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This report investigates the potential for increased use of economic instruments, not the least taxes and charges, in chemcials policy. It provides a conceptual discussion of the role of different market-based instruments in controlling pollution based on chemicals production and use, and outlines a comprehensive overview and analysis of the European experiences of taxes and charges in chemicals policy during the last decades. A final chapter evaluates a set of carefully selected economic instruments targeted at specific chemical compounds and products. The cases have been chosen so as to illustrate different types of challenges in relying more extensively on economic instruments in chemicals policy, and they include the use of: (a) different types of two-stroke oils, (b) the substance nonylphenol (NP) and its ethoxylates (NPEs), which break down into NPs, and (c) ethylene glycol. The report has been commissioned by the Working Group on Environment and Economics under the Nordic Council of Ministers.

In recent years reporting requirements regarding emissions and releases of unintentionally formed persistent organic pollutants (POPs) have been laid on parties to international agreements and members of the EU. Such obligations include those under the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants, the UNECE POP and PRTR protocols and the EU PRTR regulation. The aim of this project has been to assess, whether existing knowledge and data are adequate for the Nordic countries to be able to estimate the emissions eventually to be reported. The project reveals that there is a substantial lack of knowledge related to potential sources in the Nordic countries. It also suggests that even though many of the main potential sources are the same, the relative importance of them differs between countries.

Elektriska och elektroniska produkter som sätts ut på EU-marknaden efter den 1 juli 2006 omfattas av ett förbud om innehåll av tungmetallerna bly, kvicksilver, kadmium och krom(IV) samt flamskyddsmedlen PBB och PBDE i RoHS-direktivet. Under hösten 2007 genomförde Sverige, Norge, Finland och Danmark samarbetsprojekt där företag som tillverkar och/eller importerar EE-produkter inspekterades. Totalt besöktes 62 företag och ytterligare 33 företag inspekterades per brev. Myndigheterna har även analyserat 208 EE-produkter från marknaden. Företagens kunskap om RoHS-direktivet var god. Av de analyserade produkterna var det knappt 20 procent som inte uppfyllde RoHS-direktivet trots att importörerna hade fått dokumentation från tillverkaren att produkten var RoHS-kompatibel. Detta projekt visar hur viktigt det är för myndigheten att utföra analyser och inte bara lita på företagens dokumentation.

Det finns en lång rad utmaningar på miljöområdet som måste mötas i samverkan – nationellt, regionalt och globalt. Detta gäller framför allt klimatförändringarna, användning och utsläpp av farliga kemikalier, skydd av havens ekosystem samt bevarande och nyttjande av den biologiska mångfalden. Det är nödvändigt att stärka samarbetet mellan de nordiska länderna för att på bästa sätt utnyttja våra tillgängliga resurser och för att åstadkomma gemensamma lösningar i Norden. De nordiska länderna har en ambition att Norden ska vara en föregångsregion på miljöområdet och att dela sina erfarenheter med andra. Kunskapen om att våra konsumtions- och produktionsmönster har en avgörande betydelse för miljöns tillstånd, innebär att ekonomi och miljö måste beaktas i ett sammanhang.

Det finns en lång rad utmaningar på miljöområdet som måste mötas i samverkan – nationellt, regionalt och globalt. Detta gäller framför allt klimatförändringarna, användning och utsläpp av farliga kemikalier, skydd av havens ekosystem samt bevarande och nyttjande av den biologiska mångfalden. Det är nödvändigt att stärka samarbetet mellan de nordiska länderna för att på bästa sätt utnyttja våra tillgängliga resurser och för att åstadkomma gemensamma lösningar i Norden. De nordiska länderna har en ambition att Norden ska vara en föregångsregion på miljöområdet och att dela sina erfarenheter med andra. Kunskapen om att våra konsumtions- och produktionsmönster har en avgörande betydelse för miljöns tillstånd, innebär att ekonomi och miljö måste beaktas i ett sammanhang.

