Scientific concepts and methods for moving persistence assessments into the 21st Century

In a Nutshell

A Task Force from the Centre for chemical safety assessment (ECETOC) has carried out a study into improving methods to evaluate a chemical’s persistence in the environment and its subsequent risk to the plant and animal life of a region. The findings are published in the peer-reviewed journal Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management (IEAM). Chemical persistence in the environment is one of the most important criteria in the regulation of organic chemicals. The Task Force reviewed both the challenges and the limitations of current testing methods, as well as the scientific advances that can help provide additional understanding and new solutions. A first paper on the subject written by the same Task Force and published on the same journal can be accessed here.