New Modeling Tool Enables Detailed Estimates of Chemical Contamination in Rivers

The National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), a Japanese independent administrative agency, announced on November 11, 2004 that it has developed a modeling tool to assess the risks of chemical substances in river basins and the effectiveness of risk reduction measures, called the AIST Standardized Hydrology-based Assessment modeling tool for chemical Exposure Load (AIST-SHANEL) Ver.0.8.

Under the Pollutant Release and Transfer Register (PRTR) system, which came into force in 2001, businesses handling chemical substances are required to report the amounts of these substances they emit into the environment. The new model utilizes data on the surrounding area's meteorology, geography and sewage systems together with PRTR emission data from industries to provide an easy way to derive detailed data on exposure levels to concentrations of chemical substances. Estimates of chemical concentration exposure levels are issued daily in terms of square kilometer units.

This level of information detail makes it possible to assess ecological risks and identify causal links between an emission source and concentration exposures, enabling risk reduction measures to be evaluated.

Though awareness of environmental pollution by chemical substances has been relatively high, lack of relevant data about chemical substances has been a major obstacle to risk assessment, especially in river basins where the most alarming effects of chemicals are found on aquatic organisms. The AIST-SHANEL model is expected to help solve these problems for businesses that emit chemicals, for local municipalities in charge of impacted river basins, as well as for the general public.



Posted: 2005/02/10 10:14:19 AM
Japanese version