Objectives Of The Mass Balance
Drawing up the Mass Balance for hazardous products serves two purposes.
On the one hand is a complete inventory of all hazardous chemicals present in the different labs a must to comply with legal regulation on storage and handling of hazardous chemicals with regard to safety and environmental protection. This inventory is also required by the Fire Department.
On the other hand is it necessary to demonstrate the presence of a closed system with traceable relations between total input, consumption and waste output. Belgian authorities mandate the selective collection of chemical waste and the creation of a Mass Balance in the environmental license.
According to the Vlarem regulation it is required to apply for individual licenses to drain certain hazardous chemicals. The concentrations must remain below given emission limits. The diversity of chemicals used at KU Leuven makes it impractical to apply for such specific licenses. On top severe fluctuations in the amounts drained invalidate spot sampling data generated.
As an alternative to the requirements for environmental licenses as dictated by Vlarem strict application of the Mass Balance together with the selective collection of chemical waste allows those in charge of the laboratories to evaluate the uncontrolled emission of hazardous chemicals from their labs.
This method demonstrates the environmental conscientiousness of the University.