title: 1,4-dichlorobenzene marine risk assessment with special reference to the OSPARCOM region: North Sea.
abstract: This risk assessment on 1,4-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 programs 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, 17 data for fish, 9 data for invertebrates and 7 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 20 microg/l. Recent monitoring data indicate that 1,4-dichlorobenzene levels in coastal waters and estuaries are below the determination limit of 0.1 microg/l used in monitoring programs. The worst case value recorded in river water is below 0.45 microg/l. Using these values, calculated PEC/PNEC ratios give safety margins of about 40-200, taking no account of dilution in the sea. Environmental fate and bioaccumulation data indicate that current use of 1,4-dichlorobenzene poses no risk to the aquatic environment.
authors.affiliation: Atofina, Paris, La Defense Cedex, France. jean-charles.boutonnet@grande-paroisse.com
authors.forename: Jean-Charles
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Boutonnet
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: Dolf
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: van Wijk
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
chemical_list: D002722:Chlorobenzenes; D007306:Insecticides; C018511:4-dichlorobenzene