Assessing the hazardous potential of a substance involves several steps. First, the identification of the substance's toxic properties is essential. This includes understanding its acute and chronic effects, its ability to cause cancer or reproductive harm, and its potential for causing environmental damage. Then, the exposure assessment is conducted to evaluate how, how much, and how often people or ecosystems might come in contact with the substance. Finally, the risk is characterized by combining the hazard identification and exposure assessment.
