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Biocides in buildings

Materials and paint used for building constructions have often anti‐fouling protection with biocides to hinder colonization by algae, fungi and bacteria. We known that in residential areas a wide range of biocides and their transformation products are released from buildings into urban runoff depending on weathering conditions such as by sun, wind and water, especially flooding situations. It is important to have knowledge concerning these different point sources versus more diffuse sources of these biocides in order to regulate the use of biocides.

The Department of Environmental Science investigates the fate, transport and transformation products of biocides in relation to building materials as well as the mechanisms for their release to the environment. The research support the EU Biocide directive.