Society Of Environmental Toxicology & Chemistry Research Articles

REACHing for divergence?-UK chemical regulation post-Brexit.

On 1 January 2021, the United Kingdom formally exited the European Union (EU; Brexit) and ceased to be subject to EU chemical regulation requirements. Before Brexit, UK chemical policy was regulated largely by the EU. With its large internal market, sophisticated regulatory capability, and stringent regulatory framework, the EU has become the world's leading regulatory state, regularly influencing global industrial decisions and practices. At the time of writing, there has been limited academic analysis of the implications of Brexit for UK chemical regulation. More than twoyears post-Brexit, we have the opportunity to assess UK chemical regulation and revisit early expectations about regulatory divergence. This article takes the EU's Regulation on the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation, and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) as a case study to analyze patterns of post-Brexit regulatory divergence, thereby providing one of the first analyses of the implications of Brexit on UK chemical regulation. Through the analysis and review of key documents and reports (n = 99), this article assesses the extent to which UK and EU regulatory (REACH) regimes are beginning to diverge and discusses the potential implications of any divergence for the United Kingdom. We find that the UK and EU chemical regulatory regimes are now evolving independently and provide clear, empirical evidence of an emerging divergence in regulatory decisions, ambitions, and approaches. The evidence suggests that the United Kingdom is currently unable to keep pace with EU developments, lacking the capacity, expertise, and capability of its EU counterparts, raising the prospect of further divergence in the future. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2024;00:1-10. © 2024 The Authors. Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of Society of Environmental Toxicology & Chemistry (SETAC).

Clarity tubes as effective citizen science tools for monitoring wastewater treatment works and rivers.

Improved freshwater resource management requires the implementation of widespread, effective, and timely water quality monitoring. Conventional monitoring methods are often inhibited by financial, infrastructural, and human capacity limitations, especially in developing regions. This study aimed to validate the citizen-scientist-operated transparency or clarity tube (hereafter "clarity tube") for measuring water clarity as a proxy for total suspended solids (TSS) concentration, a critical quality metric in river systems and wastewater treatment works (WWTW) effluent in Southern Africa. Clarity tubes provided a relatively accurate and precise proxy for TSS in riverine lotic systems and WWTW effluent, revealing significant inverse log-linear relationships between clarity and TSS with r2 = 0.715 and 0.503, respectively. We demonstrate that clarity-derived estimates of TSS concentration (TSScde) can be used to estimate WWTW compliance with WWTW effluent TSS concentration regulations. The measurements can then be used to engage with WWTW management, potentially affecting WWTW performance. Overall, these findings demonstrate the usefulness of clarity tubes as low-cost, accessible, and easy-to-use citizen science tools for high spatial and temporal resolution water quality monitoring, not only in rivers in Southern Africa but also in WWTW effluent for estimating compliance, with strong global relevance to the sustainable development goals (SDGs). Integr Environ Assess Manag 2024;00:1-10. © 2024 The Authors. Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of Society of Environmental Toxicology & Chemistry (SETAC).

Assessing methods for detecting Alexandrium catenella (Dinophyceae) and paralytic shellfish toxins in Southeast Alaska.

Blooms of Alexandrium catenella threaten to disrupt subsistence, recreational, and commercial shellfish harvest in Alaska, as the paralytic shellfish toxins (PSTs) produced pose a serious public health risk and can lead to costly shutdowns for shellfish farmers. Current methods of PST detection in the region range from monitoring programs utilizing net tows to detect A. catenella to direct shellfish tissue testing via mouse bioassay (MBA) for commercial aquaculture harvest, as well as various optional testing methods for subsistence and recreational harvesters. The efficacy and feasibility of these methods vary, and they have not been directly compared in Southeast Alaska. In this study, we sought to assess and compare A. catenella and PST early detection methods to determine which can provide the most effective and accurate warning of A. catenella blooms or PST events. We found microscope counts to be variable and prone to missing lower numbers of A. catenella, which may be indicative of bloom formation. However, quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) significantly correlated with microscope counts and was able to effectively detect even low numbers of A. catenella on all sampling days. Paralytic shellfish toxin concentrations measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and MBA significantly correlated with each other, qPCR, and some microscope counts. These results show that qPCR is an effective tool for both monitoring A. catenella and serving as a proxy for PSTs. Further work is needed to refine qPCR protocols in this system to provide bloom warnings on an actionable timescale for the aquaculture industry and other shellfish harvesters. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2024;00:1-14. © 2024 The Authors. Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of Society of Environmental Toxicology & Chemistry (SETAC). This article has been contributed to by U.S. Government employees and their work is in the public domain in the USA.

