In an article published by news provider Chemical Watch on April 18, 2019, Health Canada is reported to have published an updated science approach document to support the identification of substances with low human health hazard potential within the 1,550 substances that need to still be assessed under Canada’s Chemicals Management Plan. The document presents a qualitative hazard-based approach, and its application is demonstrated using a subset of 14 substances.
The approach considers available toxicological data from human and/or animal studies and identifies substances as low concern with respect to human health when “sufficient toxicological data indicate that health effects are unlikely up to the Limit Doses (of 1000 mg/kg-[body weight]/day as defined by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development), or are limited to recoverable or localized effects above 100 mg/kg-[body weight]/day, in repeated dose studies of high quality.” The document’s synopsis notes that “to determine if health effects of the substance are limited or unlikely, a number of metrics are taken into consideration, including the effects noted in animal and human studies, and the relevant route of exposure of the substance.” The document was made available for 60 days of public commenting, and a summary of the comments received has been published.
Reference
Health Canada (March 2019). “Science approach substances low human health hazard potential.”
Read More
Chemical Watch (April 22, 2019). “Canada releases updated science approach document.”
