Indium

Monitoring data

Administrative data

Endpoint:

monitoring data

Type of information:

experimental study

Adequacy of study:

key study

Study period:

1998-2001

Reliability:

1 (reliable without restriction)

Rationale for reliability incl. deficiencies:

other: The FOREGS study is a recent European reference for ambient metal concentrations in the environment covering the whole of the EU with the same methodology.

Data source

Reference

Reference Type:

study report

Title:

Unnamed

Year:

2006

Materials and methods

Test guideline

Qualifier:

no guideline followed

Principles of method if other than guideline:

Systematic study of the EU environment , sampled in a 70km x 70km grid, on locations, not specifically influenced by identified emission sources. As such, ambient metal levels are determined throughout the EU with a same methodology.

GLP compliance:

not specified

Type of measurement:

other: ambient background concentration

Media:

soil

Test material

Test material information

Constituent 1

Reference substance name:

Zinc chloride

EC Number:

231-592-0

EC Name:

Zinc chloride

Cas Number:

7646-85-7

Molecular formula:

ZnCl2

IUPAC Name:

Zinc dichloride

Test material form:

other: total In concentration measured

Details on test material:

topsoils sampled all over the EU

Results and discussion

Concentration

Concentration 1

Key result

Country:

other: Europe

Location:

several

Substance or metabolite:

other: element

Conc.:

0.05 mg/kg dw

Remarks on result:

other: 50P

Concentration 2

Key result

Country:

other: Europe

Location:

various

Substance or metabolite:

other: element

Conc.:

0.09 mg/kg dw

Remarks on result:

other: 90P

Details on results:

The median In content is 0.05 mg kg-1 in both subsoils and topsoils, with a range varying from <0.01 to 0.25 mg kg-1 in subsoils and up to 0.41 mg kg-1 in topsoils. The average ratio topsoil/subsoil is 0.982.

Any other information on results incl. tables

The topsoil In distribution map shows higher values in France and a more extended anomaly in the western Iberian Peninsula (including the Pedroches granitic batholith and Linares-La Carolina granites in south-central Spain), and additional point anomalies in northern Germany, the English Lake District and the Canary Islands. Indium in Italy is generally lower in topsoil than in subsoil. The remaining patterns of the topsoil map are very similar to those on the subsoil map. Indium enrichment in some topsoil is related to local geology and soil forming processes; in addition it may be related to fly ash from coal power plants and also from smelting of metal ores.

Applicant's summary and conclusion

Conclusions:

Test carried out according to standard analytical techniques, test results consistent, thus reliable for concluding on endpoint.

Executive summary:

The FOREGS study measured recent "ambient background" total Indium concentrations in topsoils all over the EU. The 50P value observed was 0.05 mg/kgDW, the 90P value was 0.09mg/kgDW.