you have this study showing these results, then move on to 'E. Is your chemical a certain chemical at the nanoscale?' below.
Option 2
A study conducted following OECD test guideline 308 (Aerobic and Anaerobic Transformation in Aquatic Sediment Systems) that results in both a degradation half-life of less than 2 months in water and 6 months in sediment.
If you have this study showing these results, then move on to 'E. Is your chemical a certain chemical at the nanoscale?' below.
If you do not have either of the study results described in option 1 or 2
Outcome: Your introduction is medium to high indicative risk to human health and the environment because you cannot prove that your chemical (and any of its known environmental degradation products) are not persistent. Your introduction is medium to high indicative risk to human health and the environment. This means your introduction is in the assessed category and called an 'assessed introduction'.
- Before you can introduce the chemical, you must apply for an assessment certificate and select 'Health and environment focus' as the application type or apply for a commercial evaluation authorisation (if you meet the strict criteria).
- When you apply for an assessment certificate, you need to answer ‘yes’ when we ask if your introduction is a specified class of introduction. When we receive your application, we’ll contact you to ask for extra information that we need to assess the risks of your introduction.
E. Is your chemical a certain chemical at the nanoscale?
Introductions of chemicals that meet all 4 criteria below are medium to high indicative risk to both human health and the environment. We refer to these introductions as 'certain chemicals at the nanoscale'. We have an increased level of concern for chemicals at the nanoscale, because of uncertainty about the risks of some of these chemicals due to their potentially different properties, such as chemical reactivity, relative to the non-nanoscale forms of the chemicals.
- It is introduced as a solid or is in a dispersion.
- It consists of particles in an unbound state or as an aggregate or agglomerate. At least 50% (by number size distribution) of the particles have at least 1 external dimension in the particle size range of 1nm to 100nm (ie. the nanoscale). Note that if you meet criteria 1 and 2, and regardless of whether you meet criteria 3 and 4, your introduction is a specified class of introduction.
- It is not soluble. This means the solubility of the chemical in water is less than 33.3 g/L measured following OECD test guideline 105 or 120 for water solubility; or the dissolution rate of the chemical is not more than 70%.
- The introduction of the nanoscale portion of the chemical (the part that has a particle size range of 1nm to 100nm) is not incidental to the introduction of the non-nanoscale portion. This is the case if any of the following apply:
- the manufacture of the chemical (in Australia or overseas) at the nanoscale is the result of a deliberate manufacturing decision
- the manufacture of the chemical (in Australia or overseas) at the nanoscale is necessary for the manufacture of the non-nanoscale portion of the chemical. This means that to make the non-nanoscale chemical, part of the chemical has to be at the nanoscale
- the chemical at the nanoscale has specific technical characteristics that are the intended result of changes in the manufacturing process. For example, if the process of manufacturing the chemical changes in order to change the particle size of the chemical, or its properties at the nanoscale. This could happen by:
- mechanical actions like milling, grinding, shearing, sieving or sonication
- chemicals reactions like electrochemical exfoliation, or catalysts
- other changes such as changes to pressure or temperature or pH or solvent
Yes I am introducing this type of chemical
This means that your introduction meets all 4 criteria above and is a 'certain chemical at the nanoscale'.
Outcome: Your introduction has a medium to high indicative risk to both human health and the environment. This means your introduction is in the assessed category and called an ‘assessed introduction’.
- Before you can introduce the chemical, you must apply for an assessment certificate and select 'Health and environment focus' as the application type or apply for a commercial evaluation authorisation (if you meet the strict criteria).
-
When you apply for an assessment certificate, you need to answer ‘yes’ when we ask if your introduction is a specified class of introduction. When we receive your application, we’ll contact you to ask for extra information that we need to assess the risks of your introduction.
No I am not introducing this type of chemical
This means that you have information or studies to prove that your chemical does not meet any of the 4 criteria, or it only meets some of the 4 criteria. Answering the questions below will help you prove this. As you go through the questions, we'll tell you the next steps you should take.
Some introductions are always medium to high risk to the environment. This means they will be in the assessed introduction category and you need to apply for an assessment certificate.
Step 5.2 Introductions that can be low risk for the environment
This step relates to introductions that are internationally assessed for the environment. These must meet all of the following criteria to be considered ‘low indicative risk’ for the environment.
Skip this step if you are not using an internationally assessed chemical.
Note: Your introduction might still be low indicative risk for the environment but you will need to complete steps 5.3, 5.4 and 5.5 to work this out.
Step 5.2.1
Refer to our Guide to categorising internationally assessed introductions. It has extra information for introducers using international assessments and covers scenarios and outcomes for chemicals that are internationally assessed for:
- human health only
- the environment only
- both human health and the environment
It also lists the trusted overseas bodies we accept assessments from.
The relevant section to refer to in the guide to help you complete step 5.2 is Internationally assessed for the environment only.
Step 5.2.2
Once you’ve read the guide to categorising internationally assessed introductions, you'll be able to work out whether your introduction either:
- meets our criteria for internationally assessed for the environment
- does not meet our criteria for internationally assessed for the environment
Your introduction meets our criteria for internationally assessed for the environment
Option 1
- Keep the outcome you already have — your introduction is low risk for the environment; and
- Go to step 6 to complete your categorisation.
Option 2
Check to see if your introduction can be very low risk for the environment by completing the rest of step 5:
- Complete Step 5.3 — Work out your introduction's environment exposure band; then
- Complete Step 5.4 — Work out your introduction's environment hazard characteristics
Once you’ve done this, go to step 6 to complete your categorisation.
Your introduction does not meet our criteria for internationally assessed for the environment
Continue with step 5 to work out your introduction's risk for the environment.
Next:
- Complete Step 5.3 — Work out your introduction's environment exposure band; then
- Complete Step 5.4 — Work out your introduction's environment hazard characteristics
Once you’ve done this, go to step 6 to complete your categorisation.
If you've established your introduction is not medium to high risk for the environment (Step 5.1), now see if your introduction can be low risk for the environment.
Step 5.3 Work out your environment exposure band
Why you need to work out your introduction's exposure band
It is part of the process to identify the indicative environment risk of your introduction. In step 4, you also had to work out your introduction's human health exposure band.
What does an environment exposure band identify about your introduction?
It identifies the likelihood and extent of environmental exposure to the chemical. This likelihood and extent of exposure increases with each band. Exposure band 1 is the lowest exposure band, and exposure band 4 the highest. Introductions in environment exposure band 1 will have the lowest level of environmental exposure, and exposure band 4, the highest.
Information used to assign a chemical to its correct exposure band
Environment categorisation volume
Get help with working out your environment categorisation volume
Explore our online decision tool on categorisation volumes
If your chemical has a designated kind of release into the environment
We define 'designated kind of release into the environment' (which we refer to throughout this page) to be where the chemical is intentionally released during use to land, biota, natural waterways, municipal water supplies or air (unless its only for domestic or personal use, or end use in an air freshener). It also includes any releases to the environment from firefighting end uses and releases into the ocean.
See also:
- Categorisation of chemicals intentionally released to the environment during use
- Categorisation of chemicals with an end use in firefighting
- Categorisation of chemicals with an end use offshore
What's your environment exposure band?
Start with Exposure Band 1 and work down the page.
Exposure band 1 criteria
If the environment categorisation volume for your chemical does not exceed 25kg, then your introduction is in environment exposure band 1. Next, work out the environment hazard characteristics of your introduction (Step 5.4)
If your introduction does not meet this criteria, go to exposure band 2 criteria.
Exposure band 2 criteria
If the environment categorisation volume for your chemical is greater than 25kg, but no more than 1,000kg, then your introduction is in environment exposure band 2. Next, work out the environment hazard characteristics of your introduction (Step 5.4)
If your introduction does not meet this criteria, go to exposure band 3 criteria.
Exposure band 3 criteria
If the environment categorisation volume for your chemical is greater than 1,000kg, but no more than 10,000kg, then your introduction is in environment exposure band 3. Next, work out the environment hazard characteristics of your introduction (Step 5.4).
If you are not in exposure bands 1-3 for the environment, go to exposure band 4 criteria.
Exposure band 4 criteria
Introductions with a designated kind of release into the environment: if you're introducing one of these you are in exposure band 4 for the environment. Next, go to Step 5.4: Work out your environment hazard characteristics.
The environment categorisation volume of your introduction is greater than 10,000kg. Go to Step 5.4: Work out your environment hazard characteristics.
Next: Step 5.4 Work out your environment hazard characteristics
There are 4 environment exposure bands - exposure band 1 has the lowest level of environmental exposure and exposure band 4 the highest level. Follow steps on this page to work out your environment exposure band.
Work out your environment categorisation volume
On this page:
- Instructions
- Methods you can use to work out an ECV for your chemical
- Table - release reduction factor (RRF) you need to work out ECV, depending on end use scenario
- Product definitions and examples from the RRF table
Explore our categorisation tool for help on this subject
Instructions
- Use this guidance to calculate your introduction's environment categorisation volume.
- We've included the equations to use and the options you have to choose from, dependent on the scenarios of your introduction.
