Solvay in the USA considers several factors when categorizing their chemicals as high priority chemicals for completing risk characterizations (and subsequently developing associated risk management recommendations). The companies evaluate the relevant available hazard information as well as information on potential exposure and risk associated with the chemical and its use in their company and the value chain.
Factors that Solvay considers for categorizing its chemicals as high priority include the following items.
Of primary importance
- Chemicals with testing and/or risk evaluation work already completed or underway in response to current or impending regulatory scrutiny (e.g., Canadian DSL, EU REACH).
- Categories of chemicals of particular concern under national or regional regulatory programs; such as those listed as known carcinogens, mutagens, or substances that are toxic to reproduction.
- Chemicals listed as candidates under the Stockholm Convention (Persistent Organic Pollutants or the Rotterdam Convention (Prior Informed Consent).
- Chemicals restricted by other national or regional regulations or international conventions.
- Other relevant factors that may be considered include, but are not limited to the following:
- Whether the chemical could be classified as Persistent, Bioaccumul-ative and Toxic (PBT).
- Whether and to what extent the chemical has potential for (significant) human exposure, especially when children and other sensitive subpopulations could be impacted.
- Whether and to what extent the chemical has a potential for significant environmental exposure when these chemicals are not regulated under a specific regime.
- Whether the chemical presents a significant acute hazard because it is highly flammable, corrosive, reactive, etc.
- Whether the chemical has hazard ratings (e.g. HMIS) and/or exposure classifications (e.g. based on product use categories).
- Whether the chemical is a high production volume chemical.
- Whether and to what extent the chemical is a focus of broader or increasing societal concern.
- Whether there are attributes of the value chain for a particular chemical that could raise significant concern.
- Whether a company wants to make a chemical high priority for business or other purposes (for example, a new product or an existing product in a new application).