The Chemical Assessment Working Group of the GDCh Division of Environmental Chemistry & Ecotoxicology focuses its work on the exchange of experience in the implementation of the REACh Regulation, in particular on the topics of exposure, persistence, ecotoxicology, toxicology and risk assessment.

In addition to industrial chemicals, the working group also focuses on the assessment of plant protection products, biocides and pharmaceuticals.

New topics from research are also regularly presented.

The Chemicals Assessment Working Group met for an online meeting on 23 March 2020. The topic was the presentation and discussion of the results of a UBA project to review the OECD test guidelines relevant to environmental assessment with regard to the state of the art in science and technology.

First, Stefan Hahn from Fraunhofer ITEM in Hanover presented the background, approach and results of the project to identify and prioritise the potential need for updating OECD test guidelines and to draw up a list of possible measures. The aim of the project is to record and document the need. The actual updating of the audit guidelines or binding updating proposals are not part of the project duration. A total of two surveys and six workshops were conducted with the participation of the international scientific community. The project met with great interest and the willingness of many experts to participate in corresponding revisions. A list of possible updates including justifications is now available, as well as an initial categorisation of the need to revise the respective test guideline. The next steps were explained.

The Chemicals Assessment Working Group met for an online meeting on 16 June 2021. The main topic was concepts for assessing the sustainability of the use of chemicals, which were presented in two lectures. Firstly, Dr Silke Gabbert from the RIVM in Bilthoven (NL) presented the concept of "Essential Use" in the European Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability with an initial look at the challenges and opportunities. She focussed in particular on the necessary definitions and criteria for determining "essential use", e.g. of chemical substances per se as well as in products. Janna Kuhlmann from BUND (formerly EPEA) then explained the Cradle to Cradle concept for the assessment of chemicals for the circular economy. The C2C certification of products is graded (bronze to platinum) for the absence of certain substances of concern (restricted substances list) and hazards according to GHS/CLP.

The questions asked by the 18 participants included the practical feasibility of the concepts under various regulations and directives, e.g. biocides and pesticides or electronic waste. Aspects of evaluating the sustainability of supply chains and contributions to the EU's Zero Pollution Ambition were also discussed in depth.

Legal texts for chemicals assessment at the Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR)

The Chemicals Assessment Working Group will focus on two areas in the longer term.

The first area comprises the introduction and implementation of REACH. Due to the large number of substances to be assessed and the equally large number of manufacturers, importers and downstream users, there is a great need for the discussion and evaluation of substance data and assessment methods as well as for an exchange of experience. Specifically, this involves issues such as data availability and quality (access to sufficiently complete and reliable substance data is a key prerequisite for the implementation of REACH), measurement, estimation and evaluation methods and the associated uncertainties, in particular the balance between the lowest possible data requirement and the greatest possible informative value and concrete experiences with the implementation of REACH in various companies and on the part of the authorities.

The second area deals with the environmental behaviour of semi-volatile substances (vapour pressure < 1 Pa), in particular their behaviour in the atmosphere. This group of substances includes numerous industrial chemicals to be assessed under REACH and also numerous plant protection products. The stability of such semi-volatile substances in the atmosphere largely determines what quantities can be transported over what distances. However, it is currently difficult to measure or estimate, as measurement methods are still largely lacking and existing estimation methods cannot be readily applied to this group of substances. Interaction with aerosol particles is another factor whose influence on the stability and reactivity of semi-volatile substances is still only partially known. There is therefore a considerable need for research into the behaviour of such substances in the gas phase and in the aerosol phase as well as into the formation of transformation products. The discussion in the Chemicals Assessment Working Group is intended to bring together current and future research projects on the environmental behaviour of semi-volatile substances and make them known to the outside world. In particular, the environmental significance of new results should also be discussed and communicated to the outside world.

Chair
Dr Kevin Klipsch
EBRC Consulting GmbH, Hanover

Deputy Chair
Dr Marion Letzel
Bayer. Chair
Dr Marion Letzel
Bavarian State Office for the Environment, Augsburg