title: 1,2-dichlorobenzene marine risk assessment with special reference to the OSPARCOM region: North Sea.
abstract: This risk assessment on 1,2-dichlorobenzene was carried out for the marine environment, following methodology given in the EU risk assessment Regulation (1488/94) and Guidance Document of the EU New and Existing Substances Regulation (TGD, 1996). Data from analytical monitoring programmes in large rivers and estuaries in the North Sea area were collected and evaluated on effects and environmental concentrations. Risk is indicated by the ratio of predicted environmental concentration (PEC) to predicted no-effect concentration (PNEC) for the marine aquatic environment. In total, 26 data for fish, 24 data for invertebrates and 17 data for algae were evaluated. Acute and chronic toxicity studies were taken into account and appropriate assessment factors used to define a final PNEC value of 37 microg/l. All available monitoring data indicate that 1,2-dichlorobenzene levels in estuaries are below 0.1 microg/l. Worst case concentrations in rivers are below 0.45 microg/l. With this value, calculated PEC/PNEC ratios give safety margins of 100 to 300, taking no account of dilution in the sea. 1,2-dichlorobenzene is not a 'toxic, persistent and liable to bioaccumulate' substance sensu the Oslo and Paris Convention for the Prevention of Marine Pollution (OSPAR-DYNAMEC) criteria. Environmental fate and effects data indicate that current use of 1,2-dichlorobenzene poses no risk to the aquatic environment.
authors.affiliation: Akzo Nobel Chemical Research, Arnhem, The Netherlands. dvw@cefic.be
authors.forename: Dolf
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: van Wijk
authors.forename: Roy S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Thompson
authors.forename: Christ
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: De Rooij
authors.forename: Veronique
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Garny
authors.forename: André
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lecloux
authors.forename: Reinhard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kanne
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002722:Chlorobenzenes / Q000633:toxicity*; D056890:Eukaryota; D005399:Fishes; D005544:Forecasting; D007306:Insecticides / Q000633:toxicity*; D007448:Invertebrates; D019055:No-Observed-Adverse-Effect Level; D009659:North Sea; D018570:Risk Assessment; D045483:Rivers
chemical_list: D002722:Chlorobenzenes; D007306:Insecticides; C004726:2-dichlorobenzene