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Decision tool – Hazard characteristics for environment exposure band 1

This decision tool is related to step 5.4 and 5.5 of the process to categorise your chemical introduction.

Optional: If you’d like to save or print your completed decision tool for your own records, click on ‘Chemical identity’ before Question 1 and enter your chemical’s name or CAS number. Note that a copy of a completed decision tool is not sufficient to meet your record-keeping obligations. To save as a PDF, select the print option in your browser and choose ‘Save as PDF’ or ‘Microsoft Print to PDF’. For Safari users, click 'File' and 'Export to PDF'.

Who should use this?

This decision tool only applies for introductions with an environment exposure band of 1. If your introduction is in environment exposure band 1, you can use this decision tool to help you work out:

  • if your chemical has certain environment hazard characteristics
  • your introduction's indicative environment risk

There are 1‐10 questions depending on your circumstances. This tool refers to the Industrial Chemicals Categorisation Guidelines. You can find this document on this page:

See the full list of decision tools to help you categorise your introduction

Help us improve these tools by giving us your feedback.

What you need to know

Information about the following for your chemical:

  • does it contain arsenic, cadmium, lead or mercury
  • is it ozone depleting
  • is it a synthetic greenhouse gas
  • does it have adverse effects mediated by an endocrine mode of action
  • is it persistent, bioaccumulative and toxic
  • is it very toxic to any aquatic life
  • is it persistent and bioaccumulative
  • is it on the list of chemicals with high hazards for categorisation

What is your chemical's name or CAS number? (optional)

Note: enter this information if you'd like to save a copy for your own records by using the print function in your browser. A completed decision tool is not sufficient to meet your record-keeping obligations. 

Enter the CAS number or chemical name

Question 1

This question relates to hazard band D. Does your chemical contain arsenic, cadmium, lead or mercury?

Question 2

This question relates to hazard band D. Does the definition of ozone‐depleting apply to your chemical (refer to Part 6.23.1 of the Categorisation Guidelines)?

Question 3

This question relates to hazard band D. Does the definition of synthetic greenhouse gas apply to your chemical (refer to Part 6.24.1 of the Categorisation Guidelines)?

Question 4

This question relates to hazard band D. Is your chemical on the list of chemicals with high hazards for categorisation for any of the following hazard characteristics? If your chemical's an ester or salt, there are extra requirements when checking the list for the hazard characteristic adverse effects mediated by an endocrine mode of action.

  • Adverse effects mediated by an endocrine mode of action
  • Persistent, bioaccumulative and toxic

Question 5

This question relates to hazard band D. Does the definition of adverse effects mediated by an endocrine mode of action apply to your chemical (refer to Part 6.25.1 of the Categorisation Guidelines)?

Question 6

This question relates to hazard band D. Does the hazard band D definition of persistent, bioaccumulative and toxic apply to your chemical (refer to Part 6.26.1 of the Categorisation Guidelines)?

Your introduction's indicative environment risk is medium to high.

Go to Decision tool – Work out your introduction category.

Question 7

Do you want to find out if your introduction could have a very low indicative environment risk?

If you do, you'll have to answer questions about hazard band C characteristics. If you don't, your introduction's indicative environment risk will be low.

Question 8

This question relates to hazard band C. Is your chemical on the list of chemicals with high hazards for categorisation for any of the following hazard characteristics?

  • being very toxic to any aquatic life
  • persistent and bioaccumulative

Question 9

This question relates to hazard band C. Does the definition of very toxic to any aquatic life apply to your chemical (refer to Part 6.27.1 of the Categorisation Guidelines)?

Question 10

This question relates to hazard band C. Does the hazard band C definition of persistent and bioaccumulative apply to your chemical (refer to Part 6.28.1 of the Categorisation Guidelines)?

Your introduction's indicative environment risk is very low.

Go to Decision tool – Work out your introduction category.

Your introduction's indicative environment risk is low.

Go to Decision tool – Work out your introduction category.

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