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Modelled environmental exposure to persistent organic chemicals is independent of the time course of emissions: Proof and significance for chemical exposure assessments

Author

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  • von Waldow, Harald
  • Scheringer, Martin
  • Hungerbühler, Konrad

Abstract

The fate and transport of organic pollutants in the environment is usually assessed with the help of multimedia models. A target variable calculated with these models is the environmental exposure to a substance. It indicates that part of the potential hazard of a chemical that is caused solely by the chemical’s fate and transport behaviour, regardless of toxicological substance properties. So far, pulse-emissions are usually assumed in order to arrive at an easy-to-compute expression for exposure. Here, we show that exposure does not depend on the shape of the emission function. Exposure calculated for the pulse release of a particular mass of contaminant is equal to exposure calculated for any arbitrary dynamic release of the same mass. This result extends the meaning of model evaluations at steady-state. It also allows for a more general interpretation of the persistence and the spatial range of a chemical, as well as of the toxicity potential used in life cycle impact assessment.

Suggested Citation

  • von Waldow, Harald & Scheringer, Martin & Hungerbühler, Konrad, 2008. "Modelled environmental exposure to persistent organic chemicals is independent of the time course of emissions: Proof and significance for chemical exposure assessments," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 219(1), pages 256-259.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:ecomod:v:219:y:2008:i:1:p:256-259
    DOI: 10.1016/j.ecolmodel.2008.08.016
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