In today’s world we have become much more aware of the damage that can be done to the environment due to the release of chemicals into the air or water courses. Therefore, it is necessary to obtain suitable information on the potential to damage the environment as soon as is possible. C3-B can look into the potential for environmental hazard by performing suitably selected, laboratory tests that can determine how a chemical behaves in the environment.

The amount of information required will depend upon the anticipated level of manufacture of the product, from Level VIIC with an annual quantity of > 10 kg, through Level VIIA (often referred to as the Base Set level) to Level 2 with annual quantities > 1000 tonnes. The majority of tests are performed as per Annex V, Part C of the Dangerous Substances Directive 67/548/EEC. Many of the tests are also listed under the proposed REACH scheme.

Thus the detrimental effect that a chemical has on fish life, algae or crustacea needs to be considered along with how the material is able to degrade in its environment, normally as a waste product or accidental release. If a material does not degrade rapidly then there is also a risk of the material accumulating and presenting a greater risk to the environment.