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.