Freshwater ecotoxicity characterization factors for PMT/vPvM substances

Journal article, 2024

This study addresses the gap in freshwater ecotoxicological characterization factors (CFs) for Persistent, Mobile, and Toxic (PMT) and Very Persistent and Very Mobile (vPvM) substances. These CFs are vital for integrating the ecotoxicity impacts of these chemicals into life cycle assessments. Our goals are twofold: first, to calculate experimental freshwater CFs for PMT/vPvM substances listed by the German Environment Agency (UBA); second, to compare these CFs with those from the USEtox database. The expanded UBA list includes 343 PMT/vPvM substances, each representing a unique chemical structure, and linked to 474 REACH-registered substances. This study successfully computed CFs for 244 substances, with 107 overlapping the USEtox database and 137 being new. However, ecotoxicity data limitations prevented CF determination for 97 substances. This research enhances our understanding of freshwater CFs for PMT/vPvM substances, covering 72% of UBA's 343 PMT/vPvM substances. Data scarcity remains a significant challenge, which invariably impedes CF calculations. Notably, the disparities observed between CF values in the USEtox database and those derived in this research largely stem from variations in ecotoxicity data. Consequently, this research underscores the dynamic nature of CFs for substances, emphasizing the need for regular updates to ensure their accuracy and relevance.