Point sources, from which chemicals under more or less controlled forms are released to the environment, have for a long time very much been paid attention to when it comes to how chemicals are spread. Over time, such releases have been identified and controlled and exposure is not as large as before.

In the light of this perspective, other sources from which chemicals are transported to the environment seem important to check. One major source is different types of material contained in society in the form of raw materials and consumer products, from which chemicals are more or less slowly released, i.e. diffuse emissions.

Knowledge about this type of emissions is limited today. The number of authorities authorising the handling of articles is quite large. A complicating factor when assessing this type of emissions is its extension in both time and place.  

KemI PM 8/04, Guidance in the Assessment of Diffuse Emissions from Articles, aims to provide knowledge and information about important aspects when diffuse emissions from articles is a component in efforts to reduce chemical risks.

This PM presents a method of processing confidential information in the Product Register of the Swedish Chemicals Inspectorate so that a non-confidential ExpoureIndex based on Swedish use of chemicals can be produced. It is intended that this index will supplement existing knowledge of industrial point sources by focusing primarily on diffuse emissions. A pilot study funded by the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency which was carried out in 2002 laid the foundation for the ExposureIndex.