Mobility

The mobility of substances in soils and sediments is an important part of their environmental fate and can determine both their mobility and bioavailability in various environmental compartments.

The organic carbon normalised adsorption coefficient (K_OC) is a measure of partitioning that can be determined by different study types and is applied in the regulation to define the mobility of substances. Mobility is one of the criteria of two new hazard classes, "Persistent, Mobile and Toxic" (PMT) and "very Persistent and very Mobile" (vPvM) that have been proposed for inclusion in both European Union (EU) Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and restriction of Chemicals (REACH) and Classification Labelling and Packaging of substances and mixtures (CLP).

Fraunhofer IME has extensive expertise in the mobility of substances in the environment, both in the field of research and regulation. We offer all types of studies (OECD 22, 106, 121, 312 including Guidance 342) that can be carried out to determine substance mobility in terms of environmental risk assessment and we develop customised solutions for substances that are difficult to test. At the same time, we are involved in research projects that address current issues relating to the mobility of substances in the environment, p. e. ECO62