Assessing bioconcentration of surface-active substances in fish

Описание: This ECHA science seminar features Professor Michael McLachlan and Dr Steven Droge, leading experts in environmental chemistry and surfactant bioaccumulation. They present key findings from the ECO‑37 project on how surface‑active substances bioaccumulate and bioconcentrate in fish, based on combined in vitro, in silico and in vivo research.

The seminar explains why surface-active substances, used widely in detergents, cosmetics and industrial applications, are challenging to assess, highlighting their ionic nature, membrane binding affinity, micelle formation and biotransformation. Traditional metrics like the octanol-water partitioning coefficient log Kow often fail for these chemicals, prompting the development of membrane–water partition coefficients and improved metabolic assays for a more accurate regulatory evaluation.

Topics covered include:
• Challenges in assessing ionic surfactants
• New descriptors to replace unreliable log Kₒw values
• In vitro S9 assays to generate biotransformation rates
• In vivo fish studies showing chain‑length and head‑group effects
• Mechanistic modelling of uptake, gill permeation and pH dependency
• Implications for regulatory decision‑making and B/vB assessments

This session is valuable for professionals in environmental hazard and risk assessment, chemical regulation, ecotoxicology and researchers working on the fate and bioaccumulation modelling of surface-active substances.

Our science seminars cover a wide range of topics related to chemical safety, regulatory science, and innovative research in chemicals management, focusing on human health and the environment. They aim to establish the regulatory relevance and uptake of research for ECHA’s scientific work.

More: https://echa.europa.eu/science

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