HAZARD VS. RISK-BASED APPROACHES TO PROTECTING HEALTH (ERNEST)

 

                     

                       HAZARD VS. RISK-BASED APPROACHES TO PROTECTING
                            HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENT FROM PESTICIDES

                                                                     April 2021

 

 

What’s the difference between a hazard and risk-based approach?

These two approaches are often presented as opposing. However, this is a misrepresentation of risk
management. ‘Hazard’ is the potential for a chemical (in this case a pesticide) to cause harm to human health or the environment; Risk, on the other hand, is the probability that the harmful outcome happens. Hazard cannot be separated from risk; it is an integral part of it. Pesticide risk management focuses on reducing the probability (and hence frequency), that people or the environment will be exposed to pesticides.

The hazard-based approach to pesticide regulation is founded on the principle that if an active substance
possesses certain hazardous characteristics – for instance by being able to cause cancer or persistent
pollution – then it is simply too dangerous to be used safely. As a result, any chemical which possesses
any of these characteristics is automatically refused authorization and no further assessment of risk, or
possible management measures, is conducted. This approach is highly effective at preventing harm –
removing the hazard automatically cuts the chance of human or environmental exposure to it to zero.

 

Pesticide Action Network UK

www.pan-uk.org