The aim of this Nordic study was to investigate the occurrence of different phenolic substances in the Nordic environment. The phenolic substances include both long and short chain alkylphenols, some bisphenols and monoetoxylates of octyl- and nonylphenols. Most of the selected substances are so-called high production volume (HPV) chemicals and are considered being more or less persistent in the environment and/or hazardous to aquatic organisms. Some are of even greater concern due to endocrine effects.

The objective of this report is to review the relevant information on a brominated flame retardant hexabromocyclododecane (HBCDD) in relation to the screening criteria of the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) and of the Protocol on Persistent Organic Pollutants of the UNECE Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution for adding new substances to these instruments. Some additional information needed in the consideration of the possible nomination of the substance as a new POP is also provided. This joint Nordic project has been prepared by consultant Johanna Peltola-Thies and supervised by a project group under Bjørg Fjeld from the Norwegian Pollution Control Authority. The project was financed by the Nordic Council of Ministers through the Nordic Chemicals Group and the Nordic Sea and Air Quality Group.

Mercury is considered a global pollutant and it has been concluded that a significant portion of humans and wildlife throughout the world are exposed to methyl mercury at levels of concern. The Governing Council of UNEP has concluded that long-term international action is required. Most of the measures needed to reduce emissions will lead to costs to society. However, mercury pollution also results in costs to society including for example damage costs from negative impacts on human health and the environment, loss of income from reduced commercial fisheries, administrative costs for scientific research and development, control and risk communication. The aim of this report is to present an estimate of the socio-economic costs of continued mercury contamination of the environment as an input to the global considerations on what international long-term action should be taken. The study contains an analysis of the damage costs of continuing mercury pollution without any further measures until 2020. The analysis has mainly focussed on IQ losses due to the exposure to methyl mercury via ingestion of contaminated fish. Other human health, social and environmental damages are also discussed as are costs of controlling mercury emissions. Furthermore, societal benefits of reducing mercury emissions are presented for two emission reduction scenarios.

Scots pine tar has been used for wood protection in the Nordic countries for over a millennium. Pine tar is in particular used on old traditional wooden buildings and structures and it is important for protection of cultural heritage in the Nordic countries. In the EU review program under the Biocidal Products Directive 98/8/EC (BPD) pine tar was considered as a biocidal active substance (wood preservative) to be evaluated in the review program. However, it was unclear if pine tar had a sufficient biocidal efficacy to fall under the Biocidal Products Directive. In order to clarify that question the Nordic Biocides Group under the Nordic Chemicals Group decided to initiate this study on the fungicidal efficacy of pine tar. This joint Nordic project was carried out by SP Swedish National Testing and Research Institute and supervised by the Nordic Biocides Group under the Nordic Chemicals Group. The project was financed by the Nordic Council of Ministers through the Nordic Chemicals Group, Danish Environmental Protection Agency and the Directorate for Cultural Heritage of Norway.

Numerous women in sub-Saharan Africa use soaps containing mercury to bleach their skin. The mercury goes through their skin and reduces the melanin of the pigmentation. The mercury also causes damage to the body e.g. the nervous system. Mercury is particularly dangerous for the nervous system including the brain of the foetus. One of the most severe consequences is that during pregnancy the foetus will concentrate the mercury from their mothers. Children born by mothers using skin bleaching soaps have therefore a high risk of being mentally and physically disabled. The use of mercury for skin bleaching thus not only cause severe health problems for sub-Saharan Africa, but also adds to the ever increasing amount of mercury in the drainage systems and the oceans. The present project is an information campaign aimed at female and male users of bleaching soaps. The project used forum theatre on market places and information on secondary schools in Uganda. The project has proved very successful in informing black people of Uganda against the health and environmental hazards caused by using soaps containing mercury.

