PBTs and vPvBs
POPs (Persistