Replacement of peat in artificial soils and sediments

Experts from ECT are participating in the OECD project ‘RePEAT’ led by the Ecotox Centre, Switzerland. The toxicity of chemicals to soil and sediment organisms is strongly influenced by the properties of the soil or sediment to which the organisms are exposed. Therefore, artificial soils or sediments with a precisely defined composition are used in standardised OECD bioassays for testing chemical toxicity to soil and sediment organisms. These test substrates always contain peat as a source of organic material.

Since there are fewer and fewer peatlands in Europe and most of them are in a poor ecological state, peat extraction is to be restricted in future. To continue testing chemicals according to OECD guidelines, the development of a peat alternative as an organic component in artificial soils and sediments is necessary. As a first step towards achieving this goal, the Ecotox Centre is working with international experts to compile a detailed literature review in order to identify possible peat alternatives for OECD test guidelines for determining soil and sediment toxicity.

For further information and project partners see here.