Screening toxic chemicals fate processes

Information from transport and fate processes can be utilized to screen toxic chemicals as to their environmental behavior using (i) the bench-mark concept and (ii) the structure-activity relationship. 

It should be understood that to develop process metrics based on a credible risk assessment will require a considerable number of tests to assess appropriately the potential environmental hazards associated with the process and the materials used in the process. One typically needs to screen compounds to assess their environmental hazard and their tendency for persistence, bioaccumulation, and toxicity. Depending on how a compound is ultimately used, environmental testing might lead you to the conclusion that it is best to avoid the commercial production of a particular compound. Alternatively, you might devise a process that uses the compound but controls the environmental risk to acceptable levels. For the latter case, performing a process-specific risk assessment would be imperative to assess the impact of the inherent hazard and environmental fate and effects of a given chemical or set of chemicals. In addition, the unique characteristics of the process, available treatment, and volumes will need to be taken into consideration. 

---