Environmental risk assessment aims to systematically identify, evaluate, and characterize the potential adverse effects of human activities on the environment.

Environmental risk assessment typically involves hazard identification, exposure assessment, and risk characterization, which are all essential components for evaluating the potential risks posed by environmental hazards.

Hazard identification aims to identify potential sources, agents, or activities that may pose a risk to human health or the environment.

Exposure assessment involves identifying exposure pathways, estimating exposure levels, and evaluating the potential health effects of exposure to environmental hazards.

Risk characterization integrates hazard identification and exposure assessment results to estimate the likelihood and magnitude of adverse effects, and it also involves developing strategies for managing environmental risks.

Hazard identification methods include literature review, expert judgment, field studies, and other relevant sources of information.

Exposure assessment aims to estimate the magnitude and duration of exposure to environmental hazards through various methods such as environmental monitoring, modeling, and surveys.

Exposure assessment methods include environmental monitoring, modeling, surveys, and other relevant techniques for estimating exposure levels.

Risk characterization integrates hazard identification and exposure assessment results to estimate the likelihood and magnitude of adverse effects, and it also involves developing strategies for managing environmental risks.

Risk characterization methods include quantitative risk assessment, qualitative risk assessment, comparative risk assessment, and other relevant techniques for evaluating and communicating risks.

The primary objective of environmental risk management is to reduce environmental risks to acceptable levels, considering technical feasibility, economic factors, and societal values.

Common strategies for managing environmental risks include pollution prevention, end-of-pipe treatment, risk communication, and other relevant approaches.

Pollution prevention aims to reduce the generation of pollutants at the source, thereby minimizing the potential for environmental risks.

End-of-pipe treatment involves treating pollutants after they have been generated, typically through physical, chemical, or biological processes.

Risk communication aims to inform stakeholders about environmental risks, engage them in decision-making processes, and promote transparency and accountability in environmental risk management.