Abstract
This paper presents a structured evaluation of a novel multimedia
chemical fate and multi-pathway human exposure model for Western
Europe, IMPACT 2002, using data for PCDD/F congeners. PCDD/F congeners
provide an illustration of the potential use of POPs (Persistent
Organic Pollutant) data for the evaluation of such models. Based on
available emission estimates, model predictions with and without
spatial resolution are evaluated at three different stages against
monitored data: at environmental contamination levels, food exposure
concentration, and in terms of human intake fractions (iF): the
fraction of an emission that is taken in by the population. The iF is
3.5 . 10-3 for emissions of dioxin in Western Europe. This iF compares
well to the traditional non-Spatial multi-media/-pathway model
predictions of 3.9 .10-3 for the same region and to 2 . 10-3 for the
USA. Approximately 95% of the intake from Western Europe emissions
occurs within the same region, 5% being transferred out of the region
in terms of food contaminants and atmospheric advective transport.
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