Validation of a low-cost lead hazard screening kit for the home environment.

The main sources of lead exposure for children occur in the home environment, yet no low-cost analytical methods exist to screen homes for lead hazards. Previously, an inexpensive (~$20), quantitative lead screening kit was developed in which residents collect soil, paint, and dust samples that are returned to a laboratory for lead analysis using X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy (XRF). This screening kit was initially validated in 2020; it was determined that in situ and ex situ XRF lead measurements on the same samples exhibited strong sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy. As a follow-up to the initial validation, an implementation study and further statistical analyses were conducted. Correlation analysis using the results from nearly 400 screening kits identified an overall lack of correlation between sample types, reinforcing the utility of all eight sample locations. Principal component analysis searched for underlying correlations in sample types and provided evidence that both interior and exterior paint are major sources of lead hazards for Indiana homes. The implementation study compared the results of the government-standard lead inspection and risk assessment (LIRA) and the lead screening kit in 107 Indiana homes. In the United States, the LIRA is a thorough inspection of paint, dust, and soil that is usually state mandated in response to a child's elevated blood level and is used to identify where remediation efforts should be focused. The lead screening kit and LIRA agreed on the presence of lead in 79 of the 107 homes tested (74%). Discrepancies in agreement are likely the result of differences in the sample location and number of samples collected by each method. Overall, these results suggest that the lead screening kit is an acceptable resource that could be used to expand the services health departments provide for lead prevention. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2024;00:1-10. © 2024 The Authors. Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of Society of Environmental Toxicology & Chemistry (SETAC).

Availability of pesticide-treated seeds on the soil surface in different crops and countries: A comprehensive data set reflecting modern agronomic practice.

For plant protection products applied as seed treatments, the risk to birds and mammals possibly feeding on such treated seeds needs to be addressed in the EU, in order to register these products for commercial use. For this purpose, the European Food Safety Food Authority (EFSA) has provided guidance on how to execute such a risk assessment. The risk assessment follows a tiered approach. In the Tier 1 risk assessment of the EFSA guidance (2023), it is assumed that birds or mammals have ad libitum access to treated seeds and exclusively feed on treated seeds. Due to this conservative assumption, the Tier I risk assessment typically indicates an unacceptable risk to birds and mammals and higher-tier refinements are required. One option for refinement is to use data on the availability of treated seeds on the soil surface directly after drilling. Published data on seed counts are, however, limited to a few countries and crops, and often these data are not contemporary, that is, do not reflectadvances in sowing technology and current agronomic practice. To address this data gap, we provide recently generated data from industry field trials (the studies were conducted from 2000 to 2022, >70% between 2019 and 2022), covering 270 fields from seven countries (Austria, France, Germany, Hungary, Poland, Spain, UK) for spring and winter cereals, winter oilseed rape, and sunflower. This comprehensive data set realistically reflects modern agronomic practice and is thus suitable for consideration in a regulatory context for refining the risk assessment for birds and mammals. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2024;00:1-8. © 2024 The Authors. Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of Society of Environmental Toxicology & Chemistry (SETAC).

Exploring practices, challenges, and priorities for human health and ecological risk assessments in Indigenous communities in Canada.

