Fluorescent Whitening Agent FWA-5—Modeling of the Environmental Concentrations from Northern to Southern European Countries

摘要

The result of a sensitivity analysis considering photolysis as a function of latitude as well as region-specific detergent usage is presented. The degradation pathway starts with photolysis as the primary process followed by rapid biodegradation of the resulting breakdown products. The photolysis rate is almost independent of the temperature but is a direct function of the available light. Consequently, photolysis rates decrease with the rising geographic latitude of European surface waters. On the other hand, the discharge of fluorescent whitening agents to surface water decreases from South to North as a consequence of regional differences in detergent usage. These contrary effects result in risk characterization ratios that are similar for the geographic regions from North to South in Europe. Thus, the conclusion of the HERA study that the use of FWA-5 has no adverse effect on the aquatic environment can be confirmed.