PBT - Quo vadis? Examination and further development of the PBT assessment approach for identification of environmental SVHC

The project “PBT - Quo vadis?” includes an examination of the concept currently valid under REACH for evaluating the PBT properties of chemicals from a scientific and regulatory point of view. A main focus of the examination was on chemicals which, despite their worrying properties, have not yet been covered by the PBT concept. Specific topics with further research need were identified, such as the evaluation of the bioaccumulation of very hydrophobic substances or the consideration of the hydrolysis in the persistence evaluation of substances. In addition, the extreme persistence of substances was highlighted as a property to be particularly considered.