European Union risk assessment report : Sodium hydroxide VOL 73 4th priority list
In: 2007; (2007)
Online
Elektronische Ressource
Zugriff:
The report provides the targeted risk assessment of the substance sodium hydroxide (NaOH) It has been prepared by Portugal in the frame of Council Regulation (EEC) No. 793/93 on the evaluation and control of the risks of existing substances, following the principles for assessment of the risks to man and the environment, laid down in Commission Regulation (EC) No. 1488/94. In this context ‘targeted’ means that not all endpoints, as defined in the Technical Guidance Documents (TGD), are addressed thoroughly in this risk assessment. In a targeted risk assessment one deviates therefore from the standard comprehensive risk assessment that covers all possible exposure routes of the chemical and all protection goals. The evaluation considers the emissions and the resulting exposure to the environment and the human populations in all life cycle steps. However, considering the likely emission pathways, the environmental exposure assessment was targeted at the aquatic emissions, and consequently, the environmental risk characterisation was targeted at the aquatic compartment. For human health, the scenarios for occupational exposure, consumer exposure and humans exposed via the environment have been examined and the possible risks for local effects at the site of contact with sodium hydroxide (NaOH) have been identified. Part I - Environment. The environmental risk assessment is targeted solely on the aquatic environment, as the emissions of NaOH mainly apply to waste water, and to effects on organisms/ecosystems due to possible local pH changes. Based on the results from a questionnaire among producers and users of sodium hydroxide, it is concluded that discharges of NaOH from production are well controlled, and that discharges from downstream applications rarely occur. Regarding surface water, the enforcement of the (EU) legislation is an important assumption for the conclusion of no concern for the aquatic environment. Part II – Human Health. The human health risk assessment is targeted on the risks for local effects at the site of contact with NaOH, both for workers and consumers. For workers, there is concern that respiratory tract irritation may occur in the production when bagging NaOH, when using NaOH in aluminium and textile industry, and in the de-inking of waste paper in pulp and paper industry. For consumers, there is no concern for the normal use of NaOH, where it is assumed that the required protection is used. However, there is a high number of accidents (foreseeable misuse) that occur with NaOH, which points out that consumer protection against improper use of NaOH is insufficient. Because NaOH has local effects, there is concern for irritation and corrosivity for all routes of exposure (oral, dermal, ocular, and inhalatory exposure) after foreseeable misuse of NaOH by consumers. There is no concern for humans exposed via the environment or for the physico-chemical properties. The conclusions of this report will lead to risk reduction measures to be proposed by the Commission’s committee on risk reduction strategies set up in support of Council Regulation (EEC) N. 793/93
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European Union risk assessment report : Sodium hydroxide VOL 73 4th priority list
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Autor/in / Beteiligte Person: | Commission, European ; Joint Research Centre ; Pakalin, S. ; Aschberger, K. ; Cosgrove, O. |
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Quelle: | 2007; (2007) |
Veröffentlichung: | 2007 |
Medientyp: | Elektronische Ressource |
ISSN: | 1018-5593 (print) |
DOI: | 10.2788/65849 |
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