The priority list of environmental chemical hazards in Poland

For each environmental poison the index of harmfulness was calculated on the basis of quantitative evaluation of the following properties: emission of the substance to the environment (Fi), toxicity (F2), the population exposed (F3), exposure (F4), persistence of the substance in the environment (F5), secondary substances and mixtures (F6), bioaccumulation and biomagnification (F7), and influence on the non-living components of the environment (F8). Increasing numerical values were applied for increasing range or activity of toxins. The numerical values were integrated according to the formula [formula: see text). It was decided that the first three factors possess prior significance for evaluation of harmful environmental effects, the remainder were considered as auxiliary. Substances having the highest indices of harmfulness were selected as priority environmental poisons: sulphur dioxide, dust, polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons, nitrogen oxides, fluorine, lead, cadmium, nitrogenous fertilizers, pesticides, and carbon monoxide.