PROTECTFP Work Package 1:- results from questionnaire and overview of tools for chemical assessment

PROTECTFP WP1 Questionnaire ‘Work in progress’

PROTECTFP Background WP1 aims to gather information on approaches for protecting the environment from radioactive and non-radioactive substances Questionnaires were used to help gather information Two questionnaires were developed:- –regulatory/advisory bodies –industry

PROTECTFP Main areas where a response was invited The questionnaire covered the following issues:- –Protection goals –Methodology –Criteria (thresholds) –Future changes in regulation –Comparison of radionuclide and chemical regulation

PROTECTFP Questionnaire responses 34 questionnaire responses received (23/03/07)

PROTECTFP Protection goals for radionuclides Typically … ‘protection of ecosystems’ ‘pollution prevention’ ‘protection of animals, plants and diversity’ ‘the aquatic environment’ Some more specific e.g. ‘species at population level - some at individual level’ ‘maintenance of habitats with reasonable species populations’ ‘ aspirational’ Technically measurable Many respondents focussed on risks to health and workers. Protection of flora and fauna to be ‘considered’ or ‘general duty to protect’

PROTECTFP Protection goals for chemicals ‘Aspirational’ aims also feature in legislation but accompanying technical guidance usually translates these into more tangible measurement endpoints Implicit protection goal is protection of populations rather than individuals Ecological function features in soil thresholds but not aquatic (entirely structural protection) May also consider risks from secondary poisoning (biomagnification) and risks to operation of wastewater treatment plants

PROTECTFP Tools used in Chemical Risk Assessment

PROTECTFP Structure of presentation Overarching principles of chemical risk assessment Examples of risk assessment schemes Examples of tools How do these schemes and tools link to assessment of radioactive substances? Conclusions

PROTECTFP Types of risk assessment RISK ASSESSMENT RetrospectiveProspective Contaminants already present Site-specific Focus is on classification, remediation or abatement e.g. New Chemicals, Pesticide Approval Anticipates possible risks ‘Imaginary’ exposure scenario e.g. standard application regime, standard receiving environment Risk mitigation through release, approved uses e.g. ERA of contaminated land

PROTECTFP A generic framework for risk assessment Problem Formulation Risk Characterisation Effects Assessment Exposure Assessment Risk Management

PROTECTFP Tools Exposure –Emission-estimating tools –dispersion models –food chain models –run-off models –leaching models –soil/cropping models Effects –QSARs –Biotic Ligand Model –Data analysis (bioassays) –SSDs

PROTECTFP Examples of chemical risk assessment schemes RETROSPECTIVE UK (?)Part IIa Environmental Risk Assessment for Contaminated Soils IPPC Directive PROSPECTIVE New and Existing Industrial Chemicals Biocides Directive Pesticides - Plant Protection Product Directive

PROTECTFP Industrial chemicals

PROTECTFP Industrial chemicals and biocides The EU Technical Guidance Document (TGD) for risk assessment provides technical detail for undertaking risk assessments required for:- –new substances (Directive 93/67) –priority existing substances (Regulation 1488/94) –biocides (Directive 98/8)

PROTECTFP Risk assessment of industrial chemicals and biocides Requires understanding of exposure and effects Basic minimum data set required to undertake assessment Encourages use of additional data where available to refine the assessment for existing substances Provides option to refine exposure and effects if adverse risk indicated

PROTECTFP Risk assessment of industrial chemicals and biocides TGD is supported by EUSES Computer-based models which predict environmental concentrations and effect concentrations based on available data Models cover: –emission estimates –environmental distribution models for various environmental scales –food chain modelling –species sensitivity distributions

PROTECTFP ERA of contaminated land

PROTECTFP ERA of contaminated land Part IIa of Environment Act requires Local Authorities to classify designated sites (nature reserves etc) that might be at risk from chemical contamination May be requirement to clean up where unacceptable risk Scheme at advanced stage of development (EA with Conservation Agencies)

PROTECTFP ERA framework - overview CONCEPTUAL SITE MODEL SCREENING ASSESSMENT - compare chemical contamination with SSVs PROBLEM FORMULATION CAUSE-EFFECT EXIT DETERMINE Tier 0 Tier 3 Tier 2 Tier 1 DETAILED ASSESSMENT - assess evidence for adverse effects

PROTECTFP Use of SSVs (effectively chemical thresholds) as a screening tool –compare monitored concs with SSV (equivalent to PEC/PNEC) –need to consider background concentrations –consider factors that affect availability (e.g. [OC], pH) Suite of biological methods - are there impacts? –ecological surveys –bioassays –models to predict risks from biomagnification? Tools to link impacts to causes under consideration ERA Tools

PROTECTFP Links to radioactive substances Assessment of environmental impact of radioactive substances involves a similar generic risk assessment approach Tools required to undertake such assessments are often similar, e.g. determination of contaminant exposure However there are some differences …

PROTECTFP How do approaches for chemicals and radionuclides compare?

PROTECTFP Conclusions Chemical risk assessment invariably involves exposure and effect assessment Typically a tiered approach –to allow for risk assessment to be refined –to structure use of different lines of evidence Numerous tools are available to help at each stage of the risk assessment process For large risk assessment schemes, technical guidance advises choice of which tool is to be used Similarities between the risk assessment of radioactive and chemical substances indicate need for some common tools but fundamental differences e.g. risks from external irradiation call for other tools in addition