Tilsynsmyndighederne på kemikalie-området i de nordiske lande har gennemført et fælles tilsynsprojekt for bilplejeprodukter. Hovedformålet med projektet har været at kontrollere om importører og producenter af bilplejeprodukter i Norden, har tilstrækkeligt kendskab til kemikaliereglerne og om de markedsførte produkter er korrekt klassificeret og mærket. Rapporten beskriver relevant lovgivning vedrørende sundheds- og miljøfarer for kemiske produkter samt tolkning af hvilke produkter der anses som omfattet af EU's forordning om vaske- og rengøringsmidler. Forordningen trådte i kraft i marts 2004 og foreskriver bl.a. særlige krav til deklarering af vaske- og rengøringsmidler. Resultaterne fra inspektionerne er opsummeret for hvert enkelt land.

REACH, the new EU Regulation on chemicals, implies a significant restructuring and enlargement in the field of chemicals regulation, and thus also of enforcement. The importance of the Forum for enforcement included in REACH for a good implementation of REACH was early recognised. In 2006 the Nordic Chemicals Group and the Netherlands granted funds to start a joint EU project on enforcement of REACH. The aim of the project was to: Identify present enforcement and new needs due to REACH. Investigate the state of preparation of the Member States and start preparing for the operative work of the Forum. Elaborate work division, co-operation and information exchange. Prepare a draft proposal for Rules of Procedure for the Forum. Develop a compendium of useful enforcement method. The project has resulted in several independent reports that are included in this final report. A presentation of the results has been given by the project at the 1st meeting of the Forum 11 December 2007.

This report presents a joint Nordic project on method development for measurement of release rate of active substances from antifouling products. The aim was to evaluate whether a prolongation of a standard method for release rate measurement of copper from antifouling paints may give information which is of importance for the evaluation of the environmental effects of modern antifouling paints. The background was the suspicion that some new antifouling paints for pleasure boats have non traditional release behaviour in that the release rate is low at start and then increases to a higher level. To date, the standard methods do not detect this kind of release pattern, and consequently, risks for the aquatic environment due to high release rates later in the service life of the paints are not properly evaluated. In the report, a prolongation from the standard 45 days to 122 days is studied, and some conclusions are drawn regarding the additional information for environmental risk assessment that it may give. The project was conducted by Åke Forsberg, AB Thalassa (test laboratory) and Kurt Haglund, Swedish Chemicals Agency and supervised by the Nordic Biocides Group under the Nordic Chemicals Group. The project was financially supported by the Nordic Council of Ministers.

This report explores the social, economic, environmental and health benefits that can be achieved through sound management of chemicals. The report presents a series of case studies of initiatives to improve chemicals management in developing countries or economies in transition. The case studies examine national legislative initiatives as well as on-the-ground projects to educate firms about cleaner production options. It is also looked at the role of bilateral and multilateral development assistance in facilitating adoption of sound chemicals management systems. The report was issued as a draft prior to the adoption of the Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management (SAICM) by the International Conference on Chemicals Management (ICCM) in February 2006 and has been amended according to inputs after that event.

Sprogversioner:Mercury - Chinese versionMercuryLe Mercure – French versionEl Mercurio - Spanish version

Scots pine tar has been used for wood protection in the Nordic countries for over a millennium. Pine tar is in particular used on old traditional wooden buildings and structures and it is important for protection of cultural heritage in the Nordic countries. In the EU review program under the Biocidal Products Directive 98/8/EC (BPD) pine tar was considered as a biocidal active substance (wood preservative) to be evaluated in the review program. However, it was unclear if pine tar had a sufficient biocidal efficacy to fall under the Biocidal Products Directive. In order to clarify that question the Nordic Biocides Group under the Nordic Chemicals Group decided to initiate this study on the fungicidal efficacy of pine tar. This joint Nordic project was carried out by SP Swedish National Testing and Research Institute and supervised by the Nordic Biocides Group under the Nordic Chemicals Group. The project was financed by the Nordic Council of Ministers through the Nordic Chemicals Group, Danish Environmental Protection Agency and the Directorate for Cultural Heritage of Norway.

