Chemicals in the Environment

by Hester, R. E.; Harrison, R. M.

• ISBN13: 9780854042067
• ISBN10: 0854042067
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2006-08-30
• Publisher: Royal Society of Chemistry

Summary

Rising concern in recent years over the possible adverse environmental consequences of the use of chemicals has led to a steady increase in national activity towards greater regulation, in addition to voluntary agreements with manufacturers for risk management of certain products. This book begins by reviewing the current framework of legislation for the regulation of chemicals in the UK and then reports expert views on both the current situation and possible future developments. Subsequent chapters consider some of the scientific and technical issues, including the evaluation of the risks which chemicals can pose to human life and the environment, and the problems relating to evaluating the risks associated with metals in the environment. Finally, the predictive methods used to model the behaviour of organic chemicals within the environment are described.Highly topical, and with authoritative contributions from international experts, this book covers both the scientific underpinning and the legislative and practical issues of this emotive subject. The detailed coverage of a topic that affects many sectors of industry and society will make it popular with a wide audience of individuals from government organisations, industry or academic research - particularly those in environmental chemistry sectors.

Table of Contents

The Current Regulation of Environmental Chemicals	1	(20)
John Garrod
1 Introduction	1	(1)
2 Protection of the Water Environment	2	(4)
3 Classification and Labelling of Chemicals	6	(1)
4 The Notification of New Substances Regulations	7	(1)
5 Existing Substances Regulations	8	(2)
6 New European Chemicals Policy (REACH)	10	(1)
7 Other European and UK Regulations on Chemicals	11	(2)
8 International Activities on Chemicals	13	(2)
9 Voluntary Approaches to Control of Chemicals in the Environment	15	(3)
References	18	(3)
Chemicals Risk Assessment and Management	21	(24)
Elliot G. Finer
1 Introduction	21	(3)
2 Types of Risk	24	(2)
3 Risks and Hazards	26	(3)
4 The Evidence for Harm Caused by Industrial Chemicals	29	(5)
5 Cost—Benefit	34	(2)
6 Perception of Chemical Risks and The Roles of the Advocates	36	(2)
7 The Problems in Controlling Risks from Chemicals	38	(1)
8 Industry Initiatives	39	(1)
9 REACH	40	(2)
10 Conclusions	42	(1)
References	43	(2)
Future Perspectives in Risk Assessment of Chemicals	45	(20)
Peter Floyd
1 Introduction	45	(4)
2 Difficulties in Risk Assessment	49	(5)
3 Current Developments	54	(5)
4 Future Perspectives	59	(2)
5 Conclusions	61	(1)
References	61	(4)
Assessing Risks to Human Health	65	(19)
Paul T.C. Harrison and Philip Holmes
1 Introduction	65	(1)
2 Chemical Hazard Assessment	66	(1)
3 Assessing Risk	67	(1)
4 Qualitative vs. Quantitative Risk Assessment	68	(2)
5 Role of Epidemiology	70	(2)
6 Use of Biomarkers for Exposure and Risk Assessment	72	(1)
7 Applications of Molecular Biology	73	(2)
8 Uncertainties in Human Health Risk Assessment and the Role of Expert Committees	75	(2)
9 The Changing Face of Chemical Regulation in Europe	77	(3)
10 Future Perspectives	80	(1)
References	80	(4)
Environmental Risk Assessment	84	(18)
Lorraine Maltby
1 What is Environmental Risk Assessment?	84	(5)
2 What are We Trying to Protect?	89	(4)
3 What is the EU Legislative Framework?	93	(3)
4 What are Some of the Challenges Associated with the Environmental Risk Assessment of Chemicals?	96	(3)
References	99	(3)
Risk Assessment of Metals in the Environment	102	(30)
Peter G.C. Campbell, Peter M. Chapman and Beverley A. Hale
1 Introduction	102	(1)
2 Ecological Risk Assessment	103	(1)
3 Comparison of Inorganic and Organic Contaminants	104	(3)
4 Problems with the Application of Traditional ERA Approaches to Metals	107	(16)
5 Conclusions	123	(3)
Acknowledgements	126	(1)
References	126	(6)
Partitioning, Persistence and Long-Range Transport of Chemicals in the Environment	132	(22)
Donald Mackay, Eva Webster and Todd Gouin
1 Introduction	132	(2)
2 Partitioning	134	(8)
3 Persistence	142	(6)
4 Long-Range Transport	148	(2)
5 Conclusions	150	(1)
Acknowledgements	150	(1)
References	150	(4)
Subject Index	154