Comparison of multi-media exposure assessment models used to support regulatory decision making
- Exxon Biomedical Sciences, Inc., East Millstone, NJ (United States)
Multimedia models are increasingly being used in exposure assessments to support regulatory and business decisionmaking worldwide. Although such models are based on the same fundamental principles of mass balance, different assumptions that are invoked when constructing the model may lead to different results. To assess the precision of exposure assessments obtained using different multi-media models, a model comparison exercise was performed. Several well documented multi-media models used to support exposure assessments in Europe, Canada and the United States were chosen. They are HAZCHEM, CALTOX, CHEMCAN, SimpleBox. A set of five disparate industrial chemicals were run for each model under a fixed set of environmental conditions. The chemicals evaluated include: benzene, benzo(a)pyrene, diethylhexyl phthalate, isopropanol, and methyl tertiary butyl ether. Each chemical was evaluated using three discharge scenarios in which a constant unit loading was released into air, water, or soil. The resulting steady-state concentrations in air, water, sediment, and soil for the various discharge scenarios were compared among these models. Estimated response times, defined as the time required for the concentration in a specified media to decline to one-half its original value after the discharge is terminated, were also compared. The implications of this exercise for exposure assessments will be highlighted.
- OSTI ID:
- 191295
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-9511137-; ISBN 1-880611-03-1; TRN: IM9610%%296
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: 2. Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry (SETAC) world conference, Vancouver (Canada), 5-9 Nov 1995; Other Information: PBD: 1995; Related Information: Is Part Of Second SETAC world congress (16. annual meeting): Abstract book. Global environmental protection: Science, politics, and common sense; PB: 378 p.
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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