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TESTING STRATEGIES<br />

6.3 REFINEMENT OF PNEC: STRATEGY FOR FURTHER TESTING<br />

6.3.1 Introduction<br />

A detailed strategy <strong>for</strong> further testing in order to refine the PNEC has been developed <strong>for</strong> the<br />

aquatic compartment. Guidance <strong>for</strong> deciding on further testing requirements although less<br />

specific than <strong>for</strong> the aquatic environment, is also provided <strong>for</strong> the sediment <strong>and</strong> terrestrial<br />

compartments <strong>and</strong> <strong>for</strong> secondary poisoning. Long-term tests are considered most applicable<br />

since a PNEC based on long-term ecotoxicity data is more reliable than a PNEC based on shortterm<br />

data. The additional tests lead to lower assessment factors due to the lower uncertainty.<br />

These strategies are described in detail within the discussion on the effects assessment<br />

(Section 3) under the relevant compartment.<br />

Refinement of the PNECwater <strong>for</strong> the aquatic compartment can be carried out by per<strong>for</strong>ming longterm<br />

tests with the most sensitive species or, if one or two NOEC(s) is/are already available,<br />

with a long-term test on species of trophic levels <strong>for</strong> which no NOEC was determined so far. The<br />

decision taking process can be supported by the use of (Q)SARs. The testing strategy is<br />

described in Section 6.3.2. The testing strategy proposed <strong>for</strong> the sediment compartment is<br />

described in Section 6.3.3.<br />

The risk assessment concept <strong>for</strong> the terrestrial compartment includes also a strategy <strong>for</strong> deciding<br />

when to carry out short-term toxicity tests on terrestrial organisms. Short-term tests are not<br />

included in the base-set but should be conducted, if a potential risk to soil has been identified on<br />

the basis of a risk characterisation using the equilibrium partitioning method. Expert judgement<br />

is required to decide on the most appropriate long-term test(s) if it is considered necessary to<br />

refine the PNECsoil (see Section 6.3.4).<br />

While any possible refinement of the PECoral/PNECoral ratio <strong>for</strong> secondary poisoning targets<br />

more the refinement of the PECoral rather than of the PNECoral, it may in some cases be more<br />

appropriate to refine the latter <strong>and</strong> conduct long-term or chronic toxicity tests. The decision on<br />

which test to conduct has to be taken on a case-by-case basis.<br />

No internationally accepted st<strong>and</strong>ardised test guidelines <strong>and</strong>/or no adequate effects assessment<br />

methods are available at present <strong>for</strong> the air compartment. Consequently no testing strategy is<br />

proposed. If it is concluded that this compartment is at risk a decision will have to be taken on a<br />

case-by-case basis.<br />

6.3.2 Aquatic compartment<br />

6.3.2.1 Introduction<br />

In the event that the PECwater/PNECwater ratio is greater than one, either exposure data have to be<br />

refined or further testing specified. One or more additional tests may have to be per<strong>for</strong>med in<br />

accordance with methods specified in Annex V to Directive 67/548 or in OECD guidelines (or<br />

equivalent test guidelines). The methods used must be appropriate to a refined risk assessment.<br />

Only those tests yielding results that may lead to a revision of the PNECwater should be<br />

per<strong>for</strong>med. Under some circumstances it might be appropriate to consider a mesocosm or (semi)<br />

field test that assesses sensitive <strong>and</strong> ecosystem-specific endpoints that are different from those<br />

assessed in single-species tests.<br />

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