Assessment of Benthic Invertebrates' Toxicity and Ecological Threat Identification Guidance
The use of pesticides, while essential for agricultural productivity, can potentially harm sediment-dwelling organisms and impact the quality of sediment. To address this concern, the EFED sediment toxicity workgroup has developed a comprehensive guidance document over several years. This document serves as the current guidance for ecological risk assessors when deciding whether to require whole sediment toxicity tests as part of pesticide registration actions.
The guidance document, along with a case study and attachments, is intended to support the interpretation of sediment toxicity testing requirements in 40 CFR Part 158 (Subpart G). The case study on Endosulfan, for instance, illustrates the methods and data considered by the USEPA's Office of Pesticide Programs in assessing pesticide risks to benthic invertebrates.
Whole sediment toxicity testing is now a requirement for both registration review and new pesticide registrations. Attachment 2 provides instructions on using PRZM/EXAMs to obtain sediment Ecological Effects Concentrations (EECs). Attachment 3 contains output files used to validate Equation 1 of the Sediment Calculations as mentioned in Attachment 2.
The guidance is not intended as a replacement or alteration of these regulations but rather as a tool to aid in their interpretation. This requirement applies to both registration review and new pesticide registrations.
For those seeking detailed information on whole sediment toxicity testing in pesticide registration, several valuable resources are available. Regulatory and technical guidance from pesticide assessment agencies, such as the UK's Health and Safety Executive (HSE) Pesticides Data Requirements Handbook, offer sections on ecotoxicology, aquatic toxicity testing—including soil and sediment organisms—and related research reports.
Peer review reports and risk assessment evaluations for active substances in pesticides often discuss specific toxicity test requirements and results, as reflected in recent pesticide risk assessment peer reviews. While not specifically focused on pesticide registration, research articles assessing sediment toxicity and trace elements provide context and case studies related to sediment toxicity testing methodologies.
Elements of this guidance have been presented at international scientific meetings, such as the Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry (SETAC) and the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA). The guidance document for integrating sediment toxicity test results in ecological risk assessments is available as a pdf.
In summary, the current guidance for whole sediment toxicity testing in pesticide registration can be found primarily in pesticide regulatory agencies' ecotoxicology data requirement documents and peer review reports like those from HSE and EU or US pesticide regulatory bodies. These documents cover test protocols, evaluation criteria, and case study data supporting regulatory decisions. Searching pesticide data requirements handbooks, peer review summaries, and ecotoxicology-specific technical guidelines will be most informative.
- The guidance document, developed by the EFED sediment toxicity workgroup, serves as a tool for ecological risk assessors in deciding whether to require whole sediment toxicity tests as part of pesticide registration actions, aligning with the regulations in 40 CFR Part 158 (Subpart G).
- The use of whole sediment toxicity testing is now mandatory for both registration review and new pesticide registrations, and Attachment 2 offers instructions on using PRZM/EXAMs to obtain sediment Ecological Effects Concentrations (EECs).
- Those seeking detailed information on whole sediment toxicity testing in pesticide registration can find valuable resources in regulatory and technical guidance from pesticide assessment agencies, such as the UK's Health and Safety Executive (HSE) Pesticides Data Requirements Handbook and peer review reports from HSE and EU or US pesticide regulatory bodies.
- Elements of this guidance have been presented at international scientific meetings like the Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry (SETAC) and the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA), and the guidance document for integrating sediment toxicity test results in ecological risk assessments is available as a pdf.
