Multi-criteria ranking of chemicals for toxicological impact assessments

Making a comparison and a toxicological ranking of chemicals is a challenging issue, because the existing hazard assessment methods usually make reference to a single type of toxicity, or a single exposure route. In this work, multi-criteria analysis was implemented to develop a novel approach for ranking chemicals based on the concept of global toxicity. Within this method chemical compounds are assessed considering their level and type of toxicity as criteria. Each criterion is associated to variable weights within the overall evaluation, leading to the creation of dynamic rankings which can vary depending on the priorities and the type of samples to be assessed. Two pilot applications of the method for the textile sector are proposed: hazard evaluations of manufacturing plants - starting from chemicals concentration in wastewater - and clothing products.