Multimedia models and observations in concert. A powerful tool to understand and manage organic contaminants

Abstract

This report summarizes results from a project funded by the Research Council of Norway (196191/S30). The overall goal was to better understand and predict relationships between emissions of organic chemicals of emerging concern and their levels in the environment and food-chains of the Nordic region through integrated monitoring and modeling studies. Four case studies were selected (i) cyclic volatile methyl siloxanes (cVMSs) in the Inner Oslofjord, (ii) cVMSs in the Norwegian Arctic (iii) short-chain chlorinated paraffins (SCCPs) in the Nordic environment and (iv) risk-based model screening of chemicals in commerce in the Nordic countries. We also provide a brief introduction to the key multimedia modelling tools which were used. It is our hope that these tools, targeting the behaviour of contaminants under relevant environmental and climatic conditions, may assist Nordic environmental authorities interested in understanding and managing organic contaminants.