Potential for MERLIN-Expo, an advanced tool for higher tier exposure assessment, within the EU chemical legislative frameworks.
MERLIN-Expo merges and integrates advanced exposure assessment methodologies, allowing the building of complex scenarios involving several pollution sources and targets. The assessment of exposure and risks to human health from chemicals is of major concern for policy and ultimately benefits all citizens. The development and operational fusion of the advanced exposure assessment methodologies envisaged in the MERLIN-Expo tool will have a significant impact in the long term on several policies dealing with chemical safety management. There are more than 30 agencies in Europe related to exposure and risk evaluation of chemicals, which have an important role in implementing EU policies, having especially tasks of technical, scientific, operational and/or regulatory nature. The main purpose of the present paper is to introduce MERLIN-Expo and to highlight its potential for being effectively integrated within the group of tools available to assess the risk and exposure of chemicals for EU policy. The main results show that the tool is highly suitable for use in site-specific or local impact assessment, with minor modifications it can also be used for Plant Protection Products (PPPs), biocides and REACH, while major additions would be required for a comprehensive application in the field of consumer and worker exposure assessment.
Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 29122 Piacenza, Italy. Electronic address: nicoleta.suciu@unicatt.it.
Nicoleta
N
Suciu
Aeiforia Srl, 29027 Gariga di Podenzano (PC), Italy.
Alice
A
Tediosi
Electricité de France (EDF) R&D, National Hydraulic and Environment Laboratory, 6 quai Watier, 78400 Chatou, France.
Philippe
P
Ciffroy
Österreichisches Normungsinstitut/Austrian Standards Institute, Heinestraße 38, 1020 Wien, Austria.
Annette
A
Altenpohl
INERIS, Parc ALATA, BP2, 60550 Verneuil en Halatte, France.
Céline
C
Brochot
ARCHE cvba, Liefkensstraat 35d, 9032 Gent-Wondelgem, Belgium.
Frederik
F
Verdonck
Aeiforia Srl, 29027 Gariga di Podenzano (PC), Italy.
Federico
F
Ferrari
University Ca Foscari Venice, Department of Environmental Sciences, Informatics and Statistics, via Torino 155, 30172 Mestre-Venice, Italy.
Elisa
E
Giubilato
Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 29122 Piacenza, Italy.
Ettore
E
Capri
EFSA, via Carlo Magno 1/a, 43126 Parma, Italy.
Gabriella
G
Fait
D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000379:methods; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D004787:Environmental Pollution / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005062:European Union
D004785:Environmental Pollutants
Chemicals; Exposure assessment; Legislative framework; Multimedia model; Pharmacokinetic model