Environmental risk assessment

Environmental risk assessment evaluates the quantitative and qualitative characteristics of the environment, in order to highlight the risk on environment and human health due to the potential presence or use of specific pollutants. Risk is a probability of an adverse direct or indirect effect, on the environment or human health. It is a combination of the probability of occurrence of an event and the possible extent of that event's adverse effects and consequences, in terms of adverse effects on the ecosystem and human injury. Risk is defined as the probability of an event to occur, related to the seriousness and extent of its consequences. An environmental risk assessment should be conducted, by adopting a systematic approach, when it is determined that a management action may have consequences to either the state of the environment or human health or well-being.