Modernizing persistence–bioaccumulation–toxicity (PBT) assessment with high throughput animal-free methods

Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

Authors

  • Beate I. Escher
  • Rolf Altenburger
  • Matthias Blüher
  • John K. Colbourne
  • Ralf Ebinghaus
  • Peter Fantke
  • Michaela Hein
  • Wolfgang Köck
  • Klaus Kümmerer
  • Sina Leipold
  • Xiaojing Li
  • Martin Scheringer
  • Stefan Scholz
  • Michael Schloter
  • Pia Johanna Schweizer
  • Tamara Tal
  • Igor Tetko
  • Claudia Traidl-Hoffmann
  • Lukas Y. Wick
  • Kathrin Fenner

The assessment of persistence (P), bioaccumulation (B), and toxicity (T) of a chemical is a crucial first step at ensuring chemical safety and is a cornerstone of the European Union’s chemicals regulation REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorization, and Restriction of Chemicals). Existing methods for PBT assessment are overly complex and cumbersome, have produced incorrect conclusions, and rely heavily on animal-intensive testing. We explore how new-approach methodologies (NAMs) can overcome the limitations of current PBT assessment. We propose two innovative hazard indicators, termed cumulative toxicity equivalents (CTE) and persistent toxicity equivalents (PTE). Together they are intended to replace existing PBT indicators and can also accommodate the emerging concept of PMT (where M stands for mobility). The proposed “toxicity equivalents” can be measured with high throughput in vitro bioassays. CTE refers to the toxic effects measured directly in any given sample, including single chemicals, substitution products, or mixtures. PTE is the equivalent measure of cumulative toxicity equivalents measured after simulated environmental degradation of the sample. With an appropriate panel of animal-free or alternative in vitro bioassays, CTE and PTE comprise key environmental and human health hazard indicators. CTE and PTE do not require analytical identification of transformation products and mixture components but instead prompt two key questions: is the chemical or mixture toxic, and is this toxicity persistent or can it be attenuated by environmental degradation? Taken together, the proposed hazard indicators CTE and PTE have the potential to integrate P, B/M and T assessment into one high-throughput experimental workflow that sidesteps the need for analytical measurements and will support the Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability of the European Union.

Original languageEnglish
JournalArchives of Toxicology
Volume97
Issue number5
Pages (from-to)1267-1283
Number of pages17
ISSN0340-5761
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 01.05.2023

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2023, The Author(s).

    Research areas

  • Biodegradation, Hazard assessment, In vitro bioassay, Mobility, New approach methodologies (NAMs), Persistence, Toxicity
  • Chemistry

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