Euro Chlor risk assessment for the marine environment OSPARCOM region: North Sea - trichloroethylene

• Published in: Environmental monitoring and assessment Vol. 53; no. 3; pp. 467 - 487
• Main Authors: Boutonnet, J.C. (Elf Atochem SA, Levallois-Perret (France). Centre d'Application de Levallois), Rooij, C. De, Garny, V, Lecloux, A, Papp, R, Thompson, R.S, Wijk, D
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dordrecht Springer Nature B.V 01-12-1998
• Subjects: Algae; AMBIENTE MARINO; Aquatic environment; Bioaccumulation; CHEMICALS; Chlorine compounds; Chronic toxicity; COMPOSE ORGANOCHLORE; COMPUESTO ORGANICO DEL CLORO; CONTROLE CONTINU; Environmental impact; ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT; Environmental monitoring; Estuaries; EVALUACION DEL IMPACTO AMBIENTAL; EVALUATION IMPACT SUR ENVIRONNEMENT; Food chains; Laws and legislation; MAR DEL NORTE; Marine biology; MARINE ENVIRONMENT; Marine pollution; MER DU NORD; MILIEU MARIN; MONITORING; NORTH SEA; ORGANOCHLORINE COMPOUNDS; Pisces; PRODUCTOS QUIMICOS; PRODUIT CHIMIQUE; RIESGO; RISK; Risk assessment; RISQUE; River pollution; Rivers; Solvents; TOXICIDAD; TOXICITE; TOXICITY; Trichloroethylene; VIGILANCIA; ANE, North Sea
• ISSN: 0167-6369; 1573-2959
• DOI: 10.1023/A:1006066600350

This risk assessment on trichloroethylene (TRI) was carried out specifically for the marine environment, according to the methodology laid down in the EU risk assessment Regulation (1488/94) and the Guidance Document of the EU New and Existing Substances Regulation (TGD, 1997). The study consists of the collection and evaluation of data on effects and environmental concentrations from analytical monitoring programs in large rivers and estuaries in the North Sea area. The risk is indicated by the ratio of the "predicted environmental concentrations" (PEC) and the "predicted no effect concentrations" (PNEC) for the marine aquatic environment. In total, 19 studies for fish, 30 studies for invertebrates and 14 studies for algae have been evaluated. Both acute and chronic toxicity studies have been taken into account and the appropriate assessment factors have been used to define a PNEC value of 150 µg/l. Most of the available monitoring data apply to rivers and estuaries and were used to calculate PECs. The most recent data (1991-1995) support a typical PEC of 0.1 µg TRI/l water and a worst case PEC of 3.5 µg TRI/l water. The calculated PEC/PNEC ratios give a safety margin of 40 to 1,500 between the predicted no effect concentration and the exposure concentration. Additional evaluation of environmental fate and bioaccumulation characteristics showed that no concern for food chain accumulation is expected.[PUBLICATION ABSTRACT]