Indigenous peoples in Canada are disproportionately exposed to environmental contaminants and may face elevated health risks related to their unique cultural, spiritual, and economic relationships with the land, including the use of traditional food systems. However, to date, institutionalized approaches to assess risks to human and ecological health from contaminants have not been well developed or implemented with Indigenous community contexts in mind. There is regulatory interest in developing new approach methods for risk assessment, and thus an opportunity to increase their relevance to Indigenous communities in which they will be ultimately applied. Therefore, we conducted an anonymous mixed-methods survey of those involved with risk assessment in Indigenous communities in Canada to: (1) understand risk assessment practice in Indigenous communities, (2) explore challenges with conventional assessment methods and compare these across sectors, and (3) gather perspectives on the development of new approaches. In all, 38 completed survey responses were received (14% response rate). Respondents were from Indigenous community environment and health offices (21% of respondents), Indigenous governments (8%), federal and provincial governments (21%), and academia (45%). Risk communication was seen as the most challenging part of risk assessment (71% responded "difficult"), and nearly all respondents agreed that time (86%), cost (76%), and resource availability (86%) were "moderate" to "serious" problems. Few respondents (16%) had heard of "new approach methods" for risk assessment, and 76% of respondents (and 100% of community-based respondents) agreed on the need to develop improved risk assessment approaches. To modernize risk assessment, respondents recommended advancing cumulative risk assessment methods, improving risk communication, and promoting Indigenous leadership and Traditional Knowledge in assessment activities. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2024;00:1-16. © 2024 The Authors. Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of Society of Environmental Toxicology & Chemistry (SETAC).

Evaluation of the ecological risk of pesticide residues from the European LUCAS Soil monitoring 2018 survey.

The 2018 LUCAS (Land Use and Coverage Area frame Survey) Soil Pesticides survey provides a European Union (EU)-scale assessment of 118 pesticide residues in more than 3473 soil sites. This study responds to the policy need to develop risk-based indicators for pesticides in the environment. Two mixture risk indicators are presented for soil based, respectively, on the lowest and the median of available No Observed Effect Concentration (NOECsoil,min and NOECsoil,50) from publicly available toxicity datasets. Two further indicators were developed based on the corresponding equilibrium concentration in the aqueous phase and aquatic toxicity data, which are available as species sensitivity distributions. Pesticides were quantified in 74.5% of the sites. The mixture risk indicator based on the NOECsoil,min exceeds 1 in 14% of the sites and 0.1 in 23%. The insecticides imidacloprid and chlorpyrifos and the fungicide epoxiconazole are the largest contributors to the overall risk. At each site, one or a few substances drive mixture risk. Modes of actions most likely associated with mixture effects include modulation of acetylcholine metabolism (neonicotinoids and organophosphate substances) and sterol biosynthesis inhibition (triazole fungicides). Several pesticides driving the risk have been phased out since 2018. Following LUCAS surveys will determine the effectiveness of substance-specific risk management and the overall progress toward risk reduction targets established by EU and UN policies. Newly generated data and knowledge will stimulate needed future research on pesticides, soil health, and biodiversity protection. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2024;00:1-15. © 2024 The Authors. Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of Society of Environmental Toxicology & Chemistry (SETAC).

Application of standardized methods to evaluate the environmental safety of polyvinyl alcohol disposed of down the drain.

