Environmental Quality Standard

Table 3 Environmental quality standards and objectives for agricultural pesticides ...

At the plant level, in-plant monitoring of unique compounds and the modeling of plant conditions to develop appropriate working practices and internal environmental quality standards may be needed. 

The BASIC toxicity database contains information on the aquatic toxicity of a number of hazardous substances. In many cases, the information is given as some sort of safe level such as UK Environmental Quality Standards (EQSs) or the national/international equivalent. For substances for which no such levels have been set, a brief literature review was performed in order to produce an environmental hazard/risk assessment. 

European Council (2008) Directive 2008/105/EC of the European Parliament and of the council of 16 December 2008 on environmental quality standards in the field of water policy, amending and subsequently repealing council directives 82/176/EEC, 83/513/EEC, 84/156/ EEC, 84/491/EEC, 86/280/EEC and amending directive 2000/60/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council. Official Journal of the European Communities... 

Even though pharmaceutical products are, until now, not included in the list of priority or dangerous substances of the Water Framework Directive (2000/60/ EC), and thus, no environmental quality standards are stipulated (Directive 2008/ 105/EC), substances discharged into a basin should be controlled, as the same directive clearly establishes. 

Council of the European Communities (2008) Decision 2008/105/EC on environmental quality standards in the field of water policy. Off J Eur Community L 348 84... 

The WFD, so far, has identified 33 priority hazardous pollutants (PHS), for which Environmental Quality Standards (EQS) have been set. To some extent, these EQS can be met through the establishment of emission control measures. These PHS may originate from several different sources and activities. The main sources of toxic substances to water bodies in Europe may be categorised as agriculture, sewage treatment plants, urban runoff, industry, contaminated lake/ river sediment, soils and landfills. Input via atmospheric transport and deposition has also been identified as an important source both far from and close to source areas. Many of the PS are today banned in Europe, but due to their persistence they are still present in the environment [30]. 

Significance of the predicted impacts should be assessed in the process of impact evaluation or interpretation. At this stage the health risk estimates (quantitative and qualitative) are analyzed in terms of their acceptability against relevant regulatory and/or technical criteria environmental quality standards or exposure limits. 

Hutchinson, T.H. van Wijk, D.J. (1997) Bromate and chlorate - evaluation of potential effects in aquatic organisms and derivation of environmental quality standards. Paper presented at the London International Chlorine Symposium. 

Regarding the specific issue of NP and NPEOs there is still some disparity between the USA and Europe. In Europe, voluntary bans in the industrial sector are in place and in household applications they are already forbidden, with environmental quality standards set at 1 pgL-1 levels. However, in the USA the situation is quite different with much milder measures being taken such as pollution prevention or source reduction efforts, as opposed to the outright APEO ban in Europe. 

Limit value (LV) The limit at or below which Member States of the European Community must set their environmental quality standards and emission standards. These limits are set by Community Directives. 

European eco-labeling of paper products, and in the existing European eco-labeling for cleaners under Regulation 1980/2000/EC. In addition, the EU Commission made further recommendations on risk reduction measures for EDTA. First, it asked EU Member States to establish Environmental Quality Standards (EQS) for EDTA, and the national pollution reduction measures to achieve those EQS in 2015 should be included in the river basin management plans in line with the provisions of Directive 2000/60/EC. Second, EU Member States should specify in IPPC permits measures on EDTA to operate to BAT by October 2007, taking into account local circumstances. Further, as BAT is developed, this should be incorporated into the permits. 

The research on persistent pesticides in the atmosphere has focused on the gas phase, particulate phase, rainfall, and pine needles. In China, there are only a limited number of studies on POP pesticides in the atmosphere, and these focus mainly on airborne particles. The spatial difference in concentration of persistent pesticides in air is small due to diffusion and transport. Since the agricultural ban on use in 1983, the concentration of POP pesticides in the atmosphere has decreased dramatically in China. In some regions, however, the concentrations of pesticide POPs in the atmosphere are unusually high, particularly for DDTs, which indicates that there might be new sources of POPs in these regions, such as Dicofol. In China, no environmental quality standards about pesticide POPs in the atmosphere have been established. 

The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment is responsible for developing policies, strategies, and action plans to achieve environmental quality standards and pollution control. This ministry is composed of various departments, such as Department of Environmental Quality Promotion, Pollution Control Department, and Office of Natural Resources and Environmental Policy and Planning. Recommendations have been made with regard to the maintenance of environmental quality standards... 

Glennon JP, Pearson JG, Barkley JJ, et al. 1977. Munitions environmental quality standards research status report. Prepared by U.S.Army Medical Bioengineering Research and Development Laboratory, Fort Detrick, Frederick MD. AD-A9506091. 

Commission of the European Communities. 2000. Proposal for a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on Environmental Quality Standards in the field of water policy and amending Directive 2000/60/EC. 

Impurities in the drying atmosphere are exhausted in the air and have been referred to as "blue haze." One company has made substantial progress in collecting the blue haze emissions in a duct where they are directed through a series of water showers, filters and other equipment. Then the water is evaporated leaving a heavy liquefied residue which is collected on a stainless steel belt and deposited in storage vats. Currently this residue is being used as a fuel supplement, but some feel that it may be a future source for development of new chemicals. Apparently, this process meets Environmental Quality Standards with reference to air pollution. 

Chemical standards are widely used to protect the environment and human health from substances released by human activity. Generally, standards relate to doses or concentrations in the environment for specific chemicals, below which unacceptable effects are not expected to occur. Many standards are legally enforceable numerical limits, such as Environmental Quality Standards for List 1 chemicals in water or Annex X and VIII standards under the European Water Framework Directive. Others are not mandatory but are contained in guidelines, codes of practice, or sets of criteria for deciding individual cases. Some standards are not set by governments but carry authority for other reasons, especially the scientific eminence or market power of those who set them (e.g., World Health Organization guidelines). 

It is important, however, to note that the terms used by policy makers (and in law) are not consistent. For example, under EU law binding air quality standards are termed limit values. However, the Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control (IPPC) Directive, which regulates industrial pollution, uses the term environmental quality standard and makes clear that the limit values are environmental quality standards. Both technical experts and lawyers, therefore, can use different terms in similar contexts. This variation not only can be found between media (e.g., air and water standards) but also can occur within a single medium. 

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