Development and implementation of a concept for substitution of the highly hazardous substances with safe chemical alternatives

Abstract

Introduction. The concept of chemical substitution is now increasingly included in policy and regulatory efforts around the world to reduce the risks of chemicals to human health and the environment, as well as in industry initiatives for the sustainable management of chemicals. With the exception of conventional substances regulated by EEC documents, unfortunately, there is no legislatively established mechanism for identifying, banning and limiting the production and consumption of highly hazardous chemical compounds in the Russian Federation. The purpose of the research is to develop and scientifically substantiate the concept of replacing highly hazardous chemicals with safer alternatives. Materials and methods. The guidelines and recommendations of the OECD, WHO, ILO, FAO, UNEP, as well as regulatory and methodological documents of the EU, the USA, Canada and other states on the criteria for classifying substances as highly hazardous, organizing and monitoring them in environmental objects and selection of safe chemical alternatives were studied and analyzed. Results. The concept of substitution includes the scientific substantiation of the criteria for classifying substances as highly hazardous, the organization and generalization of data from monitoring the human environment and the circulation of hazardous chemical products on the market, the development of a list of highly hazardous chemicals that are priority for regulation; selection of safe alternatives and their comparative analysis, taking into account the assessment of the advantages of the alternative over the existing technology/substance, implementation of management decisions. The criteria for identifying substances of highly concern and selecting their alternatives are the following indicators: biological activity (carcinogens, mutagens, reprotoxicants class 1A and 1B in accordance with GHS, endocrine disruptors); stability in the environment; bioaccumulative potential; the possibility of cross-media transfer; aquatic toxicity (acute and chronic toxicity of hazard class 1 in accordance with GHS); production volumes (volumes of emissions and discharges); number of contacts. Conclusion. The analysis of the international practice of regulating highly hazardous chemicals indicates the need to implement at the national level and within the framework of the Eurasian Economic Union a program for the systematic monitoring of high-risk chemicals circulating on the market in order to withdraw them from circulation and replace them with safe analogues. Implementation of the concept of replacing highly hazardous substances with safe chemical alternatives allows to create a draft national list of banned and restricted highly hazardous chemicals relevant to various industries (food, materials, basic chemistry).