Introduction

Abstract

Chemicals are part of different daily products due to the characteristics that they provide to them. However, their release into the environment during the end of the product’s life can affect harmfully the environment and the citizens. The worldwide transport of these chemicals at a global scale increases this negative potential effect. In this sense, initiatives such as the RISKCYCLE project (risk-based management of chemicals and products in a circular economy at a global scale) are trying to assess the risks of these substances in a circular economy.

This second volume of the book presents the results obtained during the RISKCYCLE project, paying special attention to a set of selected additives in the diverse industrial sectors (i.e., PFOS, DEHP, Pb). Different methodologies have been used to analyze aspects such as the fate, human and environmental exposure, and toxicity of these compounds. Case studies have been developed to assess their risk in developing countries such as China or Vietnam. The findings have been presented in the different RISKCYCLE workshops as well as at the final conference in Dresden.

Finally, some research gaps have been identified which will provide the framework for future work in the field of the chemicals and the environment.