Towards a Safe and Sustainable Future: Mitigating environmental pollution across the chemical life-cycle

Abstract

Human-made synthetic chemicals play a vital role in our society and economy, offering numerous benefits. However, their usage, production, and disposal have adverse environmental consequences, impacting both human and ecological health. Even though chemicals’ management improved over the last decades due to legislation, many issues related to chemical pollution still persist and additional mitigation options should be developed and implemented. This dissertation focussed on the identification and assessment of multiple mitigation options over the chemical life cycle -focussing on the design, registration, use and waste stages- in order to help reduce chemical emissions into the environment in a more comprehensive manner, thereby contributing to environmental policy ambitions. Chapter 2 underscores the importance of clear policy objectives to enhance chemicals and waste management. Key issues overlooked in European policy ambitions but vital for effective chemical management are identified, with a focus on providing guidance to decision-makers and scientists. In Chapter 3, focusses on the chemical design and production stage, contributing to the development of Safe and Sustainable chemicals. A systematic and computer-aided workflow is proposed and tested that can facilitate the design of chemicals for reduced environmental hazards whilst also taking sustainability parameters into account. Chapter 4 addresses the registration and market entry phase of chemicals, analysing risk assessment procedures for biocides, industrial chemicals, pesticides and medicines for human and veterinary use. Discrepancies in environmental protection goals and assessment strategies across these frameworks are identified, which result in inconsistent assessments and the continued marketing of banned substances. The chapter offers recommendations to harmonize registration frameworks and move towards a ‘one substance-one assessment’ approach. Chapter 5 focuses on identifying and replacing substances that are persistent, mobile, and toxic (PMT) or very persistent and very mobile (vPvM) in cosmetic products. PMT/vPvM substances were found in all product types. Case studies on the three most prevalent PMT/vPvM substances showed that all uses could be phased out as either the technical function of the substance is not necessary for the product performance, or because safer alternatives are available. Chapter 6 explores options for reducing chemical emissions during the waste stage, focussing on sewage treatment plants (STPs). An analysis of STPs across Europe showed that implementation of advanced treatment techniques, such as ozonation and activated carbon, can significantly reduce chemical flows released via STPs. Spatial disparities in treatment levels and the need for more stringent treatment near nature protection areas and water bodies with less than good ecological status are highlighted. The synthesis of findings from Chapters 3-6 emphasizes that options to reduce environmental emission of chemicals exist. However, given the expected increase in the diversity and use volume of chemicals, it is key to optimize and, when possible, reduce the wide variety of uses of the vast amount of chemicals. In other words, we must optimize the use of chemodiversity to move towards a safe and sustainable future. This transformation will require societal and institutional changes that strike a balance between the advantages of chemical use, innovation and the need for sustainability and safety.