Lexikon

a quantitaive value characterising risk. The risk of chemical substances is characterised by the Risk Quotient RQ the ratio of their Predicted Environmnetal Concentration PEC and their Predicted No Effect Concentration PNEC.

The level of harm according to the risk value is the following:

short term risk of chemical substances on humans or ecosystems.

tools to estimate (and where possible control) the financial risks related to the management of land contamination problems (Source: EUGRIS)

flood risk comes from the probabaility of flood and the extent of the damage in environmental, cultural, economical, ecological and and health areas.

EU Directive 2007/60/EC on the assessment and management of flood risks entered into force on 26 November 2007. This Directive now requires Member States to assess if all water courses and coast lines are at risk from flooding, to map the flood extent and assets and humans at risk in these areas and to take adequate and coordinated measures to reduce this flood risk. With this Directive also reinforces the rights of the public to access this information and to have a say in the planning process.

environmental risk assessment provides an objective, technical evaluation of the likelihood of unacceptable impacts to human health and the environment. The purpose is to assess the need for protective measures, since a specific risk assessment is a precondition for any such protective measures. (Source: EUGRIS)

the Committee for risk Assessment (RAC) is an Agency committee that is responsible for preparing the opinion of the Agency on evaluations, applications for authorisation, proposals for restrictions and proposals for classification and labelling under the classification and labelling inventory task and any other questions that arise from the operation of this Regulation relating to risks to human health or the environment. The RAC consists of at least one but no more than two members from the nominees of each Member State appointed by the Management Board for a renewable term of three years. The Committee members may be accompanied by advisers on scientific, technical or regulatory matters.

(Source: REACH)

risk-benefit analysis is the comparison of the risk of a situation to its related benefits. (Source: EUGRIS)

final step in chemical safety assessment, it consists of estimation of the incidence and severity of the adverse effects likely to occur in a human population or environmental compartment due to actual or predicted exposure to a substance. It may include a “risk estimation”, i.e. the quantification of that likelihood. risk characterisation is made for each exposure scenario and for each target population or compartment. (Source: REACH Glossary)

measures in the control strategy for a substance that reduce the emission and exposure to a substance, thereby reducing and controlling the risk to human health or the environment.

RMMs include e.g. containment of process, local exhaust ventilation, gloves, waste water treatment, exhaust air filters.
More general: RMMs include any action, use of tool, change of parameters state that is introduced during manufacture or use of a substance (either in a pure state or in a preparation) in order to prevent, control, or reduce exposure of humans and/or the environment.

Source: REACH Glossary

Source: REACH Glossary.

the dumped red mud poses risk on humans, nature and built environment. The main risks are the following:

• Risk of the tailing-dumps: statical risks such as break of dams,
• Chemical risks due to high pH: dermal and eye irritation and corrosion,
• Risk of the high pH dust on the respiratory system,
• Some red muds contain toxic metals in higher concentration than acceptable.

See also: red mud components and red mud recycling

67/548/EEC regulation uses the following riks-phrases for characterisation of the risk of dangerous chemical substances.

Risk Phrases

R1: Explosive when dry

R2: Risk of explosion by shock, friction, fire or other sources of ignition

R3: Extreme risk of explosion by shock, friction, fire or other sources of ignition

R4: Forms very sensitive explosive metallic compounds

R5: Heating may cause an explosion

R6: Explosive with or without contact with air

R7: May cause fire

R8: Contact with combustible material may cause fire

R9: Explosive when mixed with combustible material

R10: Flammable

R11: Highly flammable

R12: Extremely flammable

R14: Reacts violently with water

R15: Contact with water liberates extremely flammable gases

R16: Explosive when mixed with oxidising substances

R17: Spontaneously flammable in air

R18: In use, may form flammable/explosive vapour-air mixture

R19: May form explosive peroxides

R20: Harmful by inhalation

R21: Harmful in contact with skin

R22: Harmful if swallowed

R23: Toxic by inhalation

R24: Toxic in contact with skin

R25: Toxic if swallowed

R26: Very toxic by inhalation

R27: Very toxic in contact with skin

R28: Very toxic if swallowed

R29: Contact with water liberates toxic gas.

