Ranking of toxics release inventory chemicals using a level III fugacity model and toxicity

Edwards, FG; Egemen, E; Brennan, R; Nirmalakhandan, N

HERO ID

652513

Reference Type

Journal Article

Year

1999

Language

English

HERO ID 652513
In Press No
Year 1999
Title Ranking of toxics release inventory chemicals using a level III fugacity model and toxicity
Authors Edwards, FG; Egemen, E; Brennan, R; Nirmalakhandan, N
Journal Water Science and Technology
Volume 39
Issue 10-11
Page Numbers 83-90
Abstract In an effort to lessen the environmental impact of chemicals discharged by industry, some countries rank chemicals according to mass released each year and then set environmental protection policy based upon this ranking. These rankings have driven industries and companies to change their process configurations and their chemical releases to reduce the release of higher ranking chemicals. But, chemicals that are higher ranked due to mass release may not be particularly toxic nor persistent in the environment; conversely, lower ranked chemicals may be substantially more toxic and persistent in the environment. The physical/chemical properties of forty five organic chemicals from the EPA's Toxic Release Inventory were used as inputs to a Level III fugacity model to estimate fate, transport, and steady state concentrations of chemicals in the environment. The resulting concentrations in the air and water, for each chemical, were determined using the fugacity model and were then compared with toxicity data, the ratio was used as an indication of the environmental impact of the release of each chemical. The chemicals were then ranked according to the degree of environmental impact and the results were compared to other ranking systems reported in the literature.
Doi 10.1016/S0273-1223(99)00257-7
Wosid WOS:000081691900012
Is Certified Translation No
Dupe Override No
Conference Location Cape town, South Africa
Conference Name International Specialised Conference on Chemical Process Industries and Environmental Management
Conference Date Sep 08-10, 1997
Is Public Yes
Language Text English
Keyword Fugacity modeling; chemical ranking; chemical scoring; toxic chemicals; toxicity; toxics release inventory
Relationship(s)