Options
2010
Journal Article
Titel
Emission of biocides from hospitals. Comparing current survey results with European Union default values
Abstract
Under the EU Biocidal Products Directive 98/8/EC, comprehensive evaluations on substances of the "Third Priority List" were conducted until 31st July, 2007. This list includes, among other categories, disinfectants for human hygiene (e.g., skin- and surface disinfection). For environmental exposure assessment of biocides the EU emission scenarios apply. Currently available default values for disinfectants are based on consumption data from not more than eight hospitals and have originally been raised for other purposes. In order to re-validate these default values a survey on annual consumption data was performed in 27 German hospitals. These data were analysed to provide consumption data per bed and day and per nurse and day for particular categories of active ingredients, and were compared with default values from the EU emission scenario documents. Although a number of deviations were detected, an overall acceptable correspondency between Emission Scenario Documents default values and the current survey data was found.