Navigation auf zora.uzh.ch

Search ZORA

ZORA (Zurich Open Repository and Archive)

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

Abstract

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.

Additional indexing

Item Type:Journal Article, refereed, original work
Communities & Collections:07 Faculty of Science > Department of Chemistry
Dewey Decimal Classification:540 Chemistry
Scopus Subject Areas:Life Sciences > Toxicology
Physical Sciences > Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis
Uncontrolled Keywords:Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis, Toxicology, General Medicine
Language:English
Date:1 May 2023
Deposited On:23 Feb 2024 09:47
Last Modified:31 Oct 2024 02:37
Publisher:Springer
ISSN:0340-5761
OA Status:Hybrid
Publisher DOI:https://doi.org/10.1007/s00204-023-03485-5
PubMed ID:36952002
Project Information:
  • Funder: H2020
  • Grant ID: 965406
  • Project Title: PrecisionTox - Toward Precision Toxicology: New Approach Methodologies for Chemical Safety
  • Funder: H2020
  • Grant ID: 101057014
  • Project Title:
Download PDF  'Modernizing persistence–bioaccumulation–toxicity (PBT) assessment with high throughput animal-free methods'.
Preview
  • Content: Published Version
  • Language: English
  • Licence: Creative Commons: Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

Metadata Export

Statistics

Citations

Dimensions.ai Metrics
5 citations in Web of Science®
5 citations in Scopus®
Google Scholar™

Altmetrics

Downloads

6 downloads since deposited on 23 Feb 2024
6 downloads since 12 months
Detailed statistics

Authors, Affiliations, Collaborations

Similar Publications