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Decision tool – Hazard characteristics for human health exposure band 2

This decision tool is related to step 4.4 and 4.5 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 a human health exposure band of 2. If your introduction is in human health exposure band 2, you can use this decision tool to help you work out:

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

There are 1‐6 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:

  • 7 hazard characteristics
    • if it is an inorganic arsenic compound
    • if it contains beryllium, cadmium, chromium (VI), lead or nickel 
    • carcinogenicity
    • reproductive toxicity
    • developmental toxicity
    • adverse effects mediated by an endocrine mode of action
    • genetic toxicity
  • if your chemical is 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

Do any of the following scenarios apply to your chemical?

Scenario 1: your chemical on the list of chemicals with high hazards for categorisation based on one or more of the following hazard characteristics? If your chemical's an ester or salt, there are extra requirements when you check the list.

  • Carcinogenicity
  • Reproductive toxicity
  • Developmental toxicity
  • Adverse effects mediated by an endocrine mode of action
  • Genetic toxicity

Scenario 2: your chemical an inorganic arsenic compound

Scenario 3: your chemical contain beryllium, cadmium, chromium (VI), lead or nickel

Question 2

Does the definition of carcinogenicity apply to your chemical (refer to Part 6.3.1 of the Categorisation Guidelines)?

Question 3

Does the definition of reproductive toxicity apply to your chemical (refer to Part 6.4.1 of the Categorisation Guidelines)?

Question 4

Does the definition of developmental toxicity apply to your chemical (refer to Part 6.5.1 of the Categorisation Guidelines)?

Question 5

Does the definition of adverse effects mediated by an endocrine mode of action apply to your chemical (refer to Part 6.6.1 of the Categorisation Guidelines)?

Question 6

Does the definition of genetic toxicity apply to your chemical (refer to Part 6.7.1 of the Categorisation Guidelines)?

Your introduction's indicative human health risk is very low. Make a note of this outcome.

Go to Decision tool – Work out your environment exposure band.

Your introduction's indicative human health risk is medium to high and is in the assessed category. This means that you must apply for an assessment certificate before you can introduce your chemical. To work out which type of certificate you need to apply for, you must continue and work out your introduction's indicative risk to the environment.

Go to Decision tool – Work out your environment exposure band.

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