Managing exposure to chemicals

Figure 17 shows the proportion of indicator components for which ‘Managing exposure to chemicals is the primary goal that have been assigned to each assessment category, with the exact number of indicator components shown as a label on the bars.

J5 (Prevent harmful chemicals from being recycled) is still in development and H4 (Exposure of wildlife to chemicals in the environment in England) does not currently present information as the time series needed for applying the assessment method. H3a (emissions of mercury to air land and water in England) does not yet have a sufficiently long time series for assessment of trend. H3b (emissions of persistent organic pollutants to air land and water in England) could be assessed.

All of the pollutants measured by H3b showed an improvement over the medium and long term. However, emissions of hexachlorobenzene increased over the short term and polychlorinated naphthalenes showed little or no change. The short-term time period covered the most recent 5 years for which an assessment can be made (2013 to 2018 for H3b).

Summary Figure
Summary Table
Links Figure
Links Table

Figure 17: Summary of assessment results for Managing exposure to chemicals indicator components

Improvement
Little or no change
Deterioration
Not assessed

Figure 18: Potential links with Managing exposure to chemicals indicators

Positive
Negative

Footnote: The network diagram in Figure 18 summarises which Managing exposure to chemicals indicators may influence, or be influenced by, indicators for other goals. Emissions of mercury and persistent organic pollutants to the environment may lead to increases in water pollution and exposure and adverse effects of chemicals on wildlife in the environment, which in turn may influence wildlife indicators. There may also be negative links to health and wellbeing. The indicator for preventing harmful chemicals from being recycled may be related to changes in the opposite direction, leading to reduced exposure and adverse effects of chemicals and increased health and wellbeing.

Managing exposure to chemicals

Figure 17: Summary of assessment results for Managing exposure to chemicals indicator components

Table 18: Assessment results for Managing exposure to chemicals indicator components

Figure 18: Potential links with Managing exposure to chemicals indicators

Table 19: Potential links with Managing exposure to chemicals indicators

Managing exposure to chemicals

Figure 17: Summary of assessment results for Managing exposure to chemicals indicator components

Plot legend: list of stacked components included in each bar