Environmental risk assessment of antifouling biocides

Antifouling biocides are applied to the hulls of ships to prevent the growth of fouling organisms. Antifouling biocides are by their very nature toxic to aquatic organisms. An environmental risk assessment is therefore often required before an antifouling paint can be approved. The assessment generally involves three components: exposure assessment, effects assessment and risk characterisation. In this article, the typical approaches used in the risk assessment process are described and likely future developments are highlighted.