Updating the Guidelines for Assessing Toxic Substances

FLORIDA, Nov. 17 /CNW Telbec/ - The current issue of Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management, a journal published by the Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry (SETAC), features a special series of papers generated from the SETAC workshop "Science-Based Guidance and Framework for the Evaluation and Identification of PBTs and POPs."

Persistent, bioaccumulative, and toxic substances (PBTs) and persistent organic pollutants (POPs) are regulated by many regional, national, and global conventions. Despite growing worldwide concerns about contamination and the safety of our food supply, advances in chemistry, information, and other technologies during the past two decades are not being sufficiently applied. As a result, effective guidance for the identification, assessment, and management of these substances is limited and often out-of-date.

These articles convey the key elements of the current state of the science, the evolution of scientific understanding, and the challenges for future worldwide regulation of PBT chemicals and POPs. The series is based around the intensive science and regulatory policy deliberations that took place during a SETAC international workshop, held in January 2008 . The meeting was the largest gathering of international experts on this issue to date. The views of the participants at that meeting, representing broad international perspectives from academia, government, and industry, will influence science and environmental policy at future international treaty conventions on this topic.

In the introduction to this special series, workshop co-chairmen, Dr. Derek Muir from Environment Canada and Dr. Gary Klecka from The Dow Chemical Company state: "We believe that the 9 articles in this special issue provide a scientific consensus on tools and approaches and an excellent framework for future national and international assessments of chemicals regarding their persistence, bioaccumulation, environmental toxicity, long-range transport, and potential for significant adverse effects."

"Introduction to Special Series: Science-Based Guidance and Framework for the Evaluation and Identification of PBTs and POPs," (Vol. 5(4):535-538; October 2009 ) is available at http://allenpress.com/system/files/pdfs/emails/2009/09/ieam-05-04-535-538.pdf

Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management is published quarterly by the Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry (SETAC) and focuses on the application of science in environmental decision-making, regulation, and management, including aspects of policy and law and the development of scientifically sound approaches to environmental problem solving. To learn more about the society, please visit www.setac.org.

For further information: Robin Barker, Allen Press, Inc. [phone] ext. 410, [email protected]