Consumer exposure scenarios: development, challenges and possible solutions
J G M Van Engelen1, G Heinemeyer, C Rodriguez
1RIVM, SIR, Bilthoven, The Netherlands. jacqueline.van.engelen@rivm.nl
Summary
Developing exposure scenarios (ES) for the Registration, Evaluation, and Authorisation of Chemicals (REACH) regulation presents challenges in quantifying consumer chemical exposure. A tiered approach and probabilistic methods are key for realistic risk assessment and ensuring safe chemical use.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Risk Assessment
- Regulatory Science
Background:
- The Registration, Evaluation, and Authorisation of Chemicals (REACH) regulation mandates the description of safe chemical use conditions through exposure scenarios (ES).
- ES incorporate operational conditions and risk management measures (RMMs) to ensure product and substance safety.
- A significant challenge lies in identifying and quantifying consumer exposure across diverse product uses.
Purpose of the Study:
- To outline strategies for developing comprehensive and realistic exposure scenarios for consumer chemical use under REACH.
- To address the complexities of quantifying consumer exposure and aggregating data from various sources.
- To explore methods for defining broad yet accurate ES that avoid overestimation of risk.
Main Methods:
- Establishing product use categories to systematically identify and standardize information on product usage.
- Implementing tiered and targeted approaches for exposure estimation to achieve appropriate levels of detail.
- Considering both controllable (product design) and non-controllable (directions for use) RMMs for consumers.
- Developing probabilistic approaches and utilizing comprehensive databases for realistic exposure aggregation.
Main Results:
- Product use categories facilitate systematic identification of consumer uses and information exchange.
- Tiered and targeted exposure estimation methods offer a balanced approach to detail and accuracy.
- Quantifying the impact of non-controllable RMMs on consumer exposure remains a difficulty.
- Realistic aggregation of exposure from all sources requires advanced methodologies and data.
Conclusions:
- Effective exposure scenario development for REACH requires systematic categorization and tiered estimation approaches.
- Addressing non-controllable RMMs and realistic exposure aggregation are critical for robust consumer risk assessment.
- Integrated assessment of chemical safety for consumers, workers, and the environment under REACH presents ongoing substantial challenges.
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