- You can adopt a simple method or a more detailed method (which can result in a lower introduction volume than the simpler method).
- Once you have worked out your environment categorisation volume, you can complete step 5.3.
Methods you can use to work out an ECV for your chemical
There are 2 ways to work out the environment categorisation volume.
Method 1: Simplest approach
Use this method if you want an easy way to work out your environment exposure band.
ECV calculation for this approach
The ECV is your chemical’s total introduction volume in a registration year for all end uses.
Method 2: More detailed approach
Use this method if you want a more refined environment categorisation volume. Using this method could result in an ECV that is lower than the total introduction volume in a year. This could mean that your introduction ends up being in a lower environment exposure band than if the total introduction volume (method 1) had been used.
The calculation of the ECV using method 2 is different depending on whether your chemical introduction has 1 end use or more than 1 end use.
If your introduction has 1 end use
For a chemical with only 1 end use, calculate the ECV by multiplying the introduction volume (IV) by the release reduction factor (RRF) for your chemical’s end use scenario:
Equation (1): ECV = IV x RRF
The introduction volume you should use in your calculation is the total introduction volume in a registration year. Use the RRF that applies to your end use scenario (refer to our RRF table).
The RRF values range between 0 and 1. A low RRF indicates that only a small portion of the introduction volume is likely to contribute to environmental exposure. A higher RRF indicates that a higher proportion of the introduction volume could contribute to environmental exposure.
If your introduction has more than 1 end use
You can choose from 2 options to calculate the ECV where your chemical has more than 1 end use.
Option 1: Simplest approach
Use this option if:
- you do not know the annual introduction volume of your chemical for each end use
- you want to simplify the process of working out your environment exposure band but still want a more refined environment categorisation volume
ECV calculation for this approach
Allocate the total introduction volume to the end use scenario that has the highest RRF (refer to our RRF table, and use Equation (1) to calculate the ECV. Note: do not just use the volume for one of the end uses.
Option 2: More detailed approach
Use option 2 if:
- you know the annual introduction volume of your chemical for each end use
- you are willing to keep track of any changes to your introduction volume for each end use. This is needed to make sure that the indicative environment risk of your introduction does not increase
Calculate a separate environment categorisation volume for each of your end uses. Use the RRF for the end use (refer to our RRF table), and the volume that you will be introducing for that end use. Do this for all of your end uses and then add them up to get your total environment categorisation volume (use equation (2) below).
ECV = (IV1 x RRF1) + (IV2 x RRF2) +… + (IVn x RRFn)
Note: IVn = the introduction volume for end use ‘n’
RRFn = the release reduction factor (RRF) for end use ‘n’.
Table - Release reduction factor (RRF) you need to work out ECV, depending on end use scenario
Note, after this table, we've provided product definitions with examples.
| If your introduction's end use scenario is... | The RRF you need to use is... |
|---|---|
| Chemical imported into Australia; import containers remain closed; then exported for end use overseas | 0 |
| Chemical imported into Australia; limited handling of the chemical (such that import containers are opened); then exported for end use overseas | 0.05 |
| Chemical manufactured in Australia; exported for end use overseas | 0.05 |
| Adhesive and sealant products (end use in Australia) | 0.05 |
| Apparel and footwear care products (end use in Australia) | 0.05 |
| Arts, crafts and hobby products (end use in Australia) | 0.05 |
| Explosive products (end use in Australia) | 0.05 |
| Fuel, oil, fuel oil additives and related products (end use in Australia) | 0.05 |
| Lubricant and grease products (end use in Australia) | 0.05 |
| Personal care products - limited environmental release (end use in Australia) | 0.05 |
| Tattoo ink products (end use in Australia) | 0.05 |
| Paint and coating products (end use in Australia) | 0.05 |
| Plastic and polymer products (end use in Australia) | 0.05 |
| Construction products not covered by other end uses (end use in Australia) | 0.2 |
| Fabric, textile and leather products not covered by other end uses (end use in Australia) | 0.4 |
| Electronic products (end use in Australia) | 0.5 |
| Ink, toner and colourant products (end use in Australia) | 0.8 |
| Air care products (end use in Australia) | 1 |
| Anti-freeze and de-icing products (end use in Australia) | 1 |
| Automotive care products (end use in Australia) | 1 |
| Cleaning and furniture care products (end use in Australia) | 1 |
| Laundry and dishwashing products (end use in Australia) | 1 |
| Extractive products not covered by other end uses (end use in Australia) | 1 |
| Paper products (end use in Australia) | 1 |
| Personal care products not covered by other end use (end use in Australia) | 1 |
| Photographic products (end use in Australia) | 1 |
| Water treatment products (end use in Australia) | 1 |
| Personal vaporiser products (end use in Australia) | 1 |
| Any other end use not covered above (end use in Australia) | 1 |
Product definitions and examples from the RRF table
Adhesive and sealant products means an end use to fasten other materials together or stop the passage of liquid or gas. Examples include:
- glues
- binders
- adhesives
- pastes
- sealants
- fillers
- putties
- solder and caulking compounds
Apparel and footwear care products means an end use to care for apparel and footwear products intended for consumer and commercial use. Examples include:
- footwear polishes
- waxes and stains to waterproof and improve appearance and other desirable properties
- apparel surface treatment products for water, stain or flame resistance
Arts, crafts and hobby products means an end use in arts, crafts or hobbies. Examples include:
- crafting paints
- crafting glue
- adhesives (e.g. solder and hot-melt adhesives)
- fixatives
- finishing spray coatings and modelling clay
Explosive products means an end use for producing a sudden expansion, usually accompanied by production of heat and large changes in pressure. Examples include:
- pyrotechnics
- high explosives and propellants
- igniters
- primers
- initiatory
- illuminants
- smoke and decoy flares
- incendiaries
Fuel, oil, fuel oil additives and related products means an end use as:
- liquid fuel in containers used for cooking, heating or for power in vehicles or appliances, or
- a fuel additive to inhibit corrosion, provide lubrication, increase efficiency of use, or decrease production of undesirable by-products.
Examples of liquid fuels include:
- gasoline
- diesel fuels
- kerosene
- lamp oils
Examples of fuel oil additives include:
- stabilisers
- anti-knock agents
- corrosion inhibitors
- detergents
- fuel dyes
- oxygenates
- antioxidants
- odour agents
Lubricant and grease products means an end use in a liquid, paste or spray to reduce friction, heat generation and wear between solid surfaces. Examples include:
- engine oils
- transmission, brake and hydraulic fluids
- gear oils
- calcium, sodium, lithium, and silicone-based greases
Personal care products – limited environmental release means an end use in solid or hardening personal care products (including cosmetics) that are primarily disposed of to landfill. Examples include:
- baby wipes
- facial tissues
- nail care products including nail polish and remover
Tattoo ink products means an end use in a combination of industrial chemicals that contains one or more colouring agents and is applied to the dermal layer of the skin for the purposes of colouring the skin. Examples include:
- pigments
- dyes
- resins
Paint and coating products means an end use to paint or coat substrates intended for consumer or commercial use. Examples include:
- decorative coatings
- automotive coatings
- transportation coatings
- wood finishes
- powder coatings
- coil coatings
- packaging finishes
- general industrial coatings
- automotive refinish
- industrial maintenance and protective coatings
- marine coatings
- thinners
- removers
Plastic and polymer products means an end use in production of plastics or polymers. Examples include:
- monomers
- initiators
- additives
Construction products not covered by other end uses means an end use in construction materials, except where another scenario covers the end use. Examples include:
- additives in cements and dry mortar
- additives to bitumen for road repair
- internal release agents for thermo-set laminating resins
- resins in particle board manufacture
- wood substitutes used to make mouldings
- resins used in the production of composite materials
Fabric, textile and leather products not covered by other end uses means an end use to impart colour and other desirable properties onto fabric, textiles, and leather products that are intended for consumer or commercial use.
These properties include:
- water/soil/stain repellence
- wrinkle resistance
- flame resistance
Examples of this type of product include:
- textile dyes
- textile finishing agents
- leather tanning products
- leather dyes
- leather finishing agents, leather conditioner and surface treatment products
Electronic products means an end use in the production of electronic components. Examples include:
- chemicals in vapour deposition
- electroless plating
- electroplating
- etching
- high vacuum evaporation/sputtering
- laminate processing
- soldering
- photolithography
Ink, toner and colourant products means an end use for:
- writing
- printing
- creating an image on paper and other substrates
- applying to substrates to change their colour or hide images
Examples of this type of product include:
- pigmented liquid
- toners or powders used in copy machines and toner/printer cartridges
- inks used in writing equipment
- inks for stamps and correction fluids and tapes
This category does not include pigments and colourants added to paints and coatings.