The purpose of this research was to use polyvinyl alcohol (PVOH) 18-88 as a case study to evaluate the environmental fate, ecotoxicity, and overall safety profile of water-soluble, nonmodified PVOH polymers used in detergent films. An OECD 303A Wastewater Treatment Plant Simulation Study was conducted with dissolved organic carbon as the analytical endpoint to evaluate the removal of PVOH 18-88 during wastewater treatment. During the plateau phase, high levels of removal due to biodegradation were observed (average 97.4 ± 7.1, range: 88%-116%). The OECD 303A study quantitatively verified that surface water is the dominant receiving compartment for PVOH 18-88 post wastewater treatment. Acute algae, invertebrate, and fish embryo (fish embryo acute toxicity test [FET]) ecotoxicity studies quanitified the 50% lethal/effect concentration (L/EC50) for PVOH 18-88. Due to the potential for the chorion to impact PVOH 18-88 bioavailability, both chorionated and dechorionated FET tests were conducted. L/EC50 > 1000 mg/L for FET (chorionated and dechorionated), invertebrate, and algae were observed. The Sustainable Futures (US) and REACH (EU) frameworks were used to evaluate environmental risk. For the US assessment, the Exposure and Fate Assessment Screening Tool was used to predict the single day lowest flow over a 10-year period (1Q10) surface water concentration and the seven consecutive days of lowest flow over a 10-year period (7Q10) surface water concentration and compared with acute and chronic concentrations of concern. For the EUassessment, the European Union System for the Evaluation of Substances was used to predict local and regional exposure concentrations and compared to the predicted no effect concentration. For both regulatory assessments, the exposure concentrations were >2 orders of magnitude below the effect concentrations. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2024;00:1-13. © 2024 The Authors. Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of Society of Environmental Toxicology & Chemistry (SETAC).

Comparison of measured and predicted herbicide concentrations in surface water catchments in Belgium.

In the process of approval of active substances and authorization in the European Union and at the member state level, it must be shown by the applicant that an unacceptable risk for nontarget organisms in the aquatic environment by the active substance can be excluded. To achieve this aim, standardized models, scenarios, and agreed pesticide input parameters have to be used to calculate the exposure as defined by the FOrum for the Co-ordination of pesticide fate models and their Use (FOCUS). During a period of daily surface water sampling lasting 3.5 years, a survey was conducted among farmers in the highly vulnerable catchment of Grote Kemmelbeek in Belgium to collect agronomic data on crops, application dates, and application rates of 12 applied herbicides and one metabolite. Daily surface water concentrations for the same herbicides were measured over 2.5 years for a second, much larger but less vulnerable, catchment of Kleine Aa (KAa). A comparison of realistic worst-case predicted environmental concentrations in surface water (PECsw) according to FOCUS with measured concentrations shows that, in the GKb catchment, the PECsw was never exceeded for six substances, was exceeded on only 1-2 days for five substances, and was exceeded on 9-27 days for two substances. For the KAa catchment, the PECsw was only exceeded on twodays for one compound and never for the other 12 compounds. These numbers correspond to a level of protection of the FOCUS PECsw between 100% and 97% and are much higher than the regulatory protection goal of 90%. These two case studies demonstrate the protectiveness of the FOCUS surface water approach. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2024;00:1-16. © 2024 Bayer AG. Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of Society of Environmental Toxicology & Chemistry (SETAC).

Seasonal dynamics of the standard test species Lemna sp. in outdoor microcosms.

Lemna L. sp. is a free-floating aquatic macrophyte that plays a key role as a standard test species in aquatic risk assessment for herbicides and other contaminants. Population modeling can be used to extrapolate from laboratory to field conditions. However, there are insufficient data on longer-term seasonal dynamics of this species to evaluate such models. Therefore, several long-term growth experiments were conducted in outdoor microcosms (surface area 0.174 m2). Monitoring parameters included biomass, frond numbers, water parameters, and weather data. Three different datasets were generated: frond numbers and biomass from weekly to monthly destructively sampled microcosms; a year-round dataset of frond numbers from five continuously monitored microcosms; and seasonal growth rates without the effect of density dependence over 1-2 weeks in freshly inoculated microcosms. Lemna sp. reached a maximum of approximately 500 000 fronds m-2 and 190 g dry weight m-2. During the first winter, the microcosms were covered by ice for approximately four weeks, and Lemna sp. populations collapsed. The second winter was warmer, without any ice cover, and Lemna sp. populations maintained high abundance throughout the winter. Dry weight per frond was not constant throughout the year but was highest in autumn and winter. Growth rates without density dependence under outdoor environmental conditions reached 0.29 day-1 for frond number, 0.43 day-1 for fresh weight, and 0.39 day-1 for dry weight. In linear regressions, these growth rates were best explained by water temperature. For the populations continuously monitored throughout a year, the nitrogen-to-phosphorus ratio best explained the growth rate of frond numbers. This study yielded a relevant dataset for testing and refining Lemna population models used in chemical risk assessment as well as for managing ecosystems and combating the effects of eutrophication. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2024;00:1-14. © 2024 The Authors. Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of Society of Environmental Toxicology & Chemistry (SETAC).