R30: Can become highly flammable in use

R31: Contact with acids liberates toxic gas

R32: Contact with acids liberates very toxic gas

R33: Danger of cumulative effects

R34: Causes burns

R35: Causes severe burns

R36: Irritating to eyes

R37: Irritating to respiratory system

R38: Irritating to skin

R39: Danger of very serious irreversible effects

R40: Limited evidence of a carcinogenic effect

R41: Risk of serious damage to eyes

R42: May cause sensitisation by inhalation

R43: May cause sensitisation by skin contact

R44: Risk of explosion if heated under confinement

R45: May cause cancer

R46: May cause heritable genetic damage

R48: Danger of serious damage to health by prolonged exposure

R49: May cause cancer by inhalation

R50: Very toxic to aquatic organisms

R51: Toxic to aquatic organisms

R52: Harmful to aquatic organisms

R53: May cause long-term adverse effects in the aquatic environment

R54: Toxic to flora

R55: Toxic to fauna

R56: Toxic to soil organisms

R57: Toxic to bees

R58: May cause long-term adverse effects in the environment

R59: Dangerous for the ozone layer

R60: May impair fertility

R61: May cause harm to the unborn child

R62: Possible risk of impaired fertility

R63: Possible risk of harm to the unborn child

R64: May cause harm to breast-fed babies

R65: Harmful: may cause lung damage if swallowed

R66: Repeated exposure may cause skin dryness or cracking

R67: Vapours may cause drowsiness and dizziness

R68: Possible risk of irreversible effects

Combinations

R14/15: Reacts violently with water, liberating extremely flammable gases

R15/29: Contact with water liberates toxic, extremely flammable gases

R20/21: Harmful by inhalation and in contact with skin

R20/22: Harmful by inhalation and if swallowed

R20/21/22: Harmful by inhalation, in contact with skin and if swallowed

R21/22: Harmful in contact with skin and if swallowed

R23/24: Toxic by inhalation and in contact with skin

R23/25: Toxic by inhalation and if swallowed

R23/24/25: Toxic by inhalation, in contact with skin and if swallowed

R24/25: Toxic in contact with skin and if swallowed

R26/27: Very toxic by inhalation and in contact with skin

R26/28: Very toxic by inhalation and if swallowed

R26/27/28: Very toxic by inhalation, in contact with skin and if swallowed

R27/28: Very toxic in contact with skin and if swallowed

R36/37: Irritating to eyes and respiratory system

R36/38: Irritating to eyes and skin

R36/37/38: Irritating to eyes, respiratory system and skin

R37/38: Irritating to respiratory system and skin

R39/23: Toxic: danger of very serious irreversible effects through inhalation

R39/24: Toxic: danger of very serious irreversible effects in contact with skin

R39/25: Toxic: danger of very serious irreversible effects if swallowed

R39/23/24: Toxic: danger of very serious irreversible effects through inhalation and in contact with skin

R39/23/25: Toxic: danger of very serious irreversible effects through inhalation and if swallowed

R39/24/25: Toxic: danger of very serious irreversible effects in contact with skin and if swallowed

R39/23/24/25: Toxic: danger of very serious irreversible effects through inhalation, in contact with skin and if swallowed

R39/26: Very Toxic: danger of very serious irreversible effects through inhalation

R39/27: Very Toxic: danger of very serious irreversible effects in contact with skin

R39/28: Very Toxic: danger of very serious irreversible effects if swallowed

R39/26/27: Very Toxic: danger of very serious irreversible effects through inhalation and in contact with skin

R39/26/28: Very Toxic: danger of very serious irreversible effects through inhalation and if swallowed

R39/27/28: Very Toxic: danger of very serious irreversible effects in contact with skin and if swallowed

R39/26/27/28: Very Toxic: danger of very serious irreversible effects through inhalation, in contact with skin and if swallowed

R42/43: May cause sensitization by inhalation and skin contact

R48/20: Harmful: danger of serious damage to health by prolonged exposure through inhalation

R48/21: Harmful: danger of serious damage to health by prolonged exposure in contact with skin

R48/22: Harmful: danger of serious damage to health by prolonged exposure if swallowed

R48/20/21: Harmful: danger of serious damage to health by prolonged exposure through inhalation and in contact with skin

R48/20/22: Harmful: danger of serious damage to health by prolonged exposure through inhalation and if swallowed

R48/21/22: Harmful: danger of serious damage to health by prolonged exposure in contact with skin and if swallowed

R48/20/21/22: Harmful: danger of serious damage to health by prolonged exposure through inhalation, in contact with skin and if swallowed

R48/23: Toxic: danger of serious damage to health by prolonged exposure through inhalation

R48/24: Toxic: danger of serious damage to health by prolonged exposure in contact with skin

R48/25: Toxic: danger of serious damage to health by prolonged exposure if swallowed

R48/23/24: Toxic: danger of serious damage to health by prolonged exposure through inhalation and in contact with skin

R48/23/25: Toxic: danger of serious damage to health by prolonged exposure through inhalation and if swallowed

R48/24/25: Toxic: danger of serious damage to health by prolonged exposure in contact with skin and if swallowed

R48/23/24/25: Toxic: danger of serious damage to health by prolonged exposure through inhalation, in contact with skin and if swallowed

R50/53: Very toxic to aquatic organisms, may cause long-term adverse effects in the aquatic environment

R51/53: Toxic to aquatic organisms, may cause long-term adverse effects in the aquatic environment

R52/53: Harmful to aquatic organisms, may cause long-term adverse effects in the aquatic environment

R68/20: Harmful: possible risk of irreversible effects through inhalation

R68/21: Harmful: possible risk of irreversible effects in contact with skin

R68/22: Harmful: possible risk of irreversible effects if swallowed

R68/20/21: Harmful: possible risk of irreversible effects through inhalation and in contact with skin

R68/20/22: Harmful: possible risk of irreversible effects through inhalation and if swallowed

R68/21/22: Harmful: possible risk of irreversible effects in contact with skin and if swallowed

R68/20/21/22: Harmful: possible risk of irreversible effects through inhalation, in contact with skin and if swallowed

R-Phrases no longer in use

R13: Extremely flammable liquefied gas.

R47: May cause birth defects.