Publication Abstract

Proposed guidance on the assessment of polymers under the OSPAR HMCS.

Polymers are historically considered to be materials of low concern because of their high molecular weight, low reactivity and low bioavailability. Under the EU REACH Regulation, polymers are currently exempted from registration and evaluation. Although it is accepted that polymers are non-biodegradable, non-toxic and non-bioaccumulative in general, records of offshore chemicals held on the Cefas data base, and evidence from other regulatory frameworks worldwide, indicate that there are significant numbers of polymers which are likely to be toxic to the marine environment.

Detailed research and analysis was carried out by Cefas on behalf of the Netherlands aiming at identifying correlations between polymer characteristics and potential eco-toxicological concern for the marine environment by investigating how regulatory frameworks in force in Canada, Japan, South Korea and the USA ^{conduct assessment on polymers. Generally, the toxicity of a polymer depends predominantly on i) the molecular weight distribution, ii) the low molecular weight components (oligomeric content), iii) the polymer ionic charge.}

As a result, a guideline to assess polymers under the HMCS has been developed and presented here which will ensure that polymers which can potentially be toxic or cause adverse effects to the marine environment can be identified by their chemical structure and/or composition and assessed accordingly. The guideline is expected to minimise testing and reduce costs and resources for the industry, for polymers that are deemed to be non-toxic on this basis will be hazard assessed on the assumption of low reactivity and low bioavailability without the need for specific test data.

 

Rosalinda Gioia1, Bob Rowles1, Silke Kröger1, Claire Phillips1, Lynn Jones1, Steve Supple1, Linda Hughes1, Cheryl Moran1, Max La Vedrine1, Leopoldo R. Henriquez2.

Chemistry in the Oil Industry XIII: Oilfield Chemistry, Manchester, UK, November 2013