Importance of integrating mixoplankton into marine ecosystem policy and management-Examples from the Marine Strategy Framework Directive.

Marine plankton capable of photosynthesis and predation ("mixoplankton") comprise up to 50% of protist plankton and include many harmful species. However, marine environmental management policies, including the European Union Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD) and the USEPA, assume a strict dichotomy between autotrophic phytoplankton and heterotrophic zooplankton. Mixoplankton often differ significantly from these two categories in their response to environmental pressures and affect the marine environment in ways we are only beginning to understand. While the management policies may conceptually provide scope for incorporating mixoplankton, such action is rarely implemented. We suggest that the effectiveness of monitoring and management programs could benefit from explicit implementations regarding the ecological roles and impact of mixoplankton. Taking the MSFD as an example of marine management guidelines, we propose appropriate methods to explicitly include mixoplankton in monitoring and marine management. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2024;00:1-18. © 2024 The Authors. Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of Society of Environmental Toxicology & Chemistry (SETAC).

Using emerging science to inform risk characterizations for wildlife within current regulatory frameworks.

Many jurisdictions have regulatory frameworks that seek to reduce the effects of environmental exposures of anthropogenic chemicals on terrestrial wildlife (i.e., mammals, birds, reptiles, and amphibians). The frameworks apply for new and existing chemicals, including pesticides (prospective assessments), and to environmental contamination from releases (retrospective risk assessments). Relatively recently, there have been many scientific advances that could improve risk estimates for wildlife. Here, we briefly describe current regulations from North America (United States and Canada) and from Europe that include risk assessments for wildlife to ascertain whether they are conducive to the use of emerging science and new methods. We also provide examples where new and emerging science may be used to improve wildlife risk characterization and identify areas in need of future research. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2024;20:765-779. © 2024 His Majesty the King in Right of Canada and The Authors. Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management © 2024 Society of Environmental Toxicology & Chemistry (SETAC). Reproduced with the permission of the Minister of Environment and Climate Change Canada. This article has been contributed to by U.S. Government employees and their work is in the public domain in the USA.

Use, reuse, and waste management of single-use products associated with the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States.

Single-use product usage is not a new concern. However, during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, the use and disposal of single-use products, especially those related to managing the pandemic, rose to prominence. Reports of shortages-and at the same time litter formation arising from improper disposal of various pandemic-related materials such as gloves, masks, wipes, and food takeout containers-were frequently relayed. To address shortages, it was recommended that single-use products be reused in some instances. As these recommendations were widely adopted, it became essential to assess consumer preferences regarding single-use product usage. Aiming to fill that void, a survey was distributed to learn about single-use product usage, possible reuse of single-use products, and waste-management practices during the COVID-19 pandemic in the US. Respondents preferred reusable fabric masks followed by disposable surgical masks. A significant percentage of respondents answered that they would reuse a disposable mask and mostly selected rotating masks as the preferred "disinfection" method in between the reuse of single-use masks. Gloves were not used by most respondents whereas wipes and/or paper towels were used by more than half of respondents. Free-response answers were analyzed for common themes. Concerns related to pandemic-related product use and disposal, and food packaging or food preparation were observed in the free-response answers. This survey reveals that respondents perceived changes in their consumption and waste generation or perceived a change in the type of products consumed and discarded due to the pandemic. Overall, respondents expressed a preference for reuse and a concern over the increase in single-use products. Results of this study can be used to make projections on the consumption and reuse of single-use products in crisis scenarios. In addition, the data can be used to model the use and disposal phase in single-use product life-cycle assessments. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2024;00:1-11. © 2024 The Authors. Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of Society of Environmental Toxicology & Chemistry (SETAC).

