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Home : About PMRA : Registration Process : Reviews : Environmental
Risk Assessment
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Scientific data on the environmental fate and environment toxicology of a pesticide are part of the information
package required to support registration. Canadian environmental data requirements for major forestry and
agricultural uses of chemical pesticides have been harmonized with U.S. requirements, and are similar to those
of other pesticide regulatory systems. The PMRA conducts a critical evaluation of these data to determine the
environmental risk of a pesticide. |
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Risk assessment combines the results of the environmental toxicology (hazard) and environmental fate (exposure)
assessments (i.e., the evaluation of the studies described above). The ratio of the NOEC (for the most sensitive
test species) to the expected environmental concentration is determined. A large ratio indicates a large margin
of safety, with a limited environmental impact expected. Many factors determine how large this ratio must be in
order for the risk to be judged acceptable. As the ratio becomes small, concern increases. At a ratio of less
than one, an environmental impact is expected. |
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The environmental risk posed by a pesticide is a function of:
- Environmental fate — i.e., what happens to the pesticide once it enters the environment, including expected
environmental concentrations to which non-target organisms may be exposed; and
- Environmental toxicology — i.e., the hazards posed by the pesticide to non-target plants and animals, both on
land and in bodies of water.
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