Survey of biphenyl Part of the LOUS review Public Consultation Version November 2014 Title: Editing: Survey of biphenyl Larisa Maya-Drysdale, FORCE Technology Pia Brunn Poulsen, FORCE Technology Maria Strandesen, FORCE Technology Published by: Photography: The Danish Environmental Protection Agency [Name] Strandgade 29 1401 Copenhagen K Denmark Illustration: www.mst.dk/english [Name] Year: Map: [xxxx] [Name] ISBN no. [xxxxxx] Disclaimer: When the occasion arises, the Danish Environmental Protection Agency will publish reports and papers concerning research and development projects within the environmental sector, financed by study grants provided by the Danish Environmental Protection Agency. It should be noted that such publications do not necessarily reflect the position or opinion of the Danish Environmental Protection Agency. 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Sources must be acknowledged. 2 Survey of biphenyl Contents Preface ...................................................................................................................... 5 Summary and conclusion .......................................................................................... 7 Sammenfatning og konklusion ................................................................................. 11 1. Introduction to biphenyl................................................................................... 16 1.1 Definition of the substance ................................................................................................... 17 1.2 Physical and chemical properties ......................................................................................... 17 1.3 Definition of PAHs ................................................................................................................ 19 2. Regulatory framework...................................................................................... 20 2.1 Legislation ............................................................................................................................ 20 2.1.1 Existing legislation ................................................................................................ 20 2.1.2 Upcoming legislation ............................................................................................ 25 2.1.3 Classification and labelling ................................................................................... 25 2.1.4 REACH .................................................................................................................. 26 2.1.5 Other legislation/initiatives .................................................................................. 26 2.2 International agreements .................................................................................................... 26 2.2.1 Basel Convention................................................................................................... 27 2.3 Eco-labels ............................................................................................................................. 27 2.4 Other lists ............................................................................................................................. 28 2.5 Other relevant information ................................................................................................. 28 2.6 Summary and conclusions ................................................................................................... 28 3. Manufacture and uses ...................................................................................... 30 3.1 Manufacturing ..................................................................................................................... 30 3.1.1 Manufacturing process ......................................................................................... 30 3.1.2 Manufacturing sites ............................................................................................... 31 3.1.3 Manufacturing volumes ........................................................................................ 32 3.2 Import and export ................................................................................................................ 33 3.2.1 Import and export of biphenyl in Denmark ......................................................... 33 3.2.2 Import and export of biphenyl in the EU ............................................................. 35 3.3 Use ........................................................................................................................................ 35 3.3.1 Main uses of biphenyl in Denmark and the other Nordic countries ................... 36 3.4 Historical trends in use ........................................................................................................ 38 3.5 Summary and conclusions ................................................................................................... 38 4. Waste management .......................................................................................... 41 4.1 Waste from production of biphenyl ..................................................................................... 41 4.2 Waste from the use of biphenyl ............................................................................................ 41 4.3 Release of biphenyl from waste disposal ............................................................................ 42 4.4 Summary and conclusions ................................................................................................... 43 5. Environmental effects and fate ......................................................................... 45 5.1 Environmental hazard ......................................................................................................... 45 5.1.1 Toxicity to aquatic organisms ............................................................................... 45 5.1.2 Toxicity to microorganisms .................................................................................. 47 Survey of biphenyl 3 5.1.3 Toxicity to sediment living organisms ................................................................. 47 5.1.4 Toxicity to terrestrial organisms .......................................................................... 47 5.1.5 Toxicity to the atmosphere ................................................................................... 47 5.1.6 Classification ......................................................................................................... 47 5.2 Environmental fate .............................................................................................................. 48 5.2.1 Air .......................................................................................................................... 48 5.2.2 Water ..................................................................................................................... 49 5.2.3 Sediment ................................................................................................................ 50 5.2.4 Soil ......................................................................................................................... 50 5.2.5 Biota ....................................................................................................................... 50 5.2.6 PBT ......................................................................................................................... 51 5.3 Environmental exposure ..................................................................................................... 52 5.3.1 Main sources of release ......................................................................................... 52 5.3.2 Monitoring data .................................................................................................... 54 5.4 Environmental impact .......................................................................................................... 57 5.5 Summary and conclusions ................................................................................................... 58 6. Human health effects ....................................................................................... 60 6.1 Human health hazard .......................................................................................................... 60 6.1.1 Classification ......................................................................................................... 60 6.1.2 Absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion .......................................... 60 6.1.3 Acute toxicity ......................................................................................................... 60 6.1.4 Skin and eye irritation .........................................................................................