Chemicals Management Plan: Risk assessment process (infographic)

• Organization: Health Canada
• Type: Infographic
• Date published: 2026-07-08

Under the Chemicals Management Plan, our scientists conduct risk assessments to determine whether chemicals could harm people or the environment.

To assess risk, we follow these steps:

1. We collect data. We gather information from different sources on the properties, uses, releases, exposures, behaviours and effects of chemicals.
2. We assess the exposures. We consider how much people and the environment come into contact with the chemical, in what ways, how often and for how long. We also consider things like how it is released into the environment, people who may be at a higher risk and how being exposed to more than one chemical at a time could affect people's health or the environment.
3. We assess how harmful a chemical is. We use research, models and information about similar chemicals to identify possible harmful effects and the levels at which they occur. For example, does it cause cancer? Does it affect fertility? Does it harm plants or animals?
4. We determine the overall risk and publish the results in a draft assessment report for a public comment period. Risk combines exposures and potential hazards of a chemical and looks at whether exposures can reach levels where harm could occur.
5. We finalize the risk assessment report, which considers comments received on the draft report. If a substance is found to be toxic or could become toxic, we take steps to manage or reduce the risks.

Did you know? Access to information and participation in decision-making are key elements of the right to a healthy environment under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999. We publish short, easier to understand information sheets with the more technical risk assessments to help people understand and provide comments.