Derivation of predicted no-effect concentrations for lindane, 3,4-dichloroaniline, atrazine, and copper

Environmental risk assessment is a key feature of regulations controlling t he placing of ne rv, and the maintenance of existing, chemicals products in the market place. For example, European Commission Directive 93/67/EC on R isk Assessment for New Notified Substances and Commission Regulation (EC) N o. 1488/94 on Risk Assessment for Existing Substances requires that risk as sessments be carried out for new and existing substances in the European Co mmunity. The process of environmental risk assessment seeks to determine th e balance of probability of species and communities being damaged by chemic al releases. The process relies upon a valid estimation of a predicted envi ronmental concentration (PEC) in relevant environmental compartments and a predicted no effect concentration (PNEC) below which the organisms present in that compartment are unlikely to be significantly affected. If the PEC e xceeds the PNEC there is a potential for damaging effects to occur. This ar ticle focuses on the determination of PNECs for risk assessment. Methods fo r determining a PNEC described in OECD Monograph 26 (1989, Report of the OE CD Workshop on Ecological Effect Assessment, Paris, France, have been appli ed to data derived for the four chemicals lindane, 3,4-dichloroaniline atra zine, and copper in a series of collaborative research projects funded by t he European Commission. (C) 2000 Academic Press.