G.4 Product Risk Assessment
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(d) From these results, it can be seen that the production of copper(I) cyanide has
the most significant impact in regard to human toxicity and ecotoxicity. Efforts
should be made to maximize the efficient use of this substance. Incinerating the
waste solvents appears to not be a most efficient treatment method, and more
data and modeling is needed to understand options for recycling and reuse.
G.4
Product Risk Assessment
G.4.1 Step 1: Hazard Identification
Yes, according to ECHA’s brief profile (ECHA, 2019a), ASM is classified under
the GHS as harmful (GHS07) and an environmental hazard (GHS09). Specifically,
it is described as being very toxic to aquatic life with long-lasting effects, causing
serious eye irritation, skin irritation, and possibly skin sensitization and may cause
respiratory irritation.
G.4.2 Step 2: Exposure Analysis
Level I Environmental Fate Model
(a) By writing out the relationship of the two partition coefficients to the concentrations:
K sw = c s /c w
K aw = c a /c w
The concentrations in each of the three compartments can then be determined
as:
c s = m s /V s
c w = c s /K sw
c a = K aw × c w
(b) Assuming a (1) total surface area of 10.18 trillion m 2 , (2) fraction of area
covered by water of 0.048 (4.8%), and (3) fraction of area covered by soil
of 0.952, the level I distribution within the small-world model shows that the
majority of ASM (near 82%) will partition to water. Less than 18% will partition
to the soil, and less than 1% will be in the air.
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(d) From these results, it can be seen that the production of copper(I) cyanide has
the most significant impact in regard to human toxicity and ecotoxicity. Efforts
should be made to maximize the efficient use of this substance. Incinerating the
waste solvents appears to not be a most efficient treatment method, and more
data and modeling is needed to understand options for recycling and reuse.
G.4
Product Risk Assessment
G.4.1 Step 1: Hazard Identification
Yes, according to ECHA’s brief profile (ECHA, 2019a), ASM is classified under
the GHS as harmful (GHS07) and an environmental hazard (GHS09). Specifically,
it is described as being very toxic to aquatic life with long-lasting effects, causing
serious eye irritation, skin irritation, and possibly skin sensitization and may cause
respiratory irritation.
G.4.2 Step 2: Exposure Analysis
Level I Environmental Fate Model
(a) By writing out the relationship of the two partition coefficients to the concentrations:
K sw = c s /c w
K aw = c a /c w
The concentrations in each of the three compartments can then be determined
as:
c s = m s /V s
c w = c s /K sw
c a = K aw × c w
(b) Assuming a (1) total surface area of 10.18 trillion m 2 , (2) fraction of area
covered by water of 0.048 (4.8%), and (3) fraction of area covered by soil
of 0.952, the level I distribution within the small-world model shows that the
majority of ASM (near 82%) will partition to water. Less than 18% will partition
to the soil, and less than 1% will be in the air.