Chapter 4: Enviromental risk assesment

Question 1

Define the term persistence?

Answer 1

1. A PPPs continued presence in the environment (=persistence) is a key factor in predicting potential exposure of wildlife
2. Persistence is generally described as a half-life, that is, the length of time it takes for the disappearance of one half of the applied PPP from an environmental compartment
3. Biological and chemical processes that degrade or dissipate the PPP influence its persistence

Question 2

What does PEC mean? What does TER mean and how is it calculated?

Answer 2

1. The fate and behavior of a plant protection product is assessed with calculations of the predicted environmental concentration (PEC)
2. The toxicity exposure ratio (TER) is used to determine whether the risk to the organism is acceptable or not

TER=LC50/PEC

Question 3

What is product safety data shit?

Answer 3

1. An SDS is aimed to provide information about a substance or mixture for use in industrial or professional activities
2. It is used as a source of information about properties and hazards (including environmental hazards) of a substance/mixture and to obtain advice on safety precautions
3. It has to be submitted to the recipient of the chemical to be used at workplace (e.g. professional use of PPPs), for transport of dangerous goods or in emergency situations (including poison centers)