About CRM Risk Assessment
Documents
CRM has a mission to promote science-based decision making among
government, industry and public in chemical risk management through
providing the frameworks of chemical risk assessment and management
as well as actual examples in which such frameworks are applied.
Since its establishment in 2001, CRM has been engaged in risk assessments
of a number of specific chemical substances with known or expected
risks to human health and/or ecosystem, and released the outcomes
as a series of risk assessment documents.
The first outcome of the CRM’s efforts in risk assessment of a
specific chemical substance was released on CRM website in December
2002 as “1,3-butadiene risk assessment document”, followed by “TBT
risk assessment document” and “Nonylphenol risk assessment document”
in May 2004. To meet the demand and interests of wide ranges of
people, it was decided to publish CRM risk assessment documents
from a commercial publisher, Maruzen Co., Ltd., and the first volume
of CRM Risk Assessment Series, “Di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate” was published
in December 2004.
The risk assessment documents developed by CRM are the first examples
of comprehensive chemical risk assessments compiled and released
for public in Japan. The major features of CRM risk assessment documents
include:
1) Application of new methods and techniques developed by CRM
For risk assessment of each specific chemical substance, new and
innovative methods and techniques in exposure estimation, risk estimation,
data compilation, etc. are developed within CRM and applied.
2) Peer consultations by outside experts
In the process to compile risk assessment documents, drafts are
reviewed by outside experts in the fields related to the risk assessment
of each specific chemical substance. The comments from the outside
experts and the responses of CRM to those comments are to be included
in the final risk assessment documents.
3) Socio-economic evaluation of options for risk management
Possible options and CRM’s recommendations for risk management
are included in the final risk assessment documents with socio-economic
evaluation of each option.
The risk assessment documents developed by CRM are expected to
be the good examples of chemical risk assessments for regulators
and people in industries who are engaged in chemical risk management,
as well as providing the materials for those who are learning the
methods of chemical risk assessment.
All of the original risk assessment documents are compiled and
published in Japanese. Abstracts and summaries in English of the
risk assessment documents, and full English translations for selected
documents are to be made available on CRM website.
Risk assessment documents have been developed as a part of the
program funded by NEDO, New Energy and Industrial Technology Development
Organization; “Chemical Risk Assessment and Development of Risk
Assessment Methods” in the Program for Comprehensive Assessment
and Management of Chemicals.
Note: The conclusions presented in the risk assessment documents
are of the views of CRM and do not necessarily reflect the views
or policies of any particular regulatory bodies in Japan.
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