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The effluent toxicity assessment toolbox international perspective on tools and concepts and opportunities for animal alternatives
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. The effluent toxicity assessment toolbox international perspective on tools and concepts and opportunities for animal alternatives. EU SETAC, Brussels, BELGIUM, May 07 - 11, 2017.
Impact/Purpose:
In the early 1980’s, toxicity based effluent assessments and subsequent discharge controls became globally important, when it was recognized that physical and chemical measurements alone did not protect the environment from potential impacts. Various strategies for whole effluent assessment have been developed over 30 years of practice with many workshops and meetings focused on effluent risk assessment through ASTM, SETAC, OSPAR, UK competent authorities, and EU specific country rules. With the drive to improve effluent quality using toxicity tests, interest in reducing animal use has risen. To assess the evaluate strategies for concepts, tools, and effluent assessments and update the toolbox of for effluent testing methods, an international workshop held. The objectives were to identify the various strategies being used for effluents and to assess whether effluent testing can include 1) reducing the number of fish used in testing (by fewer fish) or by using other species, 2) use of modeling, invertebrates and 3) alternative monitoring methods are essential to meet animal protection goals, and examine specific, ‘non-traditional’ endpoints such as endocrine disruptor protocols, genotoxicity, teratogenicity, other specific mode of action approaches. In preparation for the workshop, a survey was conducted by the workshop organizer to assess the use and application of ecotoxicity-based effluent assessments in the various regulatory jurisdictions globally. This talk will focus on the highlights of the workshop, including a review the state of the science, description of the suite of strategies being used for reducing the impact of effluents, discussion on ways to integrate alternative approaches, and identification of opportunities to lessen the reliance on animal testing. The talk will provide an overview of how various countries approach effluent testing and discuss how these approaches and data generated can integrate into existing risk assessment methodologies.
Description:
Effluent testing has been utilized in many countries to assess potential ecological impacts and assist in determining necessary treatment options for environmental protection. However, it was only relatively recently that toxicity-based effluent assessments and subsequent discharge controls became globally important, when it was recognized that physical and chemical measurements alone did not protect the environment. Various strategies using different toxicity tests and whole effluent assessment techniques, plus supporting analytical tools, have been developed. Concurrently, interest in reducing animal use has risen. A workshop was held in March 2016 to evaluate concepts and tools for effluent assessments and update the toolbox of for effluent testing methods. The objectives were to identify opportunities to use a suite of strategies, identify opportunities to reduce relianceonanimal tests, and determine barriers to implementation of new methodologies. Effluent approaches and methods must address both short and long-term adverse effects, persistence, and bioaccumulation, and should also allow for chemical monitoring of specific parameters, bioassessment, and consideration of exposure and the receiving environment. Use of novel and alternative test methods should be integrated when appropriate; however, there is a need to derive consistent criteria for developing these new approaches. To meet animal protection goals, a toolbox approach that integrates use of modelling, invertebrates, and other alternative monitoring methods are essential. These novel approaches will also allow for the opportunity to examine specific, non-traditional endpoints, such as EDCs, genotoxicity, teratogenicity and other specific MOAs. This talk will highlight the workshop, including a review the state of the science, description of the suite of strategies being used for reducing the impact of effluents, discussion on ways to integrate alternative approaches, and identification of opportunities to reduce the reliance on animal testing. Finally, we will give an overview of how various countries approach effluent testing and discuss how these approaches and data generated can integrate into existing risk assessment methodologies.