The objective of this report is to review the relevant information on a brominated flame retardant hexabromocyclododecane (HBCDD) in relation to the screening criteria of the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) and of the Protocol on Persistent Organic Pollutants of the UNECE Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution for adding new substances to these instruments. Some additional information needed in the consideration of the possible nomination of the substance as a new POP is also provided. This joint Nordic project has been prepared by consultant Johanna Peltola-Thies and supervised by a project group under Bjørg Fjeld from the Norwegian Pollution Control Authority. The project was financed by the Nordic Council of Ministers through the Nordic Chemicals Group and the Nordic Sea and Air Quality Group.

This report presents a joint Nordic project on method development for measurement of release rate of active substances from antifouling products. The aim was to evaluate whether a prolongation of a standard method for release rate measurement of copper from antifouling paints may give information which is of importance for the evaluation of the environmental effects of modern antifouling paints. The background was the suspicion that some new antifouling paints for pleasure boats have non traditional release behaviour in that the release rate is low at start and then increases to a higher level. To date, the standard methods do not detect this kind of release pattern, and consequently, risks for the aquatic environment due to high release rates later in the service life of the paints are not properly evaluated. In the report, a prolongation from the standard 45 days to 122 days is studied, and some conclusions are drawn regarding the additional information for environmental risk assessment that it may give. The project was conducted by Åke Forsberg, AB Thalassa (test laboratory) and Kurt Haglund, Swedish Chemicals Agency and supervised by the Nordic Biocides Group under the Nordic Chemicals Group. The project was financially supported by the Nordic Council of Ministers.

This report explores the social, economic, environmental and health benefits that can be achieved through sound management of chemicals. The report presents a series of case studies of initiatives to improve chemicals management in developing countries or economies in transition. The case studies examine national legislative initiatives as well as on-the-ground projects to educate firms about cleaner production options. It is also looked at the role of bilateral and multilateral development assistance in facilitating adoption of sound chemicals management systems. The report was issued as a draft prior to the adoption of the Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management (SAICM) by the International Conference on Chemicals Management (ICCM) in February 2006 and has been amended according to inputs after that event.

Tilsynsmyndighederne på kemikalie-området i de nordiske lande har gennemført et fælles tilsynsprojekt for bilplejeprodukter. Hovedformålet med projektet har været at kontrollere om importører og producenter af bilplejeprodukter i Norden, har tilstrækkeligt kendskab til kemikaliereglerne og om de markedsførte produkter er korrekt klassificeret og mærket. Rapporten beskriver relevant lovgivning vedrørende sundheds- og miljøfarer for kemiske produkter samt tolkning af hvilke produkter der anses som omfattet af EU's forordning om vaske- og rengøringsmidler. Forordningen trådte i kraft i marts 2004 og foreskriver bl.a. særlige krav til deklarering af vaske- og rengøringsmidler. Resultaterne fra inspektionerne er opsummeret for hvert enkelt land.

REACH, the new EU Regulation on chemicals, implies a significant restructuring and enlargement in the field of chemicals regulation, and thus also of enforcement. The importance of the Forum for enforcement included in REACH for a good implementation of REACH was early recognised. In 2006 the Nordic Chemicals Group and the Netherlands granted funds to start a joint EU project on enforcement of REACH. The aim of the project was to: Identify present enforcement and new needs due to REACH. Investigate the state of preparation of the Member States and start preparing for the operative work of the Forum. Elaborate work division, co-operation and information exchange. Prepare a draft proposal for Rules of Procedure for the Forum. Develop a compendium of useful enforcement method. The project has resulted in several independent reports that are included in this final report. A presentation of the results has been given by the project at the 1st meeting of the Forum 11 December 2007.

