Bisphenol A and PVC

[charlie.cray@green2.greenpeace.org]

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Original-TO:      dioxin-l@essential.org
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Tony--
 
One thing that Dr. Bill forgot to mention was Bisphenol A's 
connections to PVC.  This is because Bisphenol A is released into 
water during the processing of phthalates used as PVC additives. 
 
An exposure assessment for Germany was done by the 
Umweltbundesamt (German EPA) for the OECD.  The relevant
extract is:
 
`Ca. 80 t/a of BPA are used as a stablizing agent for PVC
plasticizers (mainly Dioctyl-, Diisooctyl-Diisononyl-
phthalate).  According to (1) the emissions during
processing (based on DEHP-emissions) vary from 0.01 to
1.0% of the processing volume depending on the process
type.  A `realistic worst case' emission factor of 0.4%
will be assumed for BPA ie. 3202 kg/a.  The number of
processing units in Germany is not known.  It will be
assumed that 10% of the emission volume are emitted into
a small wwtp with a daily flow of 2000 m3 (1).  With an
elimination rate of 90% and a dilution factor of 10 upon
entering the surface water, a PEC of 0.44 ug/l can be
calculated.
 
The total emission into the hydrosphere amounts to ca. 32
kg/a.
 
(Risk Assessment of Notified New Substances, Technical
guidance Docuemnt in Support of the Risk Assessment
Directive 93/67/EEC (1993))
 
END
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