Ernst Gregor, Amorim Mónica J B, Bottoms Melanie, Brooks Amy C, Hodson Mark E, Kimmel Stefan, Kotschik Pia, Marx Michael T, Natal-da-Luz Tiago, Pelosi Céline, Pieper Silvia, Schimera Agnes, Scott-Fordsmand Janeck, Sharples Amanda, Sousa José P, van Gestel Cornelis A M, van Hall Bart, Bergtold Matthias
Bayer AG, CropScience Division, Monheim, Germany.
Department of Biology and CESAM, University of Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal.
Integr Environ Assess Manag. 2024 May;20(3):780-793. doi: 10.1002/ieam.4825. Epub 2023 Aug 22.
The European environmental risk assessment (ERA) of plant protection products follows a tiered approach. The approach for soil invertebrates currently consists of two steps, starting with a Tier 1 assessment based on reproduction toxicity tests with earthworms, springtails, and predatory mites. In case an unacceptable risk is identified at Tier 1, field studies can be conducted as a higher-tier option. For soil invertebrates, intermediate tiers are not implemented. Hence, there is limited possibility to include additional information for the ERA to address specific concerns when the Tier 1 fails, as an alternative to, for example, a field study. Calibrated intermediate-tier approaches could help to address risks for soil invertebrates with less time and resources but also with sufficient certainty. A multistakeholder workshop was held on 2-4 March 2022 to discuss potential intermediate-tier options, focusing on four possible areas: (1) natural soil testing, (2) single-species tests (other than standard species), (3) assessing recovery in laboratory tests, and (4) the use of assembled soil multispecies test systems. The participants acknowledged a large potential in the intermediate-tier options but concluded that some issues need to be clarified before routine application of these approaches in the ERA is possible, that is, sensitivity, reproducibility, reliability, and standardization of potential new test systems. The definition of suitable assessment factors needed to calibrate the approaches to the protection goals was acknowledged. The aims of the workshop were to foster scientific exchange and a data-driven dialog, to discuss how the different approaches could be used in the risk assessment, and to identify research priorities for future work to address uncertainties and strengthen the tiered approach in the ERA for soil invertebrates. This article outlines the background, proposed methods, technical challenges, difficulties and opportunities in the ERA, and conclusions of the workshop. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2024;20:780-793. © 2023 The Authors. Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of Society of Environmental Toxicology & Chemistry (SETAC).
植物保护产品的欧洲环境风险评估（ERA）采用分层方法。目前，针对土壤无脊椎动物的评估方法包括两个步骤，首先是基于对蚯蚓、跳虫和捕食螨的繁殖毒性测试进行的一级评估。如果在一级评估中识别出不可接受的风险，可以进行田间研究作为更高层级的选择。对于土壤无脊椎动物，不采用中间层级。因此，当一级评估失败时，作为例如田间研究的替代方案，为ERA纳入额外信息以解决特定问题的可能性有限。经过校准的中间层级方法有助于以更少的时间和资源，同时以足够的确定性解决土壤无脊椎动物面临的风险。2022年3月2日至4日举行了一次多方利益相关者研讨会，讨论潜在的中间层级选项，重点关注四个可能领域：（1）天然土壤测试；（2）单物种测试（标准物种以外的）；（3）评估实验室测试中的恢复情况；（4）使用组装的土壤多物种测试系统。与会者认识到中间层级选项具有很大潜力，但得出结论认为，在这些方法能够在ERA中常规应用之前，一些问题需要得到澄清，即潜在新测试系统的敏感性、可重复性、可靠性和标准化。校准方法以实现保护目标所需的合适评估因子的定义也得到了认可。研讨会的目的是促进科学交流和数据驱动的对话，讨论如何在风险评估中使用不同方法，并确定未来工作的研究重点，以解决不确定性并加强ERA中针对土壤无脊椎动物的分层方法。本文概述了ERA的背景、提议的方法、技术挑战、困难与机遇以及研讨会的结论。《综合环境评估与管理》2024年；20：780 - 793。© 2023作者。《综合环境评估与管理》由威利期刊有限责任公司代表环境毒理学与化学学会（SETAC）出版。
