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Concepts, tools, and strategies for effluent testing: An international survey
Citation:
Norberg-King, T., M. Embry, S. Belanger, T. Braunbeck, J. Butler, P. Dorn, B. Farr, P. Guiney, S. Hughes, M. Jeffries, R. Journel, M. Leonard, M. McMaster, J. Oris, K. Ryder, H. Segner, T. Senac, G. Van der Kraak, P. Wilson, AND G. Whale. Concepts, tools, and strategies for effluent testing: An international survey. EU SETAC, Nantes, FRANCE, May 22 - 26, 2016.
Impact/Purpose:
not applicable
Description:
Whole effluent testing (also called Direct Toxicity Assessment) remains a critical long-term assessment tool for aquatic environmental protection. Use of animal alternative approaches for wastewater testing is expected to increase as more regulatory authorities routinely require fish and invertebrate tests for effluent assessments or as dischargers seek means to reduce overall animal (fish) use. To address the current state of the science associated with the use of alternative (3R) methods in effluent testing and assessment, a survey was conducted to identify the numerous and varied testing strategies to assess the potential environmental impact of effluents. This survey was aimed at summarizing the breadth of effluent testing approaches that are currently used in various regions and countries. Several questions were asked about the types of regulatory programs used to control the discharge of toxic chemicals, and at what level wastewater discharges are regulated. Specific information on what testing methods and species are used was requested, as well as whether non-animal alternative methodologies are used or considered for effluent/wastewater biological assessments. Finally, several questions inquired about the type of treatment for the various types of dischargers and what, if any, regulatory requirements or regulatory monitoring exists to regulate toxics wastewater. This survey provides the baseline knowledge to assess the role of biological testing for wastewater streams and identify opportunities to use novel strategies in an integrated manner to both optimize testing approaches and reduce reliance on animal tests on a global scale. The results of the survey was one of the cornerstones for a March 2016 International Workshop titled “Concepts, Tools, and Strategies for Effluent Testing” facilitated by the ILSI Health and Environmental Sciences Institute (HESI) Animal Alternatives in Environmental Risk Assessment Technical Committee.