| 1. |
- Diamond, Miriam, et al.
(author)
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Exploring the planetary boundary for chemical pollution
- 2015
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In: Environment International. - : Elsevier BV. - 0160-4120 .- 1873-6750. ; 78, s. 8-15
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Research review (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Rockström et al. (2009a, 2009b) have warned that humanity must reduce anthropogenic impacts defined by nine planetary boundaries if “unacceptable global change” is to be avoided. Chemical pollution was identified as one of those boundaries for which continued impacts could erode the resilience of ecosystems and humanity. The central concept of the planetary boundary (or boundaries) for chemical pollution (PBCP or PBCPs) is that the Earth has a finite assimilative capacity for chemical pollution, which includes persistent, as well as readily degradable chemicals released at local to regional scales, which in aggregate threaten ecosystem and human viability. The PBCP allows humanity to explicitly address the increasingly global aspects of chemical pollution throughout a chemical's life cycle and the need for a global response of internationally coordinated control measures. We submit that sufficient evidence shows stresses on ecosystem and human health at local to global scales, suggesting that conditions are transgressing the safe operating space delimited by a PBCP. As such, current local to global pollution control measures are insufficient. However, while the PBCP is an important conceptual step forward, at this point single or multiple PBCPs are challenging to operationalize due to the extremely large number of commercial chemicals or mixtures of chemicals that cause myriad adverse effects to innumerable species and ecosystems, and the complex linkages between emissions, environmental concentrations, exposures and adverse effects. As well, the normative nature of a PBCP presents challenges of negotiating pollution limits amongst societal groups with differing viewpoints. Thus, a combination of approaches is recommended as follows: develop indicators of chemical pollution, for both control and response variables, that will aid in quantifying a PBCP(s) and gauging progress towards reducing chemical pollution; develop new technologies and technical and social approaches to mitigate global chemical pollution that emphasize a preventative approach; coordinate pollution control and sustainability efforts; and facilitate implementation of multiple (and potentially decentralized) control efforts involving scientists, civil society, government, non-governmental organizations and international bodies.
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| 2. |
- Gustavsson, Mikael, 1983, et al.
(author)
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Estimating the release of chemical substances from consumer products, textiles and pharmaceuticals to wastewater
- 2022
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In: Chemosphere. - : Elsevier BV. - 0045-6535 .- 1879-1298. ; 287
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Chemical emissions from households originate from a wide range of sources and results in highly diverse mixtures. This makes traditional monitoring based on analytical chemistry challenging, especially for compounds that appear in low concentrations. We therefore developed a method for predicting emissions of chemicals from households into wastewater, relying on consumption patterns from multiple data sources. The method was then used to predict the emissions of chemical preparations, chemicals leaching from textiles and prescription pharmaceuticals in Sweden. In total we predicted emissions of 2007 chemicals with a combined emission of 62,659 tonnes per year - or 18 g/person and day. Of the emitted chemicals, 2.0% (w/w) were either classified as hazardous to the environment or were both persistent and mobile. We also show that chemical emissions come from a wide range of uses and that the total emission of any individual chemical is determined primarily by its use pattern, not by the total amount used. This emphasizes the need for continuous updates and additional knowledge generation both on emission factors and excretion rates as well as a need for improved reporting on the intended use of individual chemicals. Finally, we scrutinize the model and its uncertainty and suggest areas that need improvement to increase the accuracy of future emission modelling. We conclude that emission modelling can help guide environmental monitoring and provide input into management strategies aimed at reducing the environmental effect caused by hazardous chemicals.
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| 3. |
- Gustavsson, Mikael, et al.
(author)
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Chemical monitoring of Swedish coastal waters indicates common exceedances of environmental thresholds, both for individual substances as well as their mixtures
- 2017
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In: Marine Pollution Bulletin. - : Elsevier BV. - 0025-326X .- 1879-3363. ; 122:1-2, s. 409-419
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Chemical pollution was monitored and assessed along the Swedish west coast. 62 of 172 analyzed organic chemicals were detected in the water phase of at least one of five monitored sites. A Concentration Addition based screening-level risk assessment indicates that all sites are put at risk from chemical contamination, with total risk quotients between 2 and 9. Only at one site did none of the individual chemicals exceeded its corresponding environmental threshold (PNEC, EQS). The monitoring data thus demonstrate a widespread blanket of diffuse pollution, with no clear trends among sites. Further issues critical for the environmental chemical risk assessment include the challenges to achieve sufficiently low levels of detection, especially for hormones and cypermethrin (a pyrethroid insecticide), the appropriate consideration of non-detects and the limited availability of reliable PNECs and EQS values.
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| 4. |
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| 5. |
- Book, Frida, 1989, et al.
(author)
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Ecotoxicity screening of seven different types of commercial silica nanoparticles using cellular and organismic assays : Importance of surface and size
- 2019
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In: NanoImpact. - : Elsevier BV. - 2452-0748. ; 13, s. 100-111
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- We show that seven different types of commercial, biocide-free, colloidal silica products with mean particle sizes between 17 and 88 nm with 3 different surface chemistries (Na-stabilized, aluminized and silane-modified) are not toxic to the bacterium Pseudomonas putida, and the algae Raphidocelis subcapitata in the concentration range 5–500 mg/L. They are also not acutely toxic to Daphnia magna at concentrations up to 10,000 mg/L. Six silica particles are toxic to the gill cell line RTgill-W1 from Rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss), showing a clear concentration-response relationship with EC50 values between 13 and 92 mg/L. Toxicity in the fish cells decreases with increasing hydrodynamic size and is dependent on particle surface area. The average EC50 across the tested particles is 2.1 (±0.3) m2/L. Surface modifications clearly impact toxicity, with silane-modified particles showing no cytotoxicity. The reduced number of free silanol groups on the surface of the silane modified particle, in combination with an increased steric hindrance that prevents contact with the cells is a possible mechanism for the observed lack of toxicity. This is also in line with previous studies on silica nanoparticles in human toxicology. Overall, these findings show a generally low ecotoxicity of silica nanoparticles and indicate that silica particles of different sizes but identical surface chemistry could potentially be grouped into an assessment group under regulation such as REACH.
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| 6. |
- Hassellöv, Martin, 1970, et al.
(author)
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REACH missar nano!
- 2009
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In: Miljöforskning. ; 2009:3-4
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Journal article (other academic/artistic)
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