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New publication: Impact of an immunosuppressive human pharmaceutical on the interaction of a bacterial parasite and its invertebrate host

The interaction of pollutants and pathogens may result in altered (often enhanced) effects of the chemical, the biotic stressor or both. While standardised detection methods for immunotoxic effects of chemicals exist with regard to human health, such test systems are lacking for invertebrate species and no guidance is available on how immunotoxic effects of a […]

Further development of simple test systems for the evaluation of potential PBT substances: How to bridge the gap between screening tests and complex studies?

The first aim of the project was to assess whether the existing OECD test guidelines for ready biodegradability of chemicals (OECD test guidelines 301 A–D and 310) can be harmonized. The gained insights were discussed at an international expert workshop in April 2019. Laboratory experiments were performed for five test substances to verify the impact […]

Interview with Anja Coors in the current iPiE Newsletter

ECT is involved in the project ‘Intelligence-led assessment of pharmaceuticals in the environment’ (iPiE).  This project contributes to developing frameworks for intelligence-based environmental testing of pharmaceuticals and for prioritising legacy pharmaceuticals for targeted environmental risk assessment and environmental (bio-) monitoring. The current project newsletter (Newsletter No 6) features an interview with Anja Coors, who leads […]

New publication: A new ecotoxicological test method for genetically modified plants and other stressors in soil with the black fungus gnat Bradysia impatiens

Few suitable and standardised test methods are currently available to test the effects of genetically modified plants (GMP) on non-target organisms. To fill this gap and improve ecotoxicological testing for GMP, we developed a new soil ecotoxicological test method using sciarid larvae as test organisms. Bradysia impatiens was identified as a candidate species. A functional […]

Evaluation of biodiversity via DNA-extraction from soil and organism samples taken at permanent soil monitoring sites (MetaSOL)

Germany lacks a nationwide and standardised survey of soil organisms, although a comprehensive infrastructure for such a survey is available with approx. 800 permanent soil monitoring sites (Bodendauer­beobachtungsflächen, BDF). Not all federal states conduct their own soil biology surveys on their permanent soil monitoring sites. The most important reason for this is probably the time-consuming […]

New publication: Toward sustainable environmental quality: priority research questions for Europe

The United Nations’ sustainable development goals have been established to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure prosperity for all. Delivery of the sustainable development goals requires a healthy and productive environment. An understanding of the impacts of chemicals on environmental health is essential for sustainable environmental quality. However, current research on and regulation of […]

New publication on potential synergistic interaction between fungicides in toxicity tests with Raphidocelis subcapitata

Products used for plant protection or as biocides often contain more than one active substance together with numerous formulation additives. The environmental risk assessment for such commercial mixtures applies as default the concept of concentration addition. There is remaining regulatory concern, however, that underestimation of risks can occur if components in the mixture interact synergistically, […]

New publication: Prospective environmental risk assessment of mixtures in wastewater treatment plant effluents

The aquatic environment is continually exposed to a complex mixture of chemicals, with effluents of wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) as one key source. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether environmental risk assessments addressing individual substances are sufficiently protective for such mixtures. Based on a literature review of chemicals reported to occur […]