Review on microplastics in the environment

In the recently published review, information on sources (with a specific focus on personal care products) and fate of microplastic particles in the aquatic and terrestrial environment, and on their uptake and effects, mainly in aquatic organisms, is evaluated.

Microplastics in the environment originate from a variety of sources. First estimates indicate that abrasion and fragmentation of larger plastic items and materials containing synthetic polymers are likely to be most relevant.

Project report published on ‘Development of a test protocol to study the transformation of veterinary pharmaceuticals and biocides in liquid manure’

For veterinary medicinal products manure application onto agriculturally used soils is their main path of entry into the environment. Consequently, this path is considered as part of the environment risk assessment. Biocides, which are used for stable disinfection, might also enter the environment via liquid manure. So far, only regulatory guidance (EMA/CVMP/ERA/ 430327/2009) addresses this […]

ECT at the SETAC Europe 25th Annual Meeting

A. Boxall, R. Länge, A. Coors, J. Snape, F. Sanz: iPiE – Intelligence-led assessment of pharmaceuticals in the environment.

A. Coors, F. Sacher, P. Schwartz, C. Polleichtner, U. Kühnen, W. Drost, D. Gildemeister: Azoles from different regulatory frameworks: combined assessment with regard to wastewater effluents.

ECT organises a ring test with dung beetles

European legislation requires testing of parasiticides using, among others, dung beetles (OECD GD 122). Currently, Aphodius constans, a dweller species, has been approved as a test species for residues in dung. However, results of tests using A. constans may not be relevant for tunneler species.

Two project reports published

The final reports of two projects, ’Substances of very high concern under REACH – an evaluation of uncertainties in the environmental risk assessment of endocrine active substances‘ and ‘Review and enhancement of new risk assessment concepts under REACH‘ have been published.

Contributions of ECT at the SETAC EUROPE 24th annual meeting (Basel, Switzerland, 11 – 15 May 2014)

Meet us at our booth or visit the following presentations:

Monday, May 12th, 2014:

Coors A., Sacher F., Juffernholz T., Drost W., Gildemeister D., Kühnen U.: Human pharmaceuticals and industrial chemicals in wastewater effluents – first steps toward a combined risk assessment
Poster session: Waste and wastewater effluents: chemical and ecotoxicological characterization