Updating the Guidelines for Assessing Toxic Substances

BRUSSELS, November 18 - The current issue of Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management,
a journal published by the Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry
(SETAC), features a special series of papers generated from the SETAC
workshop "Science-Based Guidance and Framework for the Evaluation and
Identification of PBTs and POPs."

Persistent, bioaccumulative, and toxic substances (PBTs) and persistent
organic pollutants (POPs) are regulated by many regional, national, and
global conventions. Despite growing worldwide concerns about contamination
and the safety of our food supply, advances in chemistry, information, and
other technologies during the past two decades are not being sufficiently
applied. As a result, effective guidance for the identification, assessment,
and management of these substances is limited and often out-of-date.

These articles convey the key elements of the current state of the
science, the evolution of scientific understanding, and the challenges for
future worldwide regulation of PBT chemicals and POPs. The series is based
around the intensive science and regulatory policy deliberations that took
place during a SETAC international workshop, held in January 2008. The
meeting was the largest gathering of international experts on this issue to
date. The views of the participants at that meeting, representing broad
international perspectives from academia, government, and industry, will
influence science and environmental policy at future international treaty
conventions on this topic.

In the introduction to this special series, workshop co-chairmen, Dr.
Derek Muir from Environment Canada and Dr. Gary Klecka from The Dow Chemical
Company state: "We believe that the 9 articles in this special issue provide
a scientific consensus on tools and approaches and an excellent framework for
future national and international assessments of chemicals regarding their
persistence, bioaccumulation, environmental toxicity, long-range transport,
and potential for significant adverse effects."

"Introduction to Special Series: Science-Based Guidance and Framework for
the Evaluation and Identification of PBTs and POPs," (Vol. 5(4):535-538;
October 2009) is available at
allenpress.com/system/files/pdfs/emails/2009/09/ieam-05-04-535-538.pdf

Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management is published quarterly
by the Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry (SETAC) and focuses
on the application of science in environmental decision-making, regulation,
and management, including aspects of policy and law and the development of
scientifically sound approaches to environmental problem solving. To learn
more about the society, please visit www.setac.org.

For further information: Robin Barker, Allen Press, Inc. +1-800-627-0326
ext. 410 rbarker at allenpress.com