Effects of water quality on palladium-induced olfactory toxicity and bioaccumulation in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss).

Through emission processes, palladium (Pd) particulates from industrial sources are introduced into a range of ecosystems including freshwater environments. Despite this, research on Pd-induced bioaccumulation, uptake, and toxicity is limited for freshwater fishes. Unlike other metals, there are currently no regulations or protective guidelines to limit Pd release into aquatic systems, indicating a global absence of measures addressing its environmental impact. To assess the olfactory toxicity potential of Pd, the present study aimed to explore Pd accumulation in olfactory tissues, olfactory disruption, and oxidative stress in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) following waterborne Pd exposure. Olfactory sensitivity, measured by electro-olfactography, demonstrated that Pd inhibits multiple pathways of the olfactory system following 96 h of Pd exposure. In this study, the concentrations of Pd for inhibition of olfactory function by 20% (2.5 μg/L; IC20) and 50% (19 μg/L; IC50) were established. Rainbow trout were then exposed to IC20 and IC50 Pd concentrations in combination with varying exposure conditions, as changes in water quality alter the toxicity of metals. Independent to Pd, increased water hardness resulted in decreased olfactory perception owing to ion competition at the olfactory epithelium. No other environmental parameter in this study significantly influenced Pd-induced olfactory toxicity. Membrane-associated Pd was measured at the olfactory rosette and gill following exposure; however, this accumulation did not translate to oxidative stress as measured by the production of malondialdehyde. Our data suggest that Pd is toxic to rainbow trout via waterborne contamination near field-measured levels. This study further demonstrated Pd bioavailability and uptake at water-adjacent tissues, adding to our collective understanding of the toxicological profile of Pd. Taken together, our results provide novel insights into the olfactory toxicity in fish following Pd exposure. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2024;00:1-13. © 2024 The Authors. Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of Society of Environmental Toxicology & Chemistry (SETAC).

In vitro bioaccessibility round robin testing for arsenic and lead in standard reference materials and soil samples.

In this study, we assessed the suitability of using a standard reference material (SRM) other than National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) 2710a or NIST 2711a in USEPA Method 1340 to determine arsenic (As) and lead (Pb) in vitro bioaccessibility (IVBA) and the capabilities of Canadian-based laboratories to perform the method. Five laboratories participated in an initial round robin study and analyzed NIST 2710a, NIST 2711a, BGS119, and Enviromat SS-2. Intra- and inter-laboratory variability were generally acceptable with percentage relative standard deviations (RSD) of less than 20%. The mean total As and Pb concentrations obtained for BGS119 (332 and 936 mg/kg, respectively) and the mean IVBA values (As = 14.3% and Pb = 78.1%) suggested it may be a suitable and acceptable SRM, whereas the concentration of As in Enviromat SS-2 as received (3.2 mg/kg) was deemed too low. Ten soil samples from sites with varying land use were analyzed in a follow-up round robin study using the modified IVBA method that included BGS119 as SRM. The concentrations of As and Pb in the IVBA extracts reported by the participating laboratories were comparable. The mean As IVBA values for the field-collected samples ranged from 0.1% to 56.4%; for Pb, they ranged from 7.0% to 121%. The lowest IVBA values were measured in mine site samples; the highest values were associated with smelter-affected soils. The low IVBA values correlated with high iron content. Intra- and interlaboratory reproducibility were acceptable (RSD < 30%). Based on the findings of the study, laboratories can use the modified method to provide reproducible and comparable As and Pb IVBA data. The use of BGS119 as an alternative SRM to assess contaminated sites in the province of British Columbia for regulatory purposes is recommended, as it is representative of As and Pb concentrations in contaminated soils in British Columbia. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2024;00:1-10. © 2024 The Authors. Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of Society of Environmental Toxicology & Chemistry (SETAC).

Evaluating the reliability of environmental concentration data to characterize exposure in environmental risk assessments.

