Assessing the Risk of Chemicals Flashcards
Why are chemical industries well regulated?
Because there are a large number of industrial chemicals with a variety of uses that haven’t been risked assessed thoroughly
What is the problem with some of these chemicals?
They may be dangerous for humans or the environment.
What are the reasons that chemicals can be very dangerous?
They last in the environment for a very long time
They can be carried long distances in the atmospheres (rivers/oceans)
They can accumulate in food chains and animal tissues
When assessing the risk of a chemical, what do we often estimate?
The chance of being hurt
The severity of the consequences if we do get hurt
Why are people often more likely to take risks?
The effects are short lived rather than long term and when they have a choice about using a chemical, rather than being forced to.
