Basis voor effectgerichte beoordeling

In SOMS (SOMS is the Dutch acronym for 'Strategy on Management of Substances'), a programme has been started aimed at modernising the Dutch and European policy on handling substances. Broadly, the direction in which solutions for new policy are sought is to make industry more responsible for taking measures to reduce the risks and safety hazards associated with substances and to set up an adequate infrastructure for appraising, deciding and communicating related matters. In this framework it was questioned whether the application of biological effect assessments of emissions and the environment could play a role, in addition to the "substance-by-substance" assessments. Exploring the state of both science and policy, this report confirms the usefulness of biological effect assessments in addition to the regular assessments of substances. Difference has been made between assessments of effluents (in which case industry is likely to be responsible for performing the tests and reporting the results, controlled by government), and those of the receiving environment (in which case the managing and administrative governmental bodies are in charge). Biological effect assessment offers a number of advantages. The approach fits the need of SOMS since the total chemical stress is taking into account (not only the few priority substances but also unknown (non-assessed) chemicals, metabolites and combination toxicity) and the process is not hampered for reasons of confidentiality of substance-linked data. Technically, a variety of methods are available. From a policy point of view there is increasingly room for implementation, both nationally and internationally. This is particularly true for aquatic effluents and surface water including sediments. Choices have to be made which technical methods are the most appropriate, and on how to interpret the results and to translate them in a policy framework.