Emergence of the PMT/vPvM criteria

Emergence of the PMT/vPvM criteriaClick to enlarge
Emergence of the PMT/vPvM criteria
Source: Michael Neumann / UBA

Between 2009-2015, the UBA scientifically developed, under the EU´s chemical legislation REACH, new criteria to identify substances which have intrinsic properties that indicate a hazard to the sources of our drinking water. Chemical safety experts and regulators agreed on the need to precautionarily identify such substances of concern. This is considered as the emergence of the PMT/vPvM criteria.

<– go back: Introduction to PMT/vPvM substance | –> go forward: First PMT Workshop 2011

Ensuring that the sources of our drinking water are secure from any threats caused by chemicals is of the utmost importance. One threat is the increasing number and volume of chemical substances that are being produced every day as Europe’s chemical industry continues to innovate and develop new products and technologies. A strategy is needed that allows Europe’s chemical industry to continue to innovate, but in a manner that ensures the protection of our drinking water and aquatic environments.

In order for a chemical substance emitted into the environment to pose an irreversible threat to the quality of our drinking water, it has to be both persistent in the environment and mobile enough to transport through river banks, groundwater aquifers, and other natural and artificial barriers, over time scales of weeks or more, to reach a drinking water source. If such a substance is also toxic, it must be considered a serious threat to human health. Therefore, those substances that have intrinsic substance properties of persistency (P) in the environment, mobility (M) in the aquatic environment (PM substances), and additionally toxicity (T) to human health (PMT substances), are those that we need to be concerned about.

During the period 2009 to 2015 the UBA worked transparently to scientifically define criteria that can be used to identify PMT and vPvM substances under ⁠REACH⁠. Since 2010 the UBA has funded research projects to develop PMT/vPvM criteria under REACH. These projects include a review of existing prioritisation models (Kuhlmann et al., 2010 - FKZ 363 012 41) and a study to identify relevant intrinsic substance properties (Skark et al., 2011 - FKZ 360 010 59).

In 2011, the UBA held a sentinel expert discussion meeting around the topic "Review of drinking water relevance of chemicals under the REACH Regulation". For the first time, those working with chemical production, chemical safety and chemical regulation, met and agreed that there was a need to identify substances with intrinsic properties that rendered them persistent in the environment and mobile in the aquatic environment, in order to ensure environmental protection.

In 2014 the UBA presented the initial development of an assessment concept tailor-made for REACH (Kalberlah et al., 2014 - FKZ 371 265 416). The decision-making tool presented criteria for persistence (P), mobility (M) and toxicity (T). Within this initial tool, persistence and mobility are screened for in sequence prior to an assessment of exposure via the consideration of substance usage and tonnage. Following this, toxicity is assessed before a decision, related to further action, is taken. Persistence is assessed following Annex XIII of REACH. Mobility was assessed via an extensive modelling approach using the ECETOC-Targeted Risk Assessment software and at that time the criteria initially were based on log organic carbon-water partitioning coefficient, log KOC and water solubility. Toxicity is assessed following Annex XIII of REACH with some additions.

In 2015, a presentation was given at the annual meeting for the Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry (SETAC) to summarize this research entitled " A proposal for a chemical assessment concept for the protection of raw water resources under REACH".

Neumann M., Schwarz M.A., Sättler D., Oltmanns J., Vierke L., and Kalberlah F. (2015) A proposal for a chemical assessment concept for the protection of raw water resources under REACH. Extended Abstract for the Oral presentation at the 25th annual meeting of the Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry (SETAC Europe), 3-7 May 2015, Barcelona, Spain

This presentation placed the discussion of the PMT criteria at the highest scientific level in Europe and can be considered as the first emergence of the PMT/vPvM criteria under the EU´s chemicals regulation REACH.

<– go back: Introduction to PMT/vPvM substance | –> go forward: First PMT Workshop 2011

Read the full story related to the development of the PMT/vPvM criteria under the EU´s chemical legislation REACH to identify PMT/vPvM substances: (01) –> Introduction to PMT/vPvM substances, (02) –> Emergence (2009 – 2015) of the PMT/vPvM criteria, (03) –> First PMT Workshop 2011 (04) –> Public Consultation (2016 – 2019) on the PMT/vPvM criteria, (05) –> Second PMT Workshop 2018, (06) –> Utilization (2019 – ongoing) of the PMT/vPvM criteria, (07) –> Third PMT Workshop 2021, (08) –> Media coverage and dissemination, (09) –> Frequently Asked Question (FAQ), (10) –> The final PMT/vPvM criteria

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 PMT substances  PMT criteria  PMT/vPvM criteria  mobile chemicals  PBT  drinking water