Air care products means an end use to odorise or deodorise indoor air in homes, offices, motor vehicles, and enclosed spaces and intended for consumer or commercial use. Examples include:
- aerosol sprays
- liquid/solid/gel diffusers
- air fresheners
- scented candles
- incense
Anti-freeze and de-icing products means an end use:
- as an additive to fluids, especially water, to reduce the freezing point of the mixture, or
- applied to surfaces to melt or prevent build-up of ice
Examples of this type of product include:
- anti-freeze liquids
- de-icing liquids (windshield de-icers, aircraft de-icers)
- de-icing solids (ice melting crystals)
- lock de-icers
Automotive care products means an end use (intended for consumer or commercial use) to clean and care for exterior and interior surfaces of automotive vehicles. Examples include:
- car waxes
- polishes
- waterproofing products for windshield or automotive window glass
- cleaners
- sealers
- car wash solutions
- vinyl/rubber/plastic protectants
- automotive carpet and upholstery cleaners
- wheel and tyre care products
- exterior trim protectants
- touch-up paint products
Cleaning and furniture care products means an end use (intended for consumer or commercial use) to:
- remove dirt, grease, stains, and foreign matter from furniture and furnishings
- cleanse, sanitise, bleach, scour, polish, protect, or improve the appearance of surfaces
Examples include:
- cleaners used on glass, floors, tub and tile, ovens and drains
- scouring powders
- dusting products
- waxes
- polishes
- stain repellent sprays
Laundry and dishwashing products means an end use in liquid, granular, gel or unit dose packets/tablets to:
- remove food residue from dishes
- remove dirt from textiles
- enhance properties of textiles
- remove stains from textiles
Examples include:
- dishwashing detergents and laundry detergents
- stain removers and fabric enhancers
- bleach
- rinse aids
- lime and rust removers
- dry cleaning products used in non-aqueous cleaning processes
Extractive products not covered by other end uses means an end use in:
- mining
- onshore drilling
- related activities such as extraction, cementing, hydraulic fracturing, refining
These scenarios do not include end use in offshore drilling. This end use is a designated kind of release into the environment (for which you do not calculate an ECV).
Paper products means an end use in paper production. Examples include:
- effluent treatment chemicals
- maintenance chemicals
- deposit and cleaning agents
- defoamers
- surfactants
- polymeric retention aids
- coagulants
- clay
- resins
Personal care products not covered by other end uses means an end use for cosmetic use, except those covered under the “personal care products - limited environmental release end use” scenario. Examples include:
- bath and shower products
- make-up products
- hair, oral and skin care products
- secondary sunscreen products
- deodorants
- perfumes
Photographic products means an end use (for consumer or commercial use) to take photographic images, develop and process film, and make photographic prints. Examples include:
- processing solutions (for developing, stopping, and fixing photos)
- chemicals used in the manufacture or processing of film or photographic paper
Water treatment products means an end use to treat water in cooling and heating systems (including industrial heat-exchanger systems) and potable water supplies. Examples include:
- chemicals used in pH buffers
- scale and corrosion inhibitors
- flocculating agents
- ion exchange resins
This scenario does not include end uses to treat municipal water supplies or other large-scale water supplies for human or animal consumptions or irrigation. These end uses involve a designated kind of release into the environment (for which you do not calculate an environment categorisation volume).
Personal vaporiser products means an end use in a device that is intended to produce a vapour or aerosol that is delivered into a person’s body when the person inhales through the device. Examples include:
- e-cigarettes
- e-cigars
- e-hookah pens
- e-pens
- e-pipes
- vape pens
You need to know the environment categorisation volume (ECV) of your introduction to work out its environment exposure band. Information on this page helps you work this out so you can complete Step 5.3.
Step 5.4 Work out your environment hazard characteristics
You must have permission to use information that you relied on to demonstrate the absence of hazard characteristics. If we ask you for the information that you relied on to categorise your introduction, you need to provide us with the detailed information, including full study reports, of the kind we specify in this step to demonstrate the absence of the hazard characteristics.
Hazard characteristics in environment hazard bands
A chemical has an environment hazard characteristic if the chemical can cause damage, harm or adverse effects to the environment. For example, a chemical that has the 'toxic to any aquatic life' hazard characteristic can cause toxic injury to an organism following short term aquatic exposure.
Environment hazard characteristics are split up into hazard bands. Hazard characteristics of most concern are in hazard band D, while those of lower concern are in hazard band A.
See links below to each of the hazard bands: D, C, B and A.
Our pages for environment hazard bands D, C, B and A describe hazard characteristics (eg toxic to any aquatic life and so on) in each hazard band and the information you need to have to prove your chemical does not have a particular hazard characteristic.
Information you need and hazard characteristics you need to consider
This varies depending on your introduction’s environment exposure band.
If your introduction is in a lower exposure band
Generally, in the lower exposure bands, where the level of exposure to the environment is relatively low, as a minimum you have to consider only a few hazard characteristics and you don’t need much information on them.
If your introduction is in a higher exposure band
In comparison, in higher exposure bands, where the level of exposure to the environment is higher, generally you’ll need to consider more hazard characteristics and need more information on them.
Information you need for lower indicative risk
You will need more hazard information to be able to get to lower indicative risk outcomes. Generally, within any given environment exposure band you need:
- less hazard information to get to medium to high risk
- more hazard information to get to low risk
- the most hazard information to get to very low risk
See Step 5.5 for more information about indicative environment risk outcomes
Where to start and when you can stop considering your chemical's hazard characteristics
Always start in the highest hazard band (hazard band D) and work your way down the hazard bands as far as you need to get to your outcome (that is, D, C then B then A).
You must consider each hazard characteristic in the hazard band you are in (unless there is a reason for you to stop sooner) - does your chemical have that hazard characteristic or not?
When you might not need to consider all of the hazard bands
- Because your introduction’s environment exposure band (which you worked out in step 5.3) doesn’t require it. For example, if your introduction’s environment exposure band is 2, you only need to consider the hazards in hazard band D to get to an indicative environment risk of either medium to high or low.
- Because the outcome for indicative environment risk that you are trying to get to doesn’t require it. For example, if your introduction’s environment exposure band is 3 and you want to get to an indicative environment risk of low, you only need to consider the hazard characteristics in environment hazard bands D and C.
In many cases, you’ll only need to consider hazard band D. But in other cases you might need to consider D, C, B and A because your introduction is in exposure band 3 or 4 and you are trying to get to very low indicative environment risk.
See step 5.5 for more about indicative environment risk outcomes
When you can stop working through your chemical’s environment hazard characteristics
Stop if you:
- determine that your chemical has a hazard characteristic in the hazard band (e.g. persistent, bioaccumulative and toxic - you are in hazard band D) or
- cannot demonstrate that your chemical does not have a certain hazard characteristic in that hazard band . This means that we consider your chemical to have this hazard characteristic or
- get to an indicative environment risk outcome and don’t want to go any further - see step 5.5 for more information about environment risk outcomes or
- have demonstrated that your chemical does not have any hazard characteristics in hazard bands D, C, B and A . This would only be needed for environment exposure bands 3 and 4. It means that the indicative environment risk of your introduction is very low
After you stop, you don’t need to consider the remaining hazard characteristics in the hazard band where you stopped, or any of the hazard characteristics in lower hazard bands. Take note of where and why you stopped and move on to step 5.5.
Example: Rosemary's introduction is in environment exposure band 4. She considers all of the hazard characteristics in environment hazard band D and can demonstrate that her chemical does not have any of these hazards. Rosemary then moves on to hazard band C. She works through the hazard characteristics in this hazard band in the order that they are shown in the table. When Rosemary comes to 'very toxic to any aquatic life', she finds that her chemical has this hazard characteristic. This means Rosemary can stop there. The indicative environment risk of Rosemary's introduction is medium to high. She does not need to continue further to see if her chemical has the other hazard characteristic in hazard band C (persistent and bio-accumulative). Also Rosemary doesn't need to consider if her chemical has any of the hazard characteristics in hazard bands B or A.
How to consider each hazard characteristic
Look at whether your chemical meets the hazard characteristic definition based on the information that you have.
If it does meet the hazard characteristic definition, stop there and move to step 5.5.
If it does not meet the hazard characteristic definition, you’ll need to try and prove that your chemical does not have this hazard characteristic.
Our pages on hazard bands D, C, B and A describe hazard characteristics and the ways to prove that your chemical does not have a hazard characteristic.
How to prove that your chemical does not have a hazard characteristic
You can read about your options to prove that your chemical does not have a particular hazard characteristic on each environment hazard band page. These options include:
- checking if your chemical is on the list of chemicals with high hazards for categorisation
- in silico predictions
- in vitro test results
- in vivo test results
- suitable read-across information in place of information on the chemical itself
- other information about your chemical that means that testing and in silico predictions are not necessary (that is, information waivers)
If you have access to existing information on the chemical or suitable read-across information, you should consider these first. If you need to generate new data to prove the absence of a hazard characteristic, you should choose non-animal test data when possible. You should only generate new animal test data as a last resort.
See our section on use of animal test data
If you can prove that your chemical does not have the hazard characteristic, move on to the next hazard characteristic in that hazard band, or from the next hazard band down.
If you cannot prove that your chemical does not have the hazard characteristic, stop there – your chemical is considered to have this hazard characteristic.
Take note of the hazard band that this hazard characteristic is in. If your chemical is one of these:
there may be different requirements for you to prove that your chemical does not have certain hazard characteristics.
