Appendix: Calculate your human health categorisation volume

Example - using equation 2

A company is introducing 6,000 kilograms of a chemical manufactured in Australia that will be exported for end use overseas. The ERF for this end use is 0.05. 

The HHCV will be: 6,000 × 0.05 = 300 kilograms

If your introduction has multiple end uses 

Select one of the options: 

1. Use Equation 3: simplest method 
2. Use Equation 4: intermediate method 
3. Use Equation 5: detailed method

You need to use equation 3 or 4 if you don't know the total introduction volume for every end use for your chemical.

Equation 3: simplest method (multiple end uses; no exposure reduction factor)

HHCV = IV

IV = Introduction volume. This means the total importation and manufacture quantity of your chemical in kilograms (kg) in an AICIS registration year (1 September to 31 August).

Equation 4: intermediate method (multiple end uses; allocate the total introduction volume to the end use that has the highest ERF) 

Instructions 

A) Look at the exposure reduction factor (ERF) table and identify which end use scenarios apply to your introduction. 

B) Find the end use scenario that has the highest ERF value. Note: the highest ERF value represents the end use with the highest level of human exposure. 

C) Multiply the total volume of your chemical that you will introduce for that end use scenario in an AICIS registration year (1 September to 31 August) by the ERF value you found in (B). Do not just use the volume for one of the end uses.

HHCV = IV x ERF 

IV = Introduction volume. This means the total importation and manufacture quantity in kilograms (kg) of your chemical. ERF = The highest exposure reduction factor value that applies to one of your end use scenarios (see table of end use scenarios and their ERF values). 

Example - using equation 4 

A company is introducing 12,000 kg of a chemical for multiple end uses. They do not know the volume for each end use: 

• some chemical will be manufactured in Australia and exported for end use overseas (ERF for this end use is 0.05). 
• some chemical will be for end use in paints within Australia (ERF for this end use is 0.1). 
• some chemical will be for end use in specified consumer products in Australia (ERF for this end use is 1). 

With this scenario using equation 2a the highest ERF is 1. 

The HHCV will be: 12,000 × 1 = 12,000 kg 

Equation 5: detailed method (multiple end uses; multiple ERFs, calculate the HHCV for each end use and add together) 

Use equation 5 if: 

• you know the annual introduction volume of your chemical for each end use 
• you are willing to keep track of any changes to your introduction volume for each end use - this helps you make sure that the indicative human health risk of your introduction does not increase. 

Option 1: Use our online tool

Go to our human health categorisation volume calculator

Option 2: Calculate manually using the equation

A) Look at the exposure reduction factor (ERF) table and identify which end use scenarios apply to your introduction. 

B) Select one of the end use scenarios and calculate the human health categorisation volume using the instructions for equation 4. 

C) Repeat B) for all of your end uses and then add them up to get your total human health categorisation volume using the equation below. 

HHCV = (IV₁ x ERF₁) + (IV₂ x ERF₂) +… + (IV_n x ERF_n)

Note: IV_n = the introduction volume for end use ‘n’ 

Example - using equation 5 

In this scenario, the company knows the breakdown of the volumes for each end use: 

• 6,000 kg manufactured in Australia that will be exported for end use overseas (ERF for this end use is 0.05). 
• 5,000 kg for end use in paints within Australia (ERF for this end use is 0.1). 
• 1,000 kg for end use in specified consumer products in Australia (ERF for this end use is 1). 

The introduction volume is multiplied by the ERF for each end use scenario before adding these together to get the total HHCV. 

The HHCV will be: (6,000 × 0.05) + (5,000 × 0.1) + (1,000 × 1) = 1,800 kg

The ERF values range between 0 and 1. A low exposure reduction factor indicates that only a small portion of the introduction volume is likely to contribute to human exposure. A higher exposure reduction factor indicates that a higher proportion of the introduction volume could contribute to human exposure.

Note *Specified consumer products means any of the following products:

• cosmetics
• nasal sprays
• ear sprays
• intimate lubricants
• massage oils and gels
• products applied to the nails to harden, or deter the biting of, nails

Specified consumer products do not include tattoo inks. If your chemical has an end use in tattoo inks, its introduction is automatically in human health exposure band 4 and you do not need to calculate a HHCV.

Next: Once you have calculated your HHCV, return to step 4.3.