January 31, 2022 by Graham Merrington
A SETAC Technical Workshop aimed at developing Criteria for Reporting and Evaluating Exposure Datasets (CREED) began, virtually, at the end of January. This follows on from the development of Criteria for Reporting and Evaluating ecotoxicity Data (CRED) some years ago that has improved the consistency of ecotoxicity data evaluation for regulatory applications.
The workshop has brought together 35 experts on the collection, synthesis, and use of measured and modelled chemicals data in environmental matrices. The goals of the workshop are to review the available literature for best practices and guidelines regarding exposure data usability and applicability and develop a common anthology for the pragmatic use and evidence-based use of these data; identify reliability and relevancy criteria for evaluating environmental concentration data; and, propose approaches for summarizing data to facilitate ‘fit for purpose’ usage.
The outputs will include guidance, in the form of papers to assist researchers, practitioners and risk assessors, presentations at conferences and seminars with the medium term aim of including into regulatory guidance (such as with CRED). Graham is a co-chair of the meeting, with Lisa Nowell of the USGS and Adam is coordinating the workgroup targeted at relevancy assessment of exposure data, with Claus Svendsen of CEHUK. Iain is involved in the workgroup that is developing criteria for reliability assessment.
The face to face component of the meeting will take place at SETAC Copenhagen in May. All the deliverables, including the papers and ring-test of the approach will be completed by the end of the calendar year.