Greenpeace in the name of several environmental groups, medio 1994, on an invitation of the Environmental Minister to join an investigation on the use of chlorine, the 'chlorine chain' in The Netherlands.
The study on the use and environmental problems of chlorine was initiated by the National Environmental Governmentplan, which says:
The chemical industry can give an important contribution how to reduce the use of chlorine as a basic raw material, or to make the use of chlorine completely controllable, so that the risks for external safety can be reduced.
When certain chlorine uses should give too much problems, following studies should look at alternatives for the elimination of these problematic chlorine uses.
For that reason a study was initiated by the Government and done by two Scientific Institutes: TNO and CML, both renomated in whole Europe, the first specialised in organochlorines, including dioxins and alikes, the second specialised in Life Cycle Analyses.
A steering group was formed by the Government, while industry and environmental groups were invited to join. The latter refused...
About 99% of the chlorine chain could be mapped, from the origin via use to the end of its life cycle. The remaining 1% being mainly smaller chlorine uses (not emissions!).
The figures are 1990 based, but a comparison was made on 1993 and future uses, when all measures toward certain chlorinated products (CFK's) and emission reductions like of (EDC) will be executed.
The total chlorine input is 939,000 tonnes per year, the main streams were:
All figures are expressed in 1,000 tonnes (or kton).
| The chlorine balance | |
| Inputs at a total of 939 kton: | |
| Production in the Netherlands: | 551 |
| Import (including chlorinated products): | 279 |
| Recycling/reuse of hydrochloric acid: | 100 |
| Other smaller inputs (incineration): | 9 |
| Accumulation in use: | |
| PVC in long-term uses: | 144 |
| Others: | 3 |
| Export and other uses: | |
| Export: | 325 |
| Different other uses: | 69 |
| Hydrochloric acid not recycled (of 134 kton): | 34 |
| Emissions/waste: | |
| Salt (all to brackish or seawater): | 201 |
| other emissions to water: | 0.2 |
| emissions to air: | 21 |
| solid waste: PVC: | 34 |
| solid waste: others: | 3 |
| solid waste: slag and ash: | 5 |
The amounts of emissions don't tell anything on total or relative toxicity. To make it comparable, the toxicity and amount of the chlorinated emissions were compared to the total toxicity and amount of all emissions in The Netherlands. This was done for several classes on 1990 base and after taken measures. The total chlorine use is 0.4% of total materials use. The contribution to an environmental problem should be around 0.4% to be comparable to other materials. PVC uses app. 50% of all chlorine produced in The Netherlands. The average contribution to environmental problems should be around 0.2% to be "normal". The real results were:
| Relative contribution to different environmental problems | |||
| Item | 1990 | after measures | PVC |
| Human toxicity: | 0.8 | 0.4 | 0.02 |
| Ecotoxicity: | 12 | 7 | <0.001 |
| Acidification: | 0.8 | 0.1 | 0.025 |
| Ozone depletion: | 65 | 4 | <0.05 |
| Greenhouse effect: | 12 | 2 | <0.05 |
| Smog: | 0.5 | 0.4 | 0.005 |
| Smell: | 0.1 | 0.1 | <0.0002 |
| Solid waste: | 0.4 | 0.4 | 0.2 |
Comments:
Human toxicity: One of the main points here is the diffuse emissions of dioxins from the past use of contaminated PCP (pentachlorophenol)).
Ecotoxicity is mainly from the use of chlorinated products in pesticides and biocides. This is quite low, because more than 80% of all pesticides and biocides contain chlorine.
Ozone depletion and greenhouse effect is near entirely the result of the emission of one product: CFK-11, mainly from the past use in rubber- and styrolfoams.
Except for landfill, where it is just average, PVC scores far better than average on all other environmental topics. So why is the environmental movement in general and Greenpeace in particular against the use of PVC?
Except for the measures against certain chlorine products and emissions, already taken or in execution, the problems of chlorinated products are not different or worse than for non-chlorinated products.
The Environmental Minister therefore decided that no new measures will be taken against chlorine use, including the use of PVC. In fact there is more reason to use more PVC instead of the alternatives...
The use of chlorine and especially PVC gives no more environmental problems than the use of alternative products if the whole chain is taken into account. There is no reason for a ban on chlorine or the remaining chlorinated products, including PVC.
You are at level one of the Chlorophiles pages
Created: April 6, 1996.
Last update: November 1, 1998.
To the Home Page of the Chlorophiles
Chlorine and the environment (under construction)
Chlorine alternatives (partly ready)
For any comment on the chlorine chain or other Chlorophiles pages:
Chlorophiles@ping.be
Welcome page