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Analysis
of the risks of dangerous substances in vehicles
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Orienting study of the environmental and health
effects during the whole vehicle life cycle
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Commissioned by:
Belgian Federal Ministry of Public Health, Safety of the Food
Chain and Environment
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Carried out by:
Knut Sander, Kerstin Heitmann, Stephanie Schilling
Oekopol, Institute for Environmental Strategies, Hamburg, Germany
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Duration:
November 2003 - July 2004
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| Background |
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| Today's vehicles comprise a large variety
of substances and materials. Detailed information about the presence
of dangerous substances in vehicles and their components as well as
the possible hazards for the environment and human health from those
substances is often not available. Some vehicle manufacturers developed
lists including a large number of dangerous substances whose presence
in components and materials is being investigated. However, it is
often not clarified to what extent those substances are actually present
in vehicles not at least because of diversified and varying supply
chains. |
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| While the use of four heavy metals (Pb, Cr(VI), Cd and
Hg) has been largely restricted by the end-of-life vehicle Directive
the potential hazards of other hazardous substances for the environment
and for health during their life cycle, including the long-term risks
or those associated with their use, have so far not been systematised. |
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| Objectives |
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| The key objective of the study is to elaborate
detailed information about the most important hazards for the environment
and for health caused by hazardous substances occurring in vehicle
materials and components and the risks resulting from every stage
of the whole life cycle. |
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| Besides this the threat for the environment
and public health and direct threats to health of car users will be
taken into account as separate issues. |
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| Tasks |
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| Basic task of the study is the analysis of information
about the potential risks of dangerous substances in vehicles and
its potential environmental and health effects if they are released
into the environment. In the analysis the whole life cycle of vehicles
will be taken into consideration. |
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| The use of Lead, Cadmium, Mercury and hexavalent Chromium
in vehicles has already been the subject of research by Ökopol
and has been largely restricted as from 1 July 2003 by the ELV-Directive.
Thus these four heavy metals and their related potential hazards will
not be considered in this study. |
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| Following tasks will be performed by Ökopol: |
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- Research on the presence of hazardous substances in vehicles
- Perform a survey of the relevant legislation and regulations
focussing on European legislation and regulations
- Research on the environmental and health risks of identified
hazardous substances in vehicle components and materials
- Analysis and assessment of risks from dangerous substances for
the health of vehicle users
- Development of proposals.
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| Depending on the results of the research Ökopol
will develop well-founded proposals in order to reduce the major demonstrated
hazards of dangerous substances in cars. |
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| Contact |
| Knut Sander
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| Stephanie
Schilling |
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| If you are interessted in the Final Report pf this project,
please contact Mr. Sander |
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