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Environmental assessment of chemical products
Last Updated: 2026-02-05 15:29:48
Abstract
Application of methods for chemical risk assessment according to EU technical guidance documents; exposure and effect analysis for different types of chemicals. Estimation of chemical properties (QSAR methods), discussion of methods, presentation of alternative methods for the environmental risk assessment of chemicals; discussion of the objectives of REACH (new chemicals legislation of the EU).
Objective
Experience with methods for environmental hazard and risk assessment for chemicals, knowledge of the capabilities and limitations of these methods, discussion of new approaches, including REACH, the new chemicals legislation of the EU: 1. presentation of the legal and political context of the assessment of chemical products 2. detailed discussion of assessment methods required for the quantification of emissions, environmental exposure, and effects. Treatment of data gaps and uncertainties; evaluation of assessment results.
Content
* methods for environmental risk assessment for chemicals (industrial chemicals, not pesticides) according to EU technical guidance document * exposure analysis: emission patterns, multimedia fate and transport models for quantifying environmental exposure and for calculationg persistence and potential for long-range transport of chemicals, identification and assessment of transformation products; uncertainty and sensitivity analyses. * effect analysis: estimation of hazard potential, tests for ecotoxicity, dose-effect relationships, extrapolation methods, classification of chemicals according to modes of toxic action. * assessment methods (deterministic, statistical), risk assessment vs. hazard assessment; PBT assessment (persistence, bioaccumulation, toxicity).
Resources
Lecture Notes
Copies of the slides will be distributed.
Literature
- Van Leeuwen, C.J., Hermens, J.L.M. (Eds.) Risk Assessment of Chemicals: An Introduction. Kluwer, Dordrecht, 1996. - Hungerbühler, K.. Mettier, T., Ranke, J., Umweltorientierte chemische Produkte und Prozesse. Springer, 1998. - Scheringer, M., Persistence and Spatial Range of Environmental Chemicals. Wiley-VCH, Weinheim, 2002.
General Information
- Language
- English
- Levels
- BSC , DR , MSC
- Frequency
- Yearly recurring
Examination
- Type
- session examination
- Mode
- written 90 minutes
- Aids
- None
Course Components
| Type | Title | Time & Place | Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| lecture with exercise | Environmental assessment of chemical products |
|
3 h weekly |