Environmental concern due to handling of hazardous chemicals is growing. This issue drawsstakeholder attentions more than before to risks associated with accidental spillage in industryor traffic. This study aims at addressing the risks resulting from the spillage of one metrictonne nonylphenol from an imaginary traffic accident.The environmental risk assessment approach outlined in this study attempts to address theconcern for the potential impact of hazardous substances on the environment by examiningboth exposures and effects of such incidents on the structure and function of the ecosystem.Nonylphenol has been selected as the discharged contaminant in this thesis for these reasons.It is an organic liquid with low vapour pressure. It is not produced in Sweden. About 2400tonnes are imported yearly. It is mainly used for making nonylphenol ethoxylates, which havea wide use as detergents, emulsifiers, lubricants and additives in a variety of industries. It isreleased from the ethoxylates in waste water. There are some published reports on its toxicityas well as endocrine property to species.In this study the exposure concentrations are predicted through developing a multimedia fateexposuremodel for the Göta älv fresh water ecosystem. It is a dynamic version of QMXfugacitymodel applicable for river basins. This fate model is integrated with a simplified foodweb model in order to quantify the extent of nonylphenol concentration in organisms.Moreover the dose response correlation derived from the most validated experimental studiesis utilized to estimate Predicted No Effect Concentration for aquatic ecosystem.The probability of accidental spillage of nonylphenol is extremely low and is not part of thisstudy. On the other hand the consequence of spillage affecting the ecosystem is treated fromseveral aspects, mainly by using the PEC/PNEC ratio. In the aquatic ecosystem pelagic (freewater) and benthic (bottom zone) organisms are studied.Estimated risk concerning the spillage suggests that acute toxicity among pelagic organisms isplausible up river especially in the Trollhättan region. However sub-lethal effects such asreproduction and growth inhibition will probably be observed all along the river with mostconcern in up river. In the sediment phase the benthic organisms are shown to be put at riskfor a prolonged period of time and organisms may suffer from chronic toxicity. In addition thesediment acts as a sink for contaminant with potential release of the hazardous substance.However, it is difficult to predict a full extent of adverse consequences. But it seems that sublethaleffects on benthos and consequent side effects on other populations should beconcluded as the most important direct consequence of a nonylphenol spillage. / Uppsatsnivå: D
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:UPSALLA1/oai:DiVA.org:hb-19077 |
| Date | January 2008 |
| Creators | Arbaban Esfahani, Elham |
| Publisher | Högskolan i Borås, Institutionen Ingenjörshögskolan, University of Borås/School of Engineering |
| Source Sets | DiVA Archive at Upsalla University |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Student thesis, info:eu-repo/semantics/bachelorThesis, text |
| Format | application/pdf |
| Rights | info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess |
| Relation | Magisteruppsats, |
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