Mercury is a global environmental problem. This fact is well documented and widely accepted. The magnitude of the mercury problem has been analysed, discussed and acknowledged globally in UNEP’s Governing Council and other leading international and regional fora. Some measures have already been taken to reduce supply, demand and releases. But there is still need for further global action.

Content Background to the Nordic screening initiative Some words about a strategy for screening Some results obtained

This guidebook is written for environment protection inspectors and cus-toms officers in the Nordic countries to highlight the importance of controlling importation and sale of products that contain ozone depleting substances (ODSs), in particular CFCs and HCFCs. It describes the international restrictions as well as the EU and national regulations on this subject and gives some indications on how to plan control priorities and strategies. The expectations are that the guidebook should be used as a starting point for closer cooperation between the authorities involved ­ inspectors, customs officers, police and prosecutors at all levels ­ and lead to allocation of resources, collection of more experience and, eventually, also specialized enforcement campaigns. The guidebook is funded by the Nordic Council of Ministers and initiated by the Nordic Ozone Group, a cooperation between the officers in charge of ODS controls at the central environment protection agencies in the five Nordic countries.

El mercurio constituye un problema medioambiental global. Este hecho está bien documentado y generalmente aceptado. La magnitud del problema del mercurio se ha analizado, discutido y reconocido a nivel global en el Consejo de Administración del PNUMA y en otros importantes foros internacionales y regionales. Ya se han tomado algunas medidas para reducir el suministro, la demanda y las emisiones. Pero todavía hacen falta acciones adicionales a nivel global.

Le mercure représente un problème écologique global. Ce fait est bien documenté et largement admis. L’importance du problème posé par le mercure a été analysée, discutée et reconnue globalement par le Conseil de gestion du PNUE et d’autres forums internationaux et régionaux majeurs. Certaines mesures ont été déjà prises pour en réduire l’offre, la demande et les rejets. Mais il reste encore beaucoup à faire au niveau global.

Content Background to the Nordic screening initiative Some words about a strategy for screening Some results obtained

El mercurio constituye un problema medioambiental global. Este hecho está bien documentado y generalmente aceptado. La magnitud del problema del mercurio se ha analizado, discutido y reconocido a nivel global en el Consejo de Administración del PNUMA y en otros importantes foros internacionales y regionales. Ya se han tomado algunas medidas para reducir el suministro, la demanda y las emisiones. Pero todavía hacen falta acciones adicionales a nivel global.

Le mercure représente un problème écologique global. Ce fait est bien documenté et largement admis. L’importance du problème posé par le mercure a été analysée, discutée et reconnue globalement par le Conseil de gestion du PNUE et d’autres forums internationaux et régionaux majeurs. Certaines mesures ont été déjà prises pour en réduire l’offre, la demande et les rejets. Mais il reste encore beaucoup à faire au niveau global.

Mercury is a global environmental problem. This fact is well documented and widely accepted. The magnitude of the mercury problem has been analysed, discussed and acknowledged globally in UNEP’s Governing Council and other leading international and regional fora. Some measures have already been taken to reduce supply, demand and releases. But there is still need for further global action.

The European Commission launched on 29 October 2003 its proposal for a new chemical legislation concerning the Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH). In 2006 the Nordic Chemicals Group granted funds to the Nordic Product Register Group to start a joint Nordic project on "The Nordic Product Registers and the future REACH substance database. Comparison of the registration systems and options for future developments". The objective of the project was to clarify the extent of overlap between REACH substance database and the Product Registers and characterize the added value of the Nordic Product Registers. The REACH substance database and the Product Registers are different systems. These differences are compared and discussed in this report with proposals for use of Product Register information in the implementation of REACH.

