Planetary boundaries for chemical pollution

Paper in proceeding, 2012

Based on the concept by Rockström et al the paper discusses the principles of the concept in relation to chemical pollution and the specific challenges associated to that. The paper conclude the chemical pollution is certainly a strong anthropogenic impact of global relevance. However, because of the local or regional nature of many exposures and effects caused by chemicals, there is probably not a single tipping point for the global system that would have to be reflected by a planetary boundary. Therefore, in order to assess and manage chemical pollution, it seems to be more promising to focus on certain classes of chemicals separately and to derive boundaries of different types for these classes of chemicals, as illustrated in the paper for CFCs, POPs and food contaminants.