GREAT-ER: a new tool for management and risk assessment of chemicals in river basins Contribution to GREAT-ER No.10

• Published in: Water science and technology Vol. 43; no. 2; pp. 179 - 185
• Main Authors: Schowanek, D., Fox, K., Holt, M., Schroeder, F. R., Koch, V., Cassani, G., Matthies, M., Boeije, G., Vanrolleghem, P., Young, A., Morris, G., Gandolfi, C., Feijtel, T. C.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London IWA Publishing 01.01.2001
• Subjects: Alkylbenzene sulfonate; Boron; Catchment area; Catchment areas; Catchments; Chemicals; Compartments; Computer simulation; Data storage; Detergents; Ecological risk assessment; Environmental assessment; Environmental monitoring; Environmental risk; Exposure; Geographic information systems; Geographical information systems; Information storage; Information systems; Linear alkyl sulfonates; Mathematical models; Predictions; Regional analysis; Regional development; Risk assessment; Risk management; River basins; Rivers; Satellite navigation systems; Software; Sulphonates; Surface water; Terrestrial environments
• DOI: 10.2166/wst.2001.0088
• ISSN: 0273-1223

The GREAT-ER (Geo-referenced Regional Exposure Assessment Tool for European Rivers) project team has developed and validated an accurate aquatic chemical exposure prediction tool for use within environmental risk assessment schemes. The software system GREAT-ER 1.0 calculates the distribution of predicted environmental concentrations (PECs) of consumer chemicals in surface waters, for individual river stretches as well as for entire catchments. The system uses an ARC/INFO – ArcView (® ESRI) based Geographical Information System (GIS) for data storage and visualization, combined with simple mathematical models for prediction of chemical fate. At present, the system contains information for four catchments in Yorkshire, one catchment in Italy, and two in Germany, while other river basins are being added. Great-ER 1.0 has been validated by comparing simulations with the results of an extensive monitoring campaign for two ‘down-the-drain’ chemicals, i.e. the detergent ingredients boron and Linear Alkylbenzene Sulphonate (LAS). GREAT-ER 1.0 is currently being expanded with models for the terrestrial (diffuse input), air and estaurine compartments.