Risk assessment of metals may need specific guidance in how to handle natural background, essentiality, and long historical use of metals. It may also be necessary to take bio-availability into account. The aim of the present project was to critically review proposals on principles for risk assessment of metals (MERAG), developed by the metals industry, in co-operation with the UK Government during 2005-2006. The different MERAG proposals were reviewed by different Nordic consultancies, and their views are summarised in the report. The project was initiated and coordinated by the Nordic Risk Assessment Project (NORAP), which receives funding from the Nordic Chemicals group, a subgroup to the Nordic Council of Ministers. This review was considered urgent, in order to be prepared for a possible proposal to implement the MERAG principles within the Technical Guidance Document on Chemical Safety Assessment, which is developed for use under the REACH regulation.

Tilsynsmyndighetene for kjemikalieområdet i de nordiske landene har gjennomført et felles tilsynsprosjekt for kunstnerfarger, porselens- og glassfarger og keramikkglasur. Hovedmålet med prosjektet har vært å kontrollere om importører og forhandlere av kunstnerfarger i Norden har kunnskap om kjemikalieregelverket og om produktene de importerer og omsetter er korrekt klassifisert og merket. I tillegg har Sverige undersøkt problemer som enkelte avløpsrenseanlegg har hatt med for høye verdier av kadmium i avløpsslam, noe man mistenker kan komme fra spillvann fra kunstskoler. Rapporten beskriver relevant regelverk og eventuelle problemområder for utvalgte helse- og/eller miljøskadelige stoffer som benyttes i kunstnerfarger. I tillegg så inneholder rapporten en konklusjon fra European Chemicals Bureau (ECB) om tolkningen av klassifiseringen av tre kadmiumforbindelser. Resultatene fra inspeksjonene er oppsummert for hvert enkelt land og rapporten gir også en oversikt over leverandører av ulike typer kunstnerfarger til de nordiske landene.

This report presents results from a web-based explorative survey on integrated risk assessment. The survey was conducted in the EU-funded project NoMiracle (Novel Methods for Risk Assessment of Cumulative Stressors in Europe) which develops methods for assessing cumulative risks from combined exposures to multiple stressors. The objectives of the survey were to give a general picture of perceptions and views among experts and stakeholders concerning risks, risk assessment and risk management. The survey focused on chemicals with an emphasis on information related to complex risks and uncertainties in a management context. The methodology of the survey combined traditional multiple choice questions and a novel approach that charted the importance of different types of information in two-dimensional graphs describing simultaneously use in regulatory procedures and public discussion. Another part was linked to new methods of presenting risks and explored the ranking of separate and cumulative risks in map grids. The survey was e-mailed to 952 recipients representing researchers, national and EU level administrators, enterprises, NGOs and international organizations, and most EU member states and some other countries. The response rate (26 %) can be considered acceptable but limits the possibilities to make quantitative claims concerning the views held by different groups although it gives an overview of the types of views one encounter among experts. A key finding was the pronounced variability of concepts and views regarding risks and uncertainties, and regarding information and knowledge about these. Opinions on risks and risk assessment, particularly on integrated risk assessment, on related principles, and on the role of experts are genuinely variable. They cannot be reduced to any simple model, and cannot (and need not) be dispelled in a forced manner. The observations should be taken into account in the development and application of novel methods for risk assess

Tilsynsmyndighetene for kjemikalieområdet i de nordiske landene har gjennomført et felles tilsynsprosjekt for kunstnerfarger, porselens- og glassfarger og keramikkglasur. Hovedmålet med prosjektet har vært å kontrollere om importører og forhandlere av kunstnerfarger i Norden har kunnskap om kjemikalieregelverket og om produktene de importerer og omsetter er korrekt klassifisert og merket. I tillegg har Sverige undersøkt problemer som enkelte avløpsrenseanlegg har hatt med for høye verdier av kadmium i avløpsslam, noe man mistenker kan komme fra spillvann fra kunstskoler. Rapporten beskriver relevant regelverk og eventuelle problemområder for utvalgte helse- og/eller miljøskadelige stoffer som benyttes i kunstnerfarger. I tillegg så inneholder rapporten en konklusjon fra European Chemicals Bureau (ECB) om tolkningen av klassifiseringen av tre kadmiumforbindelser. Resultatene fra inspeksjonene er oppsummert for hvert enkelt land og rapporten gir også en oversikt over leverandører av ulike typer kunstnerfarger til de nordiske landene.

