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Monochlorobenzene Marine Risk Assessment with Special Reference to the Osparcom Region: North Sea

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Abstract

This risk assessment on monochlorobenzene was carried out for the marine environment, following methodology given in the EU risk assessment Regulation (1488/94) and Guidance Document of the EU New and Existing Substances Regulation (TGD, 1996). Data from analytical monitoring programmes in large rivers and estuaries in the North Sea area were collected and evaluated for effects and environmental concentrations. Risk is indicated by the ratio of predicted environmental concentration (PEC) to predicted no-effect concentration (PNEC) for the marine aquatic environment. In total, 27 data for fish, 24 data for invertebrates and 13 data for algae were evaluated. Acute and chronic toxicity studies were taken into account and appropriate assessment factors used to define a final PNEC value of 32 μg/l. Recent monitoring data indicate that monochlorobenzene levels in surface waters are below determination limits of 0.1, 0.2, 0.5 μg/l used in monitoring programs. Assuming that half of the lowest determination (0.1 μg/l) is typical, a PEC of 0.05 μg/l was derived. A worst case of 0.5 μg/l is assumed. PEC/PNEC ratios give safety factors of 60 to over 500, taking no account of dilution in the sea. Monochlorobenzene is not a ‘toxic, persistent and liable to bioaccumulate’ substance sensu the Oslo and Paris Conventions for the Prevention of Marine Pollution (OSPAR-DYNAMEC) criteria. Environmental fate and effects data indicate that current use of monochlorobenzene poses no unacceptable risk to the aquatic environment.

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  1. Dolf Van Wijk

    Present address: Euro Chlor, Brussels, Belgium

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Akzo Nobel Chemicals Research, Arnhem, The Netherlands

    Dolf Van Wijk, Veronique Garny & André Lecloux

  2. AstraZeneca, Brixham Environmental Laboratory, Freshwater Quarry, Brixham, Devon, United Kingdom

    Roy S. Thompson

  3. Solvay SA, Brussels, Belgium

    Christ De Rooij

  4. Bayer AG, WD-UWS, Institute of Environmental Analysis, Leverkusen, Germany

    Reinhard Kanne

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  1. Dolf Van Wijk
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Correspondence to Dolf Van Wijk.

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Van Wijk, D., Thompson, R.S., De Rooij, C. et al. Monochlorobenzene Marine Risk Assessment with Special Reference to the Osparcom Region: North Sea. Environ Monit Assess 97, 69–86 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1023/B:EMAS.0000033042.01768.3f

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