Resources to help you with this step
We refer to the following throughout this step:
- List of chemicals with high hazards for categorisation
- In silico information - an overview of which human health (4.4) and environment characteristics have in silico options and which in silico models are appropriate.
You can also check our glossary for the definition of in silico. - Acceptable test guidelines for each environment hazard characteristic in this step
- Suitable read across information
- Decision tools for step 5.4 (self-guided tools to help you categorise your introduction)
- hazard characteristics for environment exposure band 1, hazard characteristics for environment exposure band 2, hazard characteristics for environment exposure band 3, hazard characteristics for environment exposure band 4 - use this tool if your introduction is in this exposure band
To work out the environment characteristics your chemical does and does not have, you must know your environment exposure band (Step 5.3). The information you need to consider hazard characteristics varies depending on your introduction’s exposure band.
Environment hazard band D hazard characteristics
Environment hazard characteristics are split into hazard bands. Hazard characteristics of most concern are in hazard band D, while those of lower concern are in hazard band A.
Hazard band D has 5 hazard characteristics you need to consider:
- Contains arsenic, cadmium, lead or mercury
- Ozone depleting chemical
- Synthetic greenhouse gas
- Adverse effects mediated by an endocrine mode of action
- Persistent, bioaccumulative and toxic
Instructions
You must always start at hazard band D. Step 5.4 tells you when you can stop working through your chemical's environment hazard characteristics and when you need to check each of them - ie D, C, B and A.
Work your way through hazard characteristic on this page. Look at whether your chemical meets the hazard characteristic definition based on the information that you have.
If it does meet the hazard characteristic definition, stop there - your introduction's environment hazard band is D. Move on to the next step - step 5.5 Work out your environment risk for categorisation.
If it does not meet the hazard characteristic definition, you’ll need to try and prove that your chemical does not have this hazard characteristic. The information that you need to prove this for each hazard characteristic is shown below. If you do not have this information, stop there - your introduction’s environment hazard band is D. Move onto the next step – step 5.5 Work out your environment risk for categorisation.
If you do have this information (so you can prove that the chemical does not have the hazard characteristic), move onto the next hazard characteristic on this page.
After you have considered all the hazard characteristics on this page and have proven that the chemical does not have any of them, decide whether you can stop there or continue to environment hazard band C. This depends on the exposure band of your introduction.
If your introduction is in environment exposure band 1 or 2, you can choose to stop (and go to step 5.5 to work out your environment risk for categorisation), or to continue to environment hazard band C.
If your introduction is in environment exposure band 3 or 4, continue to environment hazard band C.
Hazard characteristics and required information
Contains arsenic, cadmium, lead or mercury
Contains arsenic, cadmium, lead or mercury means that the industrial chemical contains one or more of the following:
- arsenic
- cadmium
- lead or
- mercury
There are no extra information requirements to prove that the chemical does not have this hazard characteristic.
Ozone depleting chemical
Ozone depleting chemical means that any of the following apply to the industrial chemical:
- the chemical is controlled under the Ozone Protection and Synthetic Greenhouse Gas Management Act 1989, or
- the chemical is controlled under the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer.
Synthetic greenhouse gas
Synthetic greenhouse gas means that any of the following apply to the industrial chemical:
- the chemical is controlled under the Ozone Protection and Synthetic Greenhouse Gas Management Act 1989, or
- the chemical is listed on the Kyoto Protocol, Synthetic Greenhouse Gases under Annex A, or
- the chemical is controlled under the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer.
Adverse effects mediated by an endocrine mode of action
Adverse effects mediated by an endocrine mode of action means that any of the following apply to the industrial chemical:
- the chemical meets all of the following:
- it shows an adverse effect in an intact organism or its progeny, which is a change in the morphology, physiology, growth, development, reproduction or lifespan of an organism, system or (sub)population that results in an impairment of functional capacity, an impairment of the capacity to compensate for additional stress or an increase in the susceptibility to other influences, and
- it has an endocrine activity, which is the capacity to alter the function(s) of the endocrine system, and
- the adverse effect is a consequence of the endocrine activity
or
- the chemical (or the chemical of which it is an ester or salt) is on the list of chemicals with high hazards for categorisation, based on its adverse effects mediated by an endocrine mode of action
or
- the chemical meets all of the following:
- information is available that is relevant to determining whether the chemical has the hazard characteristic, adverse effects mediated by an endocrine mode of action, and
- the information has been considered in a weight of evidence analysis based on the following guidance documents:
- the EU guidance for identifying endocrine disruptors , and
- the guidance provided in OECD GD 150 ; and
- the weight of evidence analysis concludes that the chemical has the hazard characteristic, adverse effects mediated by an endocrine mode of action.
Information required to demonstrate the absence of the hazard characteristic, adverse effects mediated by an endocrine mode of action
- if the chemical has existing information relevant to determining whether it has the hazard characteristic, adverse effects mediated by an endocrine mode of action, information is required to demonstrate that the chemical does not have this hazard characteristic:
- this must involve a documented weight of evidence analysis based on the EU guidance for identifying endocrine disruptors and the guidance in OECD GD 1503, and
- the analysis must conclude that the chemical does not have the hazard characteristic, adverse effects mediated by an endocrine mode of action.
- Otherwise, the information required to demonstrate that a chemical does not have the hazard characteristic, adverse effects mediated by an endocrine mode of action, is confirmation that the chemical (or the chemical of which it is an ester or salt) is not on the list of chemicals with high hazards for categorisation, based on its adverse effects mediated by an endocrine mode of action.
Persistent, bioaccumulative and toxic
Your introduction is in environment hazard band D if any of the following apply to the industrial chemical:
- the chemical (or the chemical of which it is an ester or salt) is on the list of chemicals with high hazards for categorisation, based on it being persistent, bioaccumulative and toxic, or
- all of the following apply:
- the chemical is persistent (see our glossary definition)
- the chemical is bioaccumulative, and
- the chemical has the hazard characteristic, very toxic to any aquatic life
For the purposes of this hazard characteristic, bioaccumulative means any of the following apply to the chemical:
- it has a bioaccumulation factor (BAF) greater than or equal to 2000 for the aquatic compartment, or
- it has a bioconcentration factor (BCF) greater than or equal to 2000 for the aquatic compartment, or
- it has a measured log Kow greater than or equal to 4.2 for the aquatic compartment (unless a measured BAF or BCF is less than 2000), or
- it has a log Koa greater than 6 and log Kow greater than or equal to 2 for the terrestrial compartment, or
- it has a biomagnification factor (BMF) greater than 1.
Information required to demonstrate that a chemical does not have the hazard characteristic, persistent, bioaccumulative and toxic
Confirmation that the chemical (or the chemical of which it is an ester or salt) is not on the list of chemicals with high hazards for categorisation based on it being persistent, bioaccumulative and toxic. In addition, if the environment exposure band for the introduction is 2 (and you are seeking to demonstrate that the introduction meets the criteria for very low risk and it is not the 'special cases' mentioned in step 5.5), or 3, or 4, the information required to demonstrate that a chemical does not have the hazard characteristic, persistent, bioaccumulative and toxic, is at least one of the following:
- information that demonstrates that the chemical is an inorganic chemical, or
- information to demonstrate that the chemical is a biological chemical, or
- information that demonstrates that the chemical has a molecular weight that is greater than 1,000 g/mol, or
- information that demonstrates that the chemical is a high molecular weight polymer with:
- less than 25% low molecular weight oligomeric species less than 1,000g/mol, and
- less than 10% low molecular weight oligomeric species less than 500g/mol, or
- information that demonstrates that the chemical has a solubility in water that is greater than 5g/L, measured following an acceptable test guideline for water solubility, or
- information that demonstrates that the chemical is a gas that is not expected to partition to the aquatic compartment, or
- information that demonstrates that the chemical is a substance covered by Entry 9 of Annex V of the REACH Regulation, or
- a suitable in silico prediction for partition coefficient of the chemical itself of log Kow less than 4.2 (that is not negated by a measured log Kow), or
- measured value from a study on the chemical or from suitable read-across information, conducted following an acceptable test guideline for partition coefficient, for which log Kow less than 4.2, or
- if the chemical is not a highly branched organic chemical* – a test result from a study on the chemical or from suitable read across information, conducted following an acceptable test guideline for ready biodegradability, which meets at least one of the following degradation pass levels during the period specified in the test method:
- tests based on dissolved organic carbon (DOC) - greater than or equal to 70% DOC removal, or
- tests based on carbon dioxide generation - greater than or equal to 60% theoretical carbon dioxide, or
- tests based on oxygen depletion - greater than or equal to 60% theoretical oxygen demand, or
- a test result from a study on the chemical, conducted following an acceptable test guideline for ready biodegradability, which meets at least one of the following degradation pass levels during the period specified in the test method:
- tests based on dissolved organic carbon (DOC) - greater than or equal to 70% DOC removal, or
- tests based on carbon dioxide generation - greater than or equal to 60% theoretical carbon dioxide, or
- tests based on oxygen depletion - greater than or equal to 60% theoretical oxygen demand, or
- if the chemical is not a highly branched organic chemical* – a test result from a study on the chemical or from suitable read across information, conducted following an acceptable test guideline for transformation in aquatic sediment systems, results in both:
- a degradation half-life in water of less than 2 months, and
- a degradation half-life in sediment of less than 6 months, or
- a test result from a study on the chemical, conducted following an acceptable test guideline for transformation in aquatic sediment systems, results in both:
- a degradation half-life in water of less than 2 months, and
- a degradation half-life in sediment of less than 6 months, or
- if the chemical is not a biocidal active and not a persistent, highly branched organic chemical** – information on aquatic toxicity for all three trophic levels (fish, invertebrates and algae), from suitable in silico predictions on the chemical or in vivo studies on the chemical or from suitable read-across information conducted following acceptable test guidelines for aquatic toxicity, with the following results for all three trophic levels:
- acute aquatic toxicity greater than 1 mg/L (96h LC50 (fish), or 48h EC50 (invertebrates) or 72 or 96h ErC50 (algae)), or
- chronic aquatic toxicity NOEC or EC10 greater than 0.1mg/L (for chemicals that are not readily biodegradable), or
- test results for all three trophic levels (fish, invertebrates and algae) from in vivo studies on the chemical or from suitable read-across information, conducted following acceptable test guidelines for chronic aquatic toxicity with a NOEC or EC10 greater than 0.1mg/L for all three trophic levels, or
- a test result from an in vivo study on the chemical or from suitable read-across information, conducted following an acceptable test guideline for bioconcentration, for which the BCF less than 2,000, or
- a test result from an in vivo study on the chemical or from suitable read-across information, conducted following an acceptable test guideline for bioaccumulation, for which the BAF less than 2,000.
