Programs that assess chemical hazards and risks are intended to focus on understanding the inherent properties of substances to determine the likelihood of harm from a specific exposure.
The public, businesses, and regulators at all levels of government expect these assessments to be reliable sources of information on the potential hazards and risks associated with chemicals.
Chemical management programs and regulatory decisions often consider and/or rely, in-part, on these assessments. Access to accurate data based on realistic scenarios and the best available science is necessary to effectively protect human health and the environment.
According to reports and studies from organizations, including the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) review of EPA’s draft assessment of formaldehyde, the scientific foundation underpinning federal programs must be improved so they produce timely and credible chemical assessments.