The aim of this Nordic screening study was to investigate the occurrence of bronopol, resorcinol, m-cresol and triclosan in the Nordic environment. The compounds selected for this study are widely used chemicals e.g. in consumer products with adverse effects to the environment. Bronopol, resorcinol and triclosan are highly toxic some aquatic organisms. As a result of their wide use, these compounds are easily spread into the environment both via point sources and via diffuse sources. In this study were Denmark, Faroe Islands, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden involved. Sampled media types were air, biota, sediment, sludge, soil and water. Despite a significant consumption of bronopol the compound could not be detected in any of the samples. Resorcinol was frequently found in municipal influent water and sludge samples but also in effluent water and environmental samples of water and sediment from recipients close to sewage treatment plants, landfills and industry. Triclosan was found in high concentrations in sludge from sewage treatment plants and also frequently detected in effluent water of the same plants and in re-cipient sediment. Triclosan was the only studied compound found in biota. m-cresol was found in several influent samples of municipal sewage treatment plants and in some landfill leachates but also in effluent water and environmental samples in vicinity of an industrial pulp and paper treatment plant.

This report investigates the applicability of the probabilistic methods for the assessment human exposure within the REACH. The objectives of the project were to introduce the principles of probabilistic exposure assessment and to investigate the applicability and possibilities to use probabilistic methods in human exposure assessments in REACH context. The report and conclusions made were based on a real exposure study. Report was presented in the Nordic Workshop on Human Exposure Assessment Methods in REACH and Biocide Contexts, on 9th - 10th of May 2007 in Oslo. Nature of this report is an eye opener which provides basis for further discussions. The report cannot consider being as a guidance which describes how to make a probabilistic exposure assessment. The project was funded by the Nordic Council of Ministries through the Nordic Chemicals Group. The project was launched and coordinated by the Nordic Exposure Group under the Nordic Chemicals Group.

This report investigates the applicability of the probabilistic methods for the assessment human exposure within the REACH. The objectives of the project were to introduce the principles of probabilistic exposure assessment and to investigate the applicability and possibilities to use probabilistic methods in human exposure assessments in REACH context. The report and conclusions made were based on a real exposure study. Report was presented in the Nordic Workshop on Human Exposure Assessment Methods in REACH and Biocide Contexts, on 9th - 10th of May 2007 in Oslo. Nature of this report is an eye opener which provides basis for further discussions. The report cannot consider being as a guidance which describes how to make a probabilistic exposure assessment. The project was funded by the Nordic Council of Ministries through the Nordic Chemicals Group. The project was launched and coordinated by the Nordic Exposure Group under the Nordic Chemicals Group.

The aim of this Nordic screening study was to investigate the occurrence of bronopol, resorcinol, m-cresol and triclosan in the Nordic environment. The compounds selected for this study are widely used chemicals e.g. in consumer products with adverse effects to the environment. Bronopol, resorcinol and triclosan are highly toxic some aquatic organisms. As a result of their wide use, these compounds are easily spread into the environment both via point sources and via diffuse sources. In this study were Denmark, Faroe Islands, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden involved. Sampled media types were air, biota, sediment, sludge, soil and water. Despite a significant consumption of bronopol the compound could not be detected in any of the samples. Resorcinol was frequently found in municipal influent water and sludge samples but also in effluent water and environmental samples of water and sediment from recipients close to sewage treatment plants, landfills and industry. Triclosan was found in high concentrations in sludge from sewage treatment plants and also frequently detected in effluent water of the same plants and in re-cipient sediment. Triclosan was the only studied compound found in biota. m-cresol was found in several influent samples of municipal sewage treatment plants and in some landfill leachates but also in effluent water and environmental samples in vicinity of an industrial pulp and paper treatment plant.