Each year, the European Chemical Industry Council (Cefic) publishes an international request for proposals, and one proposal per subject is granted. This year, a consortium consisting of components of Wageningen University & Research centre (Aquatic Ecology and Water Quality Management and Microbiology), Alterra, and IMARES won with their proposal for LRI Call ECO-17: ‘Evaluation of test methods for measuring toxicity to sediment organisms’.
The project concerns the evaluation of toxicity tests for sediments, and includes a review of existing tests, the development of possible new tests, and the development of a risk assessment model.
Spearheads include:
- the comparability of the sensitivity of marine, estuarine, and freshwater bottom-dwelling animals to chemical substances and
- the development of sediment tests relevant for plants and bacteria.
Cefic is the Brussels-based NGO representing the European chemical industry. Cefic’s Long-range Research Initiative (LRI) is a research programme focused on better understanding the risks of chemical use and on developing better risk assessment methods. The project is a prime example of how the rapid and strategic combination of expertise and facilities within Wageningen UR can lead to success.