*If the chemical is a highly branched organic chemical, in silico predictions and read across information cannot be used to demonstrate that the chemical does not have the persistence aspect of the persistent, bioaccumulative and toxic hazard characteristic – only studies on the chemical itself, as described in the next dot point, are acceptable
**If the chemical is a biocidal active or a persistent, highly branched organic chemical, in silico predictions cannot be used to demonstrate that the chemical does not have the toxicity aspect of the persistent, bioaccumulative and toxic hazard characteristic – only in vivo chronic aquatic toxicity studies, as described in the next dot point, are acceptable.
This page accompanies step 5.4 Work out environment hazard characteristics.
Environment hazard band C hazard characteristics
Environment hazard characteristics are split into hazard bands. Hazard characteristics of most concern are in hazard band D, while those of lower concern are in hazard band A.
Hazard band C has 2 hazard characteristics you need to consider:
- very toxic to any aquatic life
- persistent and bioaccumlative - environment hazard band C
Instructions
You must always start at hazard band D. Step 5.4 tells you when you can stop working through your chemical's environment hazard characteristics and when you need to check each of them - ie D, C, B and A.. You only need to work through the hazard characteristics on this page is your introduction is in:
- Environment exposure band 1 or 2 and you are trying to get to an outcome of very low indicative environment risk or
- Environment exposure band 3 or 4
Work your way through each hazard characteristic on this page. Look at whether your chemical meets the hazard characteristic definition based on the information that you have.
If it does meet the hazard characteristic definition, stop there - your introduction's environment hazard band is C. Move on to the next step - step 5.5 Work out your environment risk for categorisation.
If it does not meet the hazard characteristic definition, you’ll need to try and prove that your chemical does not have this hazard characteristic. The information that you need to prove this for each hazard characteristic is shown below. If you do not have this information, stop there - your introduction’s environment hazard band is C. Move onto the next step – step 5.5 Work out your environment risk for categorisation.
If you do have this information (so you can prove that the chemical does not have the hazard characteristic), move onto the next hazard characteristic on this page.
After you have considered all the hazard characteristics on this page and have proven that the chemical does not have any of them, decide whether you can stop there or continue to environment hazard band B. This depends on the exposure band of your introduction.
If your introduction is in environment exposure band 1, stop here – you don’t need to consider any other hazard characteristics. Next go to step 5.5 to work out your environment risk for categorisation.
If your introduction is in environment exposure band 2, continue to environment hazard band B.
If your introduction is in environment exposure band 3, you can choose to stop here (and go to step 5.5 to work out your environment risk for categorisation, or to continue to environment hazard band B.
If your introduction is in environment exposure band 4, continue to environment hazard band B.
This page accompanies step 5.4 Work out environment hazard characteristics.
Very toxic to any aquatic life
Very toxic to any aquatic life means that any of the following apply to the industrial chemical:
- the chemical is known to cause:
- toxic injury to an organism following short term aquatic exposure as described in chapter 4.1 of the GHS, with the chemical classified as acute aquatic toxicity (category 1), or
- adverse effects to an organism during aquatic exposures determined in relation to the life-cycle of the organism, as described in chapter 4.1 of the GHS, with the chemical classified as chronic aquatic toxicity (category 1), or
- the chemical (or the chemical of which it is an ester or salt) is on the list of chemicals with high hazards for categorisation based on it being very toxic to aquatic life, or
- an in vivo acute study on the chemical:
- conducted following an acceptable test guideline for acute toxicity to fish results in a 96h LC50 less than or equal to 1mg/L, or
- conducted following an acceptable test guideline for acute toxicity to invertebrates results in a 48h EC50 less than or equal to 1mg/L, or
- conducted following an acceptable test guideline for acute toxicity to algae or other aquatic plants results in a 72 or 96h ErC50 less than or equal to 1mg/L, or
- an in vivo chronic study on the chemical conducted following an acceptable test guideline for chronic toxicity to fish, chronic toxicity to invertebrates, or chronic toxicity to algae or other aquatic plants results in a:
- NOEC or EC10 less than equal to 0.1mg/L (for chemicals that are not readily biodegradable), or
- NOEC or EC10 less than or equal to 0.01mg/L (for chemicals that are readily biodegradable), or
- a suitable in silico prediction for acute aquatic toxicity results in a prediction of:
- for fish - 96h LC50 less than or equal to 1mg/L, or
- for invertebrates - 48h EC50 less than or equal to 1mg/L, or
- for algae or other aquatic plants - 72 or 96h ErC50 less than or equal to 1mg/L
and the predictions have not been negated by in vivo studies conducted on the chemical for aquatic toxicity.
Information required to demonstrate the absence of the hazard characteristic, very toxic to any aquatic life
The information required to demonstrate that a chemical does not have the hazard characteristic, very toxic to any aquatic life, is:
- if the exposure band for the introduction is 1 - confirmation that the chemical (or the chemical of which it is an ester or salt) is not on the list of chemicals with high hazards for categorisation based on it being very toxic to any aquatic life
- if the environment exposure band for the introduction is 2, 3, or 4, - at least one of the following:
- information that demonstrates that the chemical has a molecular weight greater than 1,000g/mol and has a low cationic density, or
- information that demonstrates that the chemical is a high molecular weight polymer that has a low cationic density, or
- information that demonstrates that the chemical is a substance covered by Entry 9 of Annex V of the REACH Regulation, or
- if the chemical is not a biocidal active and not a persistent, highly branched organic chemical – information on aquatic toxicity for all three trophic levels (fish, invertebrates and algae), from suitable in silico predictions on the chemical or in vivo studies on the chemical or from suitable read-across information conducted following acceptable test guidelines for aquatic toxicity, with the following results for all three trophic levels:
- acute aquatic toxicity greater than 1 mg/L (LC50 (fish), or EC50 (invertebrates) or ErC50 (algae)), or
- chronic aquatic toxicity NOEC or EC10 greater than 0.1mg/L (for chemicals that are not readily biodegradable), or
- chronic aquatic toxicity NOEC or EC10 greater than 0.01mg/L (for chemicals that are readily biodegradable), or
- test results for all three trophic levels (fish, invertebrates and algae) from in vivo studies on the chemical or from suitable read-across information, conducted following acceptable test guidelines for chronic aquatic toxicity with the following results for all three trophic levels:
- NOEC or EC10 greater than 0.1mg/L (for chemicals that are not readily biodegradable), or
- NOEC or EC10 greater than 0.01mg/L (for chemicals that are readily biodegradable).
Persistent and bioaccumulative
Persistent and bioaccumulative means that any of the following apply to the industrial chemical:
- the chemical (or the chemical of which it is an ester or salt) is on the list of chemicals with high hazards for categorisation, based on it being persistent and bioaccumulative, or
- both of the following apply:
- the chemical is persistent, and
- the chemical is bioaccumulative.
For the purposes of this hazard characteristic, bioaccumulative means any of the following apply to the chemical:
- it has a bioaccumulation factor (BAF) greater than OR equal to 2000 for the aquatic compartment, or
- it has a bioconcentration factor (BCF) greater than or equal to 2000 for the aquatic compartment, or
- it has a measured log Kow greater than or equal to 4.2 for the aquatic compartment (unless a measured BCF or BAF is less than 2000), or
- it has a log Koa greater than 6 and log Kow greater than or equal to 2 for the terrestrial compartment, or
- it has a biomagnification factor (BMF) greater than 1.