Environmental risk assessments often rely on measured concentrations in environmental matrices to characterize exposure of the population of interest-typically, humans, aquatic biota, or other wildlife. Yet, there is limited guidance available on how to report and evaluate exposure datasets for reliability and relevance, despite their importance to regulatory decision-making. This paper is the second of a four-paper series detailing the outcomes of a Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry Technical Workshop that has developed Criteria for Reporting and Evaluating Exposure Datasets (CREED). It presents specific criteria to systematically evaluate the reliability of environmental exposure datasets. These criteria can help risk assessors understand and characterize uncertainties when existing data are used in various types of assessments and can serve as guidance on best practice for the reporting of data for data generators (to maximize utility of their datasets). Although most reliability criteria are universal, some practices may need to be evaluated considering the purpose of the assessment. Reliability refers to the inherent quality of the dataset and evaluation criteria address the identification of analytes, study sites, environmental matrices, sampling dates, sample collection methods, analytical method performance, data handling or aggregation, treatment of censored data, and generation of summary statistics. Each criterion is evaluated as "fully met," "partly met," "not met or inappropriate," "not reported," or "not applicable" for the dataset being reviewed. The evaluation concludes with a scheme for scoring the dataset as reliable with or without restrictions, not reliable, or not assignable, and is demonstrated with three case studies representing both organic and inorganic constituents, and different study designs and assessment purposes. Reliability evaluation can be used in conjunction with relevance evaluation (assessed separately) to determine the extent to which environmental monitoring datasets are "fit for purpose," that is, suitable for use in various types of assessments. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2024;00:1-23. © 2024 Society of Environmental Toxicology & Chemistry (SETAC). This article has been contributed to by U.S. Government employees and their work is in the public domain in the USA.

Puget Sound sediment cleanup remedy effectiveness retrospective.

The monitoring of completed large-scale sediment remediation projects has revealed mixed effectiveness at reducing risks, thus highlighting uncertainties regarding whether and which remedial measures are necessary to achieve protective goals. To support valid statements about changes over time and the overall effectiveness of sediment remedial action, robust pre- and postremediation monitoring is required with sufficient time points, reference sites, and biological metrics. The five completed Puget Sound sediment remediation case studies reviewed here (Bellingham Bay, St. Paul Waterway, Eagle Harbor, Hylebos Waterway, and Sinclair Inlet) employed particularly robust remedy effectiveness monitoring programs that spanned decades, revealing common lessons for improving remediation outcomes. First, although sediment remediation can play an important role in reducing contaminant exposure in areas with higher sediment concentrations, at lower levels, sediment links with fish tissue concentrations diminish. As water column exposure from diverse sources becomes predominant, remediating sediments with lower concentrations yields proportionately less risk reduction. Second, timely monitoring of effective source controls achieving substantial (i.e., >80%) contaminant source load reductions as well as large-scale capping projects have revealed rapid changes in Puget Sound surface sediment concentrations and biological recovery metrics with an average recovery half-time of 1.6 ± 0.8 years. The weight of evidence suggests that natural recovery of Puget Sound surface sediments is significantly accelerated by exchange across the sediment-water interface from benthic organism feeding behaviors, porewater flux, and tide-generated currents. As a result, effective source controls in Puget Sound have rapidly improved surface sediment quality and achieved more significant risk reductions than broadscale sediment remediation. Going forward, comprehensive Puget Sound source control efforts that incorporate robust monitoring in an adaptive management framework are the best way to achieve protective remediation objectives. These lessons may apply more broadly across similar complex urban aquatic ecosystems. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2024;00:1-11. © 2024 The Authors. Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of Society of Environmental Toxicology & Chemistry (SETAC).

Incorporating climate change model projections into ecological risk assessments to help inform risk management and adaptation strategies: Synthesis of a SETAC Pellston Workshop®.

