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Joint Persistence of Transformation Products in Chemicals Assessment: Case Studies and Uncertainty Analysis

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  • Kathrin Fenner
  • Martin Scheringer
  • Konrad Hungerbühler

Abstract

The joint persistence (JP) quantifies the environmental persistence of a parent compound and a selection of relevant transformation products. Here, the importance as well as the uncertainty of the JP in comparison to the persistence of the parent compound alone (primary persistence, PP) are investigated. To demonstrate the effect of transformation products on the environmental persistence of organic chemicals, three case studies of parent compounds (nonylphenol ethoxylates, perchloroethylene, atrazine) and transformation products are investigated in detail with a multimedia fate model. Comparison of the PP and JP values shows that transformation products can significantly increase the persistence. In addition to the point estimates of PP and JP, the associated uncertainties are investigated. For each of the case studies, the chemical‐specific input parameters of all compounds are varied and the corresponding variance of the PP and JP is determined by Monte Carlo simulations. Interestingly, the higher number of input parameters required for the JP does not necessarily increase the uncertainty of the JP as compared to that of the PP alone. An exact mathematical expression specifying the contribution of each transformation product to the JP is given. When transformation products are grouped in different generations, it becomes discernible that the first generation increases the JP most; the later generations are of decreasing importance. Finally, the effect of incomplete knowledge of the transformation products and their properties on the JP results is discussed. For reliable JP estimates, knowledge of the first generation transformation products and their degradation rate constants is required.

Suggested Citation

  • Kathrin Fenner & Martin Scheringer & Konrad Hungerbühler, 2003. "Joint Persistence of Transformation Products in Chemicals Assessment: Case Studies and Uncertainty Analysis," Risk Analysis, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 23(1), pages 35-53, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:wly:riskan:v:23:y:2003:i:1:p:35-53
    DOI: 10.1111/1539-6924.00288
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Edgar G. Hertwich & Thomas E. McKone & William S. Pease, 2000. "A Systematic Uncertainty Analysis of an Evaluative Fate and Exposure Model," Risk Analysis, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 20(4), pages 439-454, August.
    2. Edgar G. Hertwich & Thomas E. McKone & William S. Pease, 1999. "Parameter Uncertainty and Variability In Evaluative Fate and Exposure Models," Risk Analysis, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 19(6), pages 1193-1204, December.
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    1. Kai Lessmann & Andreas Beyer & Jörg Klasmeier & Michael Matthies, 2005. "Influence of Distributional Shape of Substance Parameters on Exposure Model Output," Risk Analysis, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 25(5), pages 1137-1145, October.

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