Information required to demonstrate the absence of the hazard characteristic, persistent and bioaccumulative
The information required to demonstrate that a chemical does not have the hazard characteristic, persistent and bioaccumulative, is confirmation that the chemical (or the chemical of which it is an ester or salt) is not on the list of chemicals with high hazards for categorisation based on it being persistent and bioaccumulative. In addition, if the environment exposure band for the introduction is 2 (and you are seeking to demonstrate that the introduction meets the criteria for very low risk and it is not the 'special cases' mentioned in step 5.5), or 3 or 4, the information required to demonstrate that a chemical does not have the hazard characteristic, persistent and bioaccumulative, is at least one of the following:
- information that demonstrates that the chemical is an inorganic chemical, or
- to demonstrate that the chemical is a biological chemical, or
- information that demonstrates that the chemical has a molecular weight that is greater than 1,000 g/mol, or
- information that demonstrates that the chemical is a high molecular weight polymer with:
- less than 25% low molecular weight oligomeric species less than 1,000g/mol, and
- less than 10% low molecular weight oligomeric species less than 500g/mol, or
- information that demonstrates that the chemical has a solubility in water that is greater than 5g/L, measured following an acceptable test guideline for water solubility, or
- information that demonstrates that the chemical is a gas that is not expected to partition to the aquatic compartment, or
- a suitable in silico prediction for partition coefficient of the chemical itself of log Kow less than 4.2 (that is not negated by a measured log Kow), or
- a measured value from a study on the chemical or from suitable read-across information, conducted following an acceptable test guideline for partition coefficient, for which log Kow less than 4.2, or
- if the chemical is not a highly branched organic chemical* – a test result from a study on the chemical or from suitable read across information, conducted following an acceptable test guideline for ready biodegradability, which meets at least one of the following degradation pass levels during the period specified in the test method:
- tests based on dissolved organic carbon (DOC) - greater than or equal to 70% DOC removal, or
- tests based on carbon dioxide generation - greater than or equal to 60% theoretical carbon dioxide, or
- tests based on oxygen depletion - greater than or equal to 60% theoretical oxygen demand, or
- a test result from a study on the chemical, conducted following an acceptable test guideline for ready biodegradability, which meets at least one of the following degradation pass levels during the period specified in the test method:
- tests based on dissolved organic carbon (DOC) - greater than or equal to 70% DOC removal, or
- tests based on carbon dioxide generation - greater than or equal to 60% theoretical carbon dioxide, or
- tests based on oxygen depletion - greater than or equal to 60% theoretical oxygen demand, or
- if the chemical is not a highly branched organic chemical* – a test result from a study on the chemical or from suitable read across information, conducted following an acceptable test guideline for transformation in aquatic sediment systems, results in both:
- a degradation half-life in water of less than 2 months, and
- a degradation half-life in sediment of less than 6 months, or
- a test result from the chemical, conducted following an acceptable test guideline for transformation in aquatic sediment systems, results in both:
- a degradation half-life in water of less than 2 months, and
- a degradation half-life in sediment of less than 6 months, or
- a test result from an in vivo study on the chemical or from suitable read-across information, conducted following an acceptable test guideline for bioconcentration, for which the BCF is less than 2,000, or
- a test result from an in vivo study on the chemical or from suitable read-across information, conducted following an acceptable test guideline for bioaccumulation, for which the BAF is less than 2,000.
*If the chemical is a biocidal active or a persistent, highly branched organic chemical, in silico predictions cannot be used to demonstrate that the chemical does not have the very toxic to any aquatic life hazard characteristic – only in vivo chronic aquatic toxicity studies, as described in the next dot point, are acceptable.
Environment hazard band B hazard characteristics
Environment hazard characteristics are split into hazard bands. Hazard characteristics of most concern are in hazard band D, while those of lower concern are in hazard band A.
Hazard band B has 1 hazard characteristic you need to consider - toxic to any aquatic life.
Instructions
You must always start at hazard band D. Step 5.4 tells you when you can stop working through your chemical's environment hazard characteristics and when you need to check each of them - ie D, C, B and A. You only need to work through the hazard characteristics on this page is your introduction is in:
- Environment exposure band 2 or 3 and you are trying to get to an outcome of very low indicative environment risk or
- Environment exposure band 4
Work your way through each hazard characteristic on this page. Look at whether your chemical meets the hazard characteristic definition based on the information that you have.
If it does meet the hazard characteristic definition, stop there - your introduction's environment hazard band is B. Move on to the next step - step 5.5 Work out your environment risk for categorisation.
If it does not meet the hazard characteristic definition, you’ll need to try and prove that your chemical does not have this hazard characteristic. The information that you need to prove this for each hazard characteristic is shown below. If you do not have this information, stop there - your introduction’s environment hazard band is B.
Move onto the next step – step 5.5 Work out your environment risk for categorisation.
If you do have this information (so you can prove that the chemical does not have the hazard characteristic), move onto the next hazard characteristic on this page.
After you have considered all the hazard characteristics on this page and have proven that the chemical does not have any of them, decide whether you can stop there or continue to environment hazard band A. This depends on the exposure band of your introduction.
If your introduction is in environment exposure band 2, stop here – you don’t need to consider any other hazard characteristics. Next go to step 5.5 to work out your environment risk for categorisation.
If your introduction is in environment exposure band 3, continue to environment hazard band A.
If your introduction is in environment exposure band 4, you can choose to stop here (and go to step 5.5 to work out your environment risk for categorisation, or to continue to environment hazard band A.
Toxic to any aquatic life
Toxic to any aquatic life means that any of the following apply to the industrial chemical:
- the chemical is known to cause:
- toxic injury to an organism following short term aquatic exposure as described in chapter 4.1 of the GHS, with the chemical classified as acute aquatic toxicity (category 2), or
- adverse effects to an organism during aquatic exposures determined in relation to the life-cycle of the organism, as described in chapter 4.1 of the GHS, with the chemical classified as chronic aquatic toxicity (category 2), or
- an in vivo acute study on the chemical:
- conducted following an acceptable test guideline for acute toxicity to fish results in a 96h LC50 greater than 1mg/L but less than or equal to 10mg/L, or
- conducted following an acceptable test guideline for acute toxicity to invertebrates results in a 48h EC50 greater than 1mg/L but less than or equal to 10mg/L, or
- conducted following an acceptable test guideline for acute toxicity to algae or other aquatic plants results in a 72 or 96h ErC50 greater than 1mg/L but less than or equal to 10mg/L, or
- an in vivo chronic study on the chemical conducted following an acceptable test guideline for chronic toxicity to fish, chronic toxicity to invertebrates, or chronic toxicity to algae or other aquatic plants results in a:
- NOEC or EC10 greater than 0.1mg/L but less than or equal to 1mg/L (for chemicals that are not readily biodegradable), or
- NOEC or EC10 greater than 0.01mg/L but less than or equal to 0.1mg/L (for chemicals that are readily biodegradable), or
- a suitable in silico prediction for acute aquatic toxicity results in a prediction of:
- for fish - 96h LC50 greater than 1mg/L but less than or equal to 10mg/L, or
- for invertebrates - 48h EC50 greater than 1mg/L but less than or equal to 10mg/L, or
- for algae or other aquatic plants - 72 or 96h ErC50 greater than 1mg/L but less than or equal to 10mg/L, or
and the predictions have not been negated by in vivo studies conducted on the chemical for aquatic toxicity.
Information required to demonstrate the absence of the hazard characteristic, toxic to any aquatic life
The information required to demonstrate that a chemical does not have the hazard characteristic, toxic to any aquatic life, is at least one of the following:
- information that demonstrates that the chemical has a molecular weight greater than 1,000gt/mol and has a low cationic density, or
- information that demonstrates that the chemical is a high molecular weight polymer that has a low cationic density, or
- information that demonstrates that the chemical is a substance covered by Entry 9 of Annex V of the REACH Regulation, or
- if the chemical is not a biocidal active and not a persistent, highly branched organic chemical – information on aquatic toxicity for all three trophic levels (fish, invertebrates and algae), from suitable in silico predictions on the chemical or in vivo studies on the chemical or from suitable read-across information conducted following acceptable test guidelines for aquatic toxicity, with the following results for all three trophic levels:
- acute aquatic toxicity greater than 10 mg/L (LC50 (fish), or EC50 (invertebrates) or ErC50 (algae)), or
- chronic aquatic toxicity NOEC or EC10 greater than 1mg/L (for chemicals that are not readily biodegradable), or
- chronic aquatic toxicity NOEC or EC10 greater than 0.1mg/L (for chemicals that are readily biodegradable), or
- test results for all three trophic levels (fish, invertebrates and algae) from in vivo studies on the chemical or from suitable read-across information, conducted following acceptable test guidelines for chronic aquatic toxicity with the following results for all three trophic levels:
- NOEC or EC10 greater than 1mg/L (for chemicals that are not readily biodegradable), or
- NOEC or EC10 greater than 0.1mg/L (for chemicals that are readily biodegradable).
This page accompanies step 5.4 Work out environment hazard characteristics.
Environment hazard band A hazard characteristics
Environment hazard characteristics are split into hazard bands. Hazard characteristics of most concern are in hazard band D, while those of lower concern are in hazard band A.