The impacts of global climate change are not yet well integrated with the estimates of the impacts of chemicals on the environment. This is evidenced by the lack of consideration in national or international reports that evaluate the impacts of climate change and chemicals on ecosystems and the relatively few peer-reviewed publications that have focused on this interaction. In response, a 2011 Pellston Workshop® was held on this issue and resulted in seven publications in Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry. Yet, these publications did not move the field toward climate change and chemicals as important factors together in research or policy-making. Here, we summarize the outcomes of a second Pellston Workshop® on this topic held in 2022 that included climate scientists, environmental toxicologists, chemists, and ecological risk assessors from 14 countries and various sectors. Participants were charged with assessing where climate models can be applied to evaluating potential exposure and ecological effects at geographical and temporal scales suitable for ecological risk assessment, and thereby be incorporated into adaptive risk management strategies. We highlight results from the workshop's five publications included in the special series "Incorporating Global Climate Change into Ecological Risk Assessments: Strategies, Methods and Examples." We end this summary with the overall conclusions and recommendations from participants. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2024;20:359-366. © 2023 The Authors. Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of Society of Environmental Toxicology & Chemistry (SETAC).

Modeling of local and systemic exposure to metals and metalloids after inhalation exposure: Recommended update to the USEPA metals framework.

The USEPA issued the "Framework for Metal Risk Assessment" in 2007, recognizing that human and environmental exposure to metals and metalloids (MMEs) poses challenges risk assessment. Inhalation of aerosols containing MMEs is a primary pathway for exposure in the occupational setting, for consumer exposure, and to general population exposure associated with point-source emissions or ambient sources. The impacts of inhalation can be at the point of deposition (local exposure) or may manifest after uptake into the body (systemic exposure). Both local and systemic exposure can vary with factors that determine the regional deposition of MME-containing aerosols. Aerosol characteristics such as particle size combine with species-specific characteristics of airway morphology and lung function to modulate the deposition and clearance of MME particulates. In contrast to oral exposure, often monitored by measuring MME levels in blood or urine, inhalation exposure can produce local pulmonary impacts in the absence of significant systemic distribution. Exposure assessment for nutritionally essential MMEs can be further complicated by homeostatic controls that regulate systemic MME levels. Predictions of local exposure can be facilitated by computer models that estimate regional patterns of aerosol deposition, permitting calculation of exposure intensity in different regions of the respiratory tract. The utility of deposition modeling has been demonstrated in assessments of nutritionally essential MMEs regulated by homeostatic controls and in the comparison of results from inhalation studies in experimental animals. This facilitates extrapolation from animal data to humans and comparisons of exposures possessing mechanistic linkages to pulmonary toxicity and carcinogenesis. Pulmonary deposition models have significantly advanced and have been applied by USEPA in evaluations of particulate matter. However, regional deposition modeling has yet to be incorporated into the general guidance offered by the agency for evaluating inhalation exposure. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2023;00:1-13. © 2023 The Authors. Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of Society of Environmental Toxicology & Chemistry (SETAC).

Environmental management cycles for chemicals and climate change, EMC4 : A new conceptual framework contextualizing climate and chemical risk assessment and management.

The environmental management cycles for chemicals and climate change (EMC4 ) is a suggested conceptual framework for integrating climate change aspects into chemical risk management. The interaction of climate change and chemical risk brings together complex systems that are imperfectly understood by science. Making management decisions in this context is therefore difficult and often exacerbated by a lack of data. The consequences of poor decision-making can be significant for both environmental and human health. This article reflects on the ways in which existing chemicals management systems consider climate change and proposes the EMC4 conceptual framework, which is a tool for decision-makers operating at different spatial scales. Also presented are key questions raised by the tool to help the decision-maker identify chemical risks from climate change, management options, and, importantly, the different types of actors that are instrumental in managing that risk. Case studies showing decision-making at different spatial scales are also presented highlighting the conceptual framework's applicability to multiple scales. The United Nations Environment Programme's development of an intergovernmental Science Policy Panel on Chemicals and Waste has presented an opportunity to promote and generate research highlighting the impacts of chemicals and climate change interlinkages. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2024;20:433-453. © 2023 The Authors. Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of Society of Environmental Toxicology & Chemistry (SETAC).