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ENVIRONMENTAL EXPOSURE ASSESSMENT<br />

In the case of intermittent release the situation is much more complex. During an interval shorter<br />

than several sludge retention times (SRT), presumably a small portion of the competent<br />

microorganisms will remain in the system. If the interval between two releases is shorter than<br />

one month (three times an average SRT), adaptation of the activated sludge is maintained<br />

resulting in rapid biodegradation when a next discharge enters the STP. In line with<br />

Section 2.3.3.4. such a situation is not considered as an intermittent release <strong>and</strong> the PECSTP can<br />

still be considered equal to Clocaleff. After longer intervals the specific bacteria that are capable<br />

to biodegrade the compound, may be completely lost.<br />

If the activated sludge is de-adaptated, the concentration in the aeration tank may increase during<br />

the discharge period. In that case the concentration in influent of the STP is more representative<br />

<strong>for</strong> the PEC <strong>for</strong> microorganisms:<br />

Explanation of symbols<br />

PECstp = Clocalinf<br />

Clocalinf total concentration of substance in STP influent [mg . l -1 ] eq. (32)<br />

PECstp PEC <strong>for</strong> microorganisms in the STP [mg . l -1 ]<br />

However, it needs to be noted that when the discharge period is shorter than the hydraulic<br />

retention time of the aeration tank (7-8 h), the maximum concentration in the effluent will be<br />

lower than the initial concentration at the discharge, due to peak dispersion, dilution <strong>and</strong> sorption<br />

in the sewer system, the primary settler <strong>and</strong> the activated sludge process. It is estimated that this<br />

maximum concentration will be at least a factor of three lower than the initial concentration.<br />

Whether or not this correction factor must be applied needs to be decided on a case-by-case<br />

basis. For such short emission periods care must be taken that the emission rates are in fact<br />

calculated over the actual emission period (as kg .h -1 ) <strong>and</strong> not averaged out over one day.<br />

The choice of using the effluent concentration is also reflected in the choice of the assessment<br />

factors used <strong>for</strong> deriving a PNEC <strong>for</strong> the STP microorganisms. In modern wastewater treatment<br />

plants with a denitrification stage, an additional tank is normally placed at the inlet of the<br />

biological stage. As the main biological degradation processes are taking place in the second<br />

stage, the microbial population in the denitrification tank is clearly exposed to higher<br />

concentrations of the substance as compared to the effluent concentration. As the <strong>technical</strong><br />

st<strong>and</strong>ard of the STPs improves, this will have to be addressed in this assessment scheme in the<br />

near future.<br />

2.3.7.2 Waste disposal, including waste treatment <strong>and</strong> recovery<br />

This section contains preliminary <strong>guidance</strong> on how to identify specific concerns related to the<br />

waste life-cycle stage of a substance. Since representative data on waste disposal operations in<br />

Europe are not available at this stage, qualitative aspects are addressed rather than quantitative<br />

emission modelling.<br />

Elimination refers to degradation (organic substances), trans<strong>for</strong>mation <strong>and</strong> reduced mobility of<br />

organic <strong>and</strong> inorganic substances in waste. Elimination can result from physical processes <strong>and</strong><br />

degradation (biotic <strong>and</strong> abiotic). Waste incineration is targeted at the thermal-oxidative<br />

destruction of organic substances. Controlled l<strong>and</strong>fill aims to slow down or even prevent the<br />

(39)<br />

65

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