This compilation on the degradation of 1,100 commercially important chemical products is the first publication to make this knowledge publicly accessible in one book. The data and annotations have been painstakingly assembled over a 10-year period in a collaboration between academia and regulatory authorities. The work explains in detail the methods, including computational ones, for the environmental assessment of volatile and semi-volatile substances, and is rounded off with data tables of degradation rates. A key resource for manufacturers and regulators of such substances.

Rising concern in recent years over the possible adverse environmental consequences of the use of chemicals has led to a steady increase in national activity towards greater regulation, in addition to voluntary agreements with manufacturers for risk management of certain products. This book begins by reviewing the current framework of legislation for the regulation of chemicals in the UK and then reports expert views on both the current situation and possible future developments. Subsequent chapters consider some of the scientific and technical issues, including the evaluation of the risks which chemicals can pose to human life and the environment, and the problems relating to evaluating the risks associated with metals in the environment. Finally, the predictive methods used to model the behaviour of organic chemicals within the environment are described.Highly topical, and with authoritative contributions from international experts, this book covers both the scientific underpinning and the legislative and practical issues of this emotive subject. The detailed coverage of a topic that affects many sectors of industry and society will make it popular with a wide audience of individuals from government organisations, industry or academic research - particularly those in environmental chemistry sectors.

This document contains the report from the OECD/UNEP Workshop on the Use of Multimedia Models for Estimating Overall Persistence and Long-range Transport in the Context of PBTs/POPs Assessment, held on 29-31 October 2001 in Ottawa, Canada, together ...

This Guidance Document concerns using multimedia models, i.e. generic evaluative models that can calculate overall environmental persistence (Pov) and potential for long-range transport (LTRP) covering multiple compartments such as air, water, sediment and soil.

Recent advances in air pollution monitoring and modeling capabilities have made it possible to show that air pollution can be transported long distances and that adverse impacts of emitted pollutants cannot be confined to one country or even one continent. Pollutants from traffic, cooking stoves, and factories emitted half a world away can make the air we inhale today more hazardous for our health. The relative importance of this "imported" pollution is likely to increase, as emissions in developing countries grow, and air quality standards in industrial countries are tightened. Global Sources of Local Pollution examines the impact of the long-range transport of four key air pollutants (ozone, particulate matter, mercury, and persistent organic pollutants) on air quality and pollutant deposition in the United States. It also explores the environmental impacts of U.S. emissions on other parts of the world. The book recommends that the United States work with the international community to develop an integrated system for determining pollution sources and impacts and to design effective response strategies. This book will be useful to international, federal, state, and local policy makers responsible for understanding and managing air pollution and its impacts on human health and well-being.

Using conventional methodology, chemical risk assessment for the hundreds of thousands of chemicals currently in use is a near-impossible task. Martin Scheringer has pioneered the development of a new concept based on the criteria of persistence and spatial range, and in this book he provides the first coherent introduction. The concept simplifies the assessment of chemicals while still providing meaningful evaluation criteria. The author outlines the features of persistence and spatial range as measures of environmental threats before going on to explain the quantification of these criteria. One unique feature of this book is that it covers both scientific and ethical aspects, since scientific arguments are necessary, yet insufficient for political decisions. A glossary of terms aids comprehension of this interdisciplinary topic, while numerous references provide access to the primary literature. Essential reading for everybody needing to stay in touch with the progress being made in scientific research on environmental chemicals or the current debate on international policy negotiations.

Persistence in the environment and potential for long-range transport are related since time in the environment is required for transport. A persistent chemical will travel longer distances than a reactive chemical that shares similar chemical properties. Scheringer (1997) has demonstrated the correlation between persistence and transport distance for different organic chemicals. However, this correlation is not sufficiently robust to predict one property from the other. Specific chemicals that are persistent mayor may not exhibit long-range transport potential. Persistence and long-range transport also present different societal concerns. Persistence concerns relate to the undesired possibility that chemicals produced and used now may somehow negatively affect future generations. Long-range transport concerns relate to the undesired presence of chemicals in areas where these compounds have not been used. Environmental policy decisions can be based on either or both considerations depending on the aim of the regulatory program. In this chapter, definitions and methods for quantifying persistence and transport potential of organic chemicals are proposed which will assist in the development of sound regulatory frameworks.

Environmental Forensics for Persistent Organic Pollutants represents the state-of-the-art in environmental forensics in relation to persistent organic pollutants (POPs). The book is a complete reference for practitioners and students, covering a range of topics from new analytical techniques to regulatory and legal status in the global community. Through case studies from leading international experts, real-world issues — including the allocation of responsibility for release into the environment — are resolved through the application of advanced analytical and scientific techniques. This book introduces and assesses the development of new techniques and technologies to trace the source and fate of newly emerging and classic POPs (perfluoroalkyl substances, brominated flame retardants, organochlorine pesticides, perfluorinated chemicals, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and polychlorinated biphenyls) in environmental media, including atmospheric, marine, freshwater, and urban environments. - Real-world case studies show the application of advanced analytical and scientific techniques - Discussion of GC*GC provides an introduction and assessment of a novel technique from leaders in the field - Introduces the development of new analytical techniques (such as 2-D GC*HC and LC*LC) to trace the source and fate - Raises awareness about the health and environmental impact of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) - Outlines the development of international measures to control POPs so that chemists can understand the legal issues