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Marine Risk Assessments

Scope of the Euro Chlor Risk Assessment Programme

Euro Chlor has completed 25 chlorine-based compounds focused on the marine environment. Data was collected and evaluated on the effects and environmental concentrations of these compounds. The 25 products appear on the lists of concern of European countries participating in the North Sea Conference.

Important remarks

The data of the risk assessments was last reviewed in August 2008 and was valid at that time.
For nearly all of the assessed substances, more recent emissions data is available from Euro Chlor.
For all substances, the marine risk assessments remain valid to the best of our knowledge.

Goals

The risk assessments explore whether these chlorine-related chemicals currently pose a risk to the marine environment, especially the North Sea.

Data sources

The effect data is derived from laboratory toxicity tests. Exposure data comes from analytical monitoring programmes. Where necessary, the exposure data is backed up with calculated concentrations based on emission models. All data comes from validated, published sources. Toxicity data is sourced worldwide; monitoring data is from Europe only.

Risk assessment methodology

For risk assessments on the 25 chlorine-based compounds, Euro Chlor has followed the EU guidelines (1488/94).
More information about the Existing Substances Regulation (793/93) on ec.europa.eu.

The three steps used in all Euro Chlor risk assessments are:

Predicted no-effect concentration (PNEC) - An evaluation of the hazard based on (eco)toxicological characteristics. The use of this data to derive the PNEC, the level of chemical at which no effects on the environment would be expected. Three different levels in the marine food chain are examined: aquatic plants (primary producers), invertebrates (primary consumers) and fishes (secondary consumers).
Predicted environmental concentration (PEC) - An estimation of exposure of the marine aquatic environment based on measured data from monitoring programmes.
PEC/PNEC - A comparison between PNEC and the actual exposure level, expressed by the predicted environmental concentration (PEC). If PEC is lower than PNEC, the product poses no risk; if it is equal to or higher than PNEC, management measures have to be taken to reduce the exposure to an acceptable level.

Overall, a risk assessment can indicate that there is (i) a need for further information or testing; (ii) at present no need for further information or testing, or no need for risk reduction measures; or (iii) a need to limit the risks.

Last update: 09/2011

Euro Chlor Marine Risk Assessments

1,2-dichloroethane

1,1,1-trichloroethane

Vinyl chloride

Tetrachloroethylene

Monochlorobenzene

Trichloroethylene

1,2-dichlorobenzene

Chloroform

1,4-dichlorobenzene

Monochloromethane