Hazard band A has 6 hazard characteristics you need to consider:
- Contains aluminium, chromium, copper, nickel, selenium, silver or zinc
- Polymer that does not have a low cationic density
- Polymer that is not stable
- Bioaccumulation potential
- Industrial chemical (other than a polymer) that does not meet the criteria for ready biodegradability
- Harmful to any aquatic life
Instructions
You must always start at hazard band D. Step 5.4 tells you when you can stop working through your chemical's environment hazard characteristics and when you need to check each of them - ie D, C, B and A.. You only need to work through the hazard characteristics on this page is your introduction is in:
- Environment exposure band 3 or 4 and you are trying to get to an outcome of very low indicative environment risk
Work your way through each hazard characteristic on this page. Look at whether your chemical meets the hazard characteristic definition based on the information that you have.
If it does meet the hazard characteristic definition, stop there - your introduction's environment hazard band is A. Move on to the next step - step 5.5 Work out your environment risk for categorisation.
If it does not meet the hazard characteristic definition, you’ll need to try and prove that your chemical does not have this hazard characteristic. The information that you need to prove this for each hazard characteristic is shown below. If you do not have this information, stop there - your introduction’s environment hazard band is A. Move onto the next step – step 5.5 Work out your environment risk for categorisation.
If you do have this information (so you can prove that the chemical does not have the hazard characteristic), move onto the next hazard characteristic on this page.
After you have considered all the hazard characteristics on this page and have proven that the chemical does not have any of them, go to step 5.5 to work out your environment risk for categorisation.
Links to resources to help you with the following:
- Read-across information
- Acceptable test guidelines for categorisation
- In silico predictions for categorisation
Hazard characteristics and required information
Contains aluminium, chromium, copper, nickel, selenium, silver or zinc
Contains aluminium, chromium, copper, nickel, selenium, silver or zinc means that the industrial chemical contains one or more of the following:
- aluminium
- chromium
- copper
- nickel
- selenium
- silver
- zinc
There are no extra information requirements to prove that the chemical does not have this hazard characteristic.
Polymer that does not have a low cationic density
Polymer that does not have a low cationic density means that the industrial chemical is a polymer that does not meet the definition of low cationic density.
There are no extra information requirements to prove that the chemical does not have this hazard characteristic.
Polymer that is not stable
Polymer that is not stable means that all of the following apply to the industrial chemical:
- the chemical is a polymer, and
- the polymer substantially degrades, decomposes or depolymerises during use; that is, the polymer is considerably, meaningfully or to a significantly large extent, changed into simpler, smaller molecular weight chemicals as the result of processes including, but not limited to:
- oxidation
- hydrolysis
- heat
- sunlight
- attack by solvents
Information required to demonstrate the absence of the hazard characteristic, polymer that is not stable
The information required to demonstrate that a chemical does not have the hazard characteristic, polymer that is not stable, is at least one of the following:
- information that demonstrates that the polymer is protected from degradation by being encapsulated during use, or
- information that demonstrates that all of the following applies to the polymer:
- it is not designed to be pyrolysed or burnt, and
- it is not designed or reasonably anticipated to substantially photodegrade, and
- it is not designed or reasonably anticipated to substantially biodegrade, and
- it is not explosive, and
- it is hydrolytically stable (T½ greater than or equal to 12 hours), and
- it is not a biological polymer, and
- it is not a polysaccharide, and
- if it is a polymer that contains polyethylene glycol (PEG) functionalities and has a solubility in water of greater than 200 mg/L - measured data demonstrates that the polymer does not substantially biodegrade, and
- if it is a polymer that contains polypropylene glycol (PPG) functionalities and has a solubility in water of greater than 200 mg/L - measured data demonstrates that the polymer does not substantially biodegrade.
Bioaccumulation potential
Bioaccumulation potential means that at least one of the following applies to the industrial chemical:
- it has a bioconcentration factor (BCF) greater than or equal to 500, or
- it has a bioaccumulation factor (BAF) greater than or equal to 500, or
- it has a partition coefficient (log Kow) greater than or equal to 4.0 (unless a measured BAF or BCF is <500).
Information required to demonstrate the absence of the hazard characteristic, bioaccumulation potential
The information required to demonstrate that a chemical does not have the hazard characteristic, bioaccumulation potential, is at least one of the following:
- information that demonstrates that the chemical is an inorganic chemical, or
- information that demonstrates that the chemical has a high molecular weight, or
- information that demonstrates that the chemical is a high molecular weight polymer with:
- less than 25% low molecular weight oligomeric species less than 1,000g/mol
- less than 10% low molecular weight oligomeric species less than 500g/mol, or
- information that demonstrates that the chemical has a solubility in water that is greater than 5g/L, measured following an acceptable test guideline for water solubility, or
- information that demonstrates that the chemical is a gas that is not expected to partition to the aquatic compartment, or
- if the chemical is not a highly branched organic chemical* – a test result from a study on the chemical or suitable read across information, conducted following an acceptable test guideline for ready biodegradability, which meets at least one of the following degradation pass levels during the period specified in the test method:
- tests based on dissolved organic carbon (DOC) - greater than or equal to 70% DOC removal, or
- tests based on carbon dioxide generation - greater than or equal to 60% theoretical carbon dioxide, or
- tests based on oxygen depletion - greater than or equal to 60% theoretical oxygen demand, or
- a test result from a study on the chemical, conducted following an acceptable test guideline for ready biodegradability, which meets at least one of the following degradation pass levels during the period specified in the test method:
- tests based on dissolved organic carbon (DOC) - greater than or equal to 70% DOC removal, or
- tests based on carbon dioxide generation - greater than or equal to 60% theoretical carbon dioxide, or
- tests based on oxygen depletion - greater than or equal to 60% theoretical oxygen demand, or
- a measured value from a study on the chemical or from suitable read-across information, conducted following an acceptable test guideline for partition coefficient, for which log Kow less than 4.0, or
- a suitable in silico prediction for partition coefficient of the chemical using KOWWIN on the chemical for log Kow less than 4.0 (that is not negated by a measured log Kow), or
- a test result from an in vivo study on the chemical or from suitable read-across information, conducted following an acceptable test guideline for bioconcentration, for which the BCF less than 500, or
- a test result from an in vivo study on the chemical or from suitable read-across information, conducted following an acceptable test guideline for bioaccumulation, for which the BAF less than 500.
*If the chemical is a highly branched organic chemical, in silico predictions and read across information cannot be used to demonstrate that the chemical does not have the bioaccumulation potential hazard characteristic – only studies on the chemical itself, as described in the next dot point, are acceptable.
Industrial chemical (other than a polymer) that does not meet the criteria for ready biodegradability
Industrial chemical (other than a polymer) that does not meet the criteria for ready biodegradability, means that a study on the chemical, conducted following an acceptable test guideline for ready biodegradability, results in at least one of the following, as relevant to the test method used, and within the period specified in the test method:
- less than or equal to 70% dissolved organic carbon (DOC) removal, or
- less than or equal to 60% theoretical carbon dioxide, or
- less than or equal to 60% theoretical oxygen demand.
Information required to demonstrate the absence of the hazard characteristic, industrial chemical (other than a polymer) that does not meet the criteria for ready biodegradability
The information required to demonstrate that a chemical does not have the hazard characteristic, industrial chemical (other than a polymer) that does not meet the criteria for ready biodegradability, is at least one of the following:
- information that demonstrates that the chemical is highly volatile and it is expected to predominately partition to the air compartment, or
- information that demonstrates that it is an inorganic chemical, or
- information that demonstrates that it is a biological chemical, or
- if the chemical is not a highly branched organic chemical* – a test result from a study on the chemical or suitable read across information, conducted following an acceptable test guideline for ready biodegradability, which meets at least one of the following degradation pass levels during the period specified in the test method:
- tests based on dissolved organic carbon (DOC) - greater than or equal to 70% DOC removal, or
- tests based on carbon dioxide generation - greater than or equal to 60% theoretical carbon dioxide
- tests based on oxygen depletion - greater than or equal to 60% theoretical oxygen demand, or
- a test result from a study on the chemical, conducted following an acceptable test guideline for ready biodegradability, which meets at least one of the following degradation pass levels during the period specified in the test method:
- tests based on dissolved organic carbon (DOC) - greater than or equal to 70% DOC removal, or
- tests based on carbon dioxide generation - greater than or equal to 60% theoretical carbon dioxide, or
- tests based on oxygen depletion - greater than or equal to 60% theoretical oxygen demand.
*If the chemical is a highly branched organic chemical, in silico predictions and read across information cannot be used to demonstrate that the chemical does not have the hazard characteristic, industrial chemical (other than a polymer) that does not meet the criteria for ready biodegradability – only studies on the chemical itself, as described in the next dot point, are acceptable.
Harmful to any aquatic life
Harmful to any aquatic life means that any of the following apply to the industrial chemical:
- the chemical is known to cause:
- toxic injury to an organism following short term aquatic exposure , as described in chapter 4.1 of the GHS, with the chemical classified as acute aquatic toxicity (category 3), or
- adverse effects to an organism during aquatic exposures determined in relation to the life-cycle of the organism, as described in chapter 4.1 of the GHS, with the chemical classified as chronic aquatic toxicity (category 3 or 4), or
- an in vivo acute study on the chemical:
- conducted following an acceptable test guideline for acute toxicity to fish results in a 96h LC50 greater than 10mg/L but less than or equal to 100mg/L, or
- conducted following an acceptable test guideline for acute toxicity to invertebrates results in a 48h EC50 greater than 10mg/L but less than or equal to 100mg/L, or
- conducted following an acceptable test guideline for acute toxicity to algae or other aquatic plants results in a 72 or 96h ErC50 greater than 10mg/L but less than or equal to 100mg/L, or
- an in vivo chronic study on the chemical conducted following an acceptable test guideline for chronic toxicity to fish, chronic toxicity to invertebrates, or chronic toxicity to algae or other aquatic plants results in a:
- NOEC or EC10 greater than 0.1mg/L but less than or equal to 1mg/L (for chemicals that are readily biodegradable), or
- a suitable in silico prediction for acute aquatic toxicity results in a prediction of:
- for fish - 96h LC50 greater than 10mg/L but less than or equal to 100mg/L, or
- for invertebrates - 48h EC50 greater than 10mg/L but less than or equal to 100mg/L, or
- for algae or other aquatic plants - 72 or 96h ErC50 greater than 10mg/L but less than or equal to100mg/L.
and the predictions have not been negated by in vivo studies conducted on the chemical for aquatic toxicity.
Information required to demonstrate that a chemical does not have the hazard characteristic, harmful to any aquatic life
At least one of the following:
- information that demonstrates that the chemical has a molecular weight greater than 1,000g/mol and has a low cationic density, or
- information that demonstrates that the chemical is a high molecular weight polymer that has a low cationic density, or
- information that demonstrates that the chemical is a substance covered by Entry 9 of Annex V of the REACH Regulation, or
- if the chemical is not a biocidal active and not a persistent, highly branched organic chemical – information on aquatic toxicity for all three trophic levels (fish, invertebrates and algae), from suitable in silico predictions on the chemical or in vivo studies on the chemical or from suitable read-across information conducted following acceptable test guidelines for aquatic toxicity, with the following results for all three trophic levels:
- acute aquatic toxicity greater than 100 mg/L (LC50 (fish), or EC50 (invertebrates) or ErC50 (algae)), or
- chronic aquatic toxicity NOEC or EC10 greater than 1mg/L (for chemicals that are readily biodegradable), or
- test results for all three trophic levels (fish, invertebrates and algae) from in vivo studies on the chemical or from suitable read-across information, conducted following acceptable test guidelines for chronic aquatic toxicity with the following results for all three trophic levels:
- NOEC or EC10 greater than 1mg/L (for chemicals that are readily biodegradable).
This page accompanies step 5.4 Work out environment hazard characteristics.
Step 5.5 Your environment risk for categorisation
Get help with this step — explore our categorisation decision tools
We explain the table in detail for each environment exposure band that your introduction could be in. This includes what your indicative environment risk outcome will be, depending on which hazard characteristics your chemical does or does not have. Your outcome will be that your introduction has an indicative environment risk of:
- Medium to high
- Low OR
- Very low
Refer back to step 5.4 for information about how to consider the hazard characteristics and where to start and stop when considering hazard characteristics.
Environment risk table
| Work out your indicative environment risk | Environment exposure band | ||||
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | ||
| Environment hazard band | D | Medium to high risk | Medium to high risk | Medium to high risk | Medium to high risk |
| C | Low risk | Low risk | Medium to high risk | Medium to high risk | |
| B | Very low risk | Low risk | Low risk | Medium to high risk | |
| A | Very low risk | Very low risk | Low risk | Low risk | |
| Not A, B, C or D | Very low risk | Very low risk | Very low risk | Very low risk | |
If your introduction is environment exposure band 1
If your introduction is in environment exposure band 1, at a minimum, you will need to consider if your chemical has any of the hazard characteristics in environment hazard band D.
The indicative environment risk of your introduction will be:
- Medium to high if your chemical has 1 or more of the hazard characteristics in environment hazard bands D OR
- Low if your chemical does not have any of the hazard characteristics in environment hazard band D
You can choose to stop if you get to low indicative environment risk.
If you want to see if your introduction could have a very low indicative environment risk, you will also need to consider if it has any of the hazard characteristics in environment hazard band C.
The indicative environment risk of your introduction will be:
- Low if your chemical has 1 or more of the hazard characteristics in environment hazard band C OR
- Very low if your chemical does not have any of the hazard characteristics in environment hazard band C
If your introduction is environment exposure band 2
If your introduction is in environment exposure band 2, you will need to consider if your chemical has any of the hazard characteristics in environment hazard band D.
The indicative environment risk of your introduction will be:
- Medium to high if your chemical has 1 or more of the hazard characteristics in environment hazard band D OR
- Low if your chemical does not have any of the hazard characteristics in environment hazard band D
You can choose to stop if you get to low indicative environment risk.
If you want to see if your introduction could have a very low indicative environment risk, you will also need to consider if it has any of the hazard characteristics in environment hazard bands C and B.
The indicative environment risk of your introduction will be:
- Low if your chemical has 1 or more of the hazard characteristics in environment hazard bands C or B OR
- Very low if your chemical does not have any of the hazard characteristics in environment hazard bands C or B
If your introduction is environment exposure band 3
If your introduction is in environment exposure band 3, you will first need to consider if your chemical has any of the hazard characteristics in environment hazard band D. If it does not, then continue on to consider the hazard characteristics in environment hazard band C.
The indicative environment risk of your introduction will be:
- Medium to high if your chemical has 1 or more of the hazard characteristics in environment hazard bands D or C OR
- Low if your chemical does not have any of the hazard characteristics in environment hazard bands D or C
You can choose to stop if you get to low indicative environment risk.
If you want to see if your introduction could have a very low indicative environment risk, you will also need to consider if it has any of the hazard characteristics in environment hazard bands B and A.
The indicative environment risk of your introduction will be:
- Low if your chemical has 1 or more of the hazard characteristics in environment hazard bands B or A OR
- Very low if your chemical does not have any of the hazard characteristics in environment hazard bands B or A
If your introduction is environment exposure band 4
If your introduction is in environment exposure band 4, you will first need to consider if your chemical has any of the hazard characteristics in environment hazard band D. If it does not, then continue on to consider the hazard characteristics in environment hazard band C. If it does not, then continue on to consider the hazard characteristics in environment hazard band B.
The indicative environment risk of your introduction will be:
- Medium to high if your chemical has 1 or more of the hazard characteristics in environment hazard bands D, C or B OR
- Low if your chemical does not have any of the hazard characteristics in environment hazard bands D, C or B
You can choose to stop if you get to low indicative environment risk.
If you want to see if your introduction could have a very low indicative environment risk, you will also need to consider if it has any of the hazard characteristics in environment hazard band A.
The indicative environment risk of your introduction will be:
- Low if your chemical has 1 or more of the hazard characteristics in environment hazard band A OR
- Very low if your chemical does not have any of the hazard characteristics in environment hazard band A
'Special cases' - introductions that CANNOT have a very low indicative environment risk
Your introduction CANNOT have a very low indicative environment risk if it is a:
- organotin chemical OR
- polyhalogenated organic chemical OR
- a chemical that has an end use as a biocidal active OR
- a chemical that is introduced as a solid or a dispersion that is not soluble, that meets the nanoscale particle size criteria, and the introduction of the nanoscale portion of the chemical (the part that has a particle size range of 1nm to 100nm) is incidental to the introduction of the non-nanoscale portion OR
- chemical that is introduced as a solid or a dispersion where there is no information available on its water solubility or its particle size, and the introduction of any nanoscale portion of the chemical (the part that has a particle size range of 1nm to 100nm) is incidental to the introduction of the non-nanoscale portion
If your introduction is 1 of these, and you got a very low risk outcome in this step, you need to CHANGE that outcome to LOW RISK.
This means if your consideration of step 5.5 got you to an outcome of very low risk, your final outcome needs to be changed to low risk.
Definitions of these 'special cases'
Organotin chemicals are chemicals that contain at least 1 tin atom that is covalently bound to at least one carbon atom.
Polyhalogenated organic chemicals are carbon-based chemicals that contain more than 1 covalently bonded halogen atom, such as bromine, chlorine, fluorine or iodine.
Biocidal active is a chemical that is intended to act by chemical means on or against a harmful organism by destroying, deterring, rendering harmless, preventing the action of, or otherwise exerting a controlling effect on, the harmful organism.
Nanoscale particle size criteria means that the chemical consists of particles in an unbound state or as an aggregate or agglomerate. At least 50% (by number size distribution) of the particles must have at least 1 external dimension in the particle size range of 1nm to 100nm (i.e. the nanoscale).
Not soluble means the solubility of the chemical in water is less than 33.3 g/L measured following OECD test guidelines 105 or 120 for water solubility; or the dissolution rate of the chemical is not more than 70%.
The table on this page shows how you can work out your indicative environment risk by using your environment exposure band (step 5.3) and the environment hazard characteristics (step 5.4) that your chemical does or does not have.