How to Calculate Hazard Quotient (HQ) and Risk Quotient (RQ)
Little Pro on 2018-06-13
Both hazard quotient (HQ) and risk quotient (RQ) are very important concepts in chemical risk assessment. They are used by regulatory authorities such as US EPA to describe the risk category of a chemical substance. In this article, we will summarize the definition of hazard quotient (HQ) and risk quotient (RQ) and show you how to calculate them. We will also compare their differences.
What Is Hazard Quotient (HQ)?
A hazard quotient is the ratio of the potential exposure to a substance and the level at which no adverse effects are expected. It is primarily used by US EPA to assess the health risks of air toxics.
A hazard quotient less than or equal to 1 indicates that adverse effects are not likely to occur, and thus can be considered to have negligible hazard. HQs greater than 1 are not statistical probabilities of harm occurring. Instead, they are a simple statement of whether (and by how much) an exposure concentration exceeds the reference concentration (RfC).
Another very important concept related to HQ is Hazard Index(HI). It is the sum of hazard quotients for substances that affect the same target organ or organ system. As with the hazard quotient, aggregate exposures below an HI of 1.0 derived using target organ specific hazard quotients likely will not result in adverse non-cancer health effects over a lifetime of exposure.
How to Calculate Hazard Quotient (HQ)
| Item | Description |
|---|---|
| Equation |
Hazard Quotient (HQ) = Exposure Concentration/Reference Concentration (RfC)
RfC = NOAEC/UF(uncertainty factors) Read more: How to claculate reference dose (RfD) or reference concentration (RfC). |
| Example |
|
What Is Risk Quotient (RQ)
A risk quotient (RQ) is the ratio of a point estimate of exposure and a point estimate of effects. It is primarily used by US EPA to assess the ecological risk of pesticides.
- RISK QUOTIENT = EXPOSURE / TOXICITY
In above equation, exposure refers to estimated environmental concentration (EEC). Toxicity refers to an effect level or endpoint obtained from eco-toxicity testing, such as an LC50 or NOEC.
After the risk quotient(s) is calculated, it is compared to EPA's Level of Concern (LOC). If RQ is less than LOC, it is generally regarded that the risk is acceptable.
The table below shows you how to cauculate different types of risk quotients for aquatic species and EPA's level of concern. An LOC is a policy tool that the Agency uses to interpret the risk quotient and to analyze potential risk to non-target organisms and the need to consider regulatory action.
| Risk Presumtions | Risk Quotient(RQ) | LOC |
|---|---|---|
| Acute High Risk | EEC/(lowest LC50 or EC50) | 0.5 |
| Acute Restricted Use | EEC/(lowest LC50 or EC50) | 0.1 |
| Acute Endangered Species | EEC/(lowest LC50 or EC50) | 0.05 |
| Chronic Risk | EEC/(lowest NOAEC or NOEC) | 1.0 |
Read more:
How to Calculate Risk Quotient (RQ)
In order to calculate Risk Quotient (RQ), you need to have access to both estimated environmental concentration (EEC) and toxicity endpoints obtained from ecotoxicity studies. EEC is usually obtained through modelling by taking into account of the use scenario, physio-chemical properties and environmental fate of a chemical substance.
RQ can be calculated for various routes (i.e, dietary, dermal) and exposure durations (i.e, acute or chronic). You need to choose appropriate ecotoxcity endpoints to calculate the RQ.
Let's assume that we have obtained EEC from modelling (EEC = 5mg/L). The RQ for aquatic organisms can be calculated as follows:
| Risk | Available Endpoints | RQ | Conclusion |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chronic Risk |
|
EEC/Lowest NOEC = 0.5 |
RQ (0.5) < LOC (1) No chronic risk concern. |
| Acute Risk |
|
EEC/(Lowest EC50 or LC50) = 0.1 |
RQ (0.1) < LOC (0.5) No high acute risk concern |
Differences Between Hazard Quotient (HQ) and Risk Quotient (RQ)
| Item | Hazard Quotient (HQ) | Risk Quotient (RQ) |
|---|---|---|
| Assessment Target |
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| Type of Risk Assessment |
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| Equation |
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| Risk description |
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References
- https://www.epa.gov/national-air-toxics-assessment/nata-glossary-terms#hq
- https://www.epa.gov/pesticide-science-and-assessing-pesticide-risks/technical-overview-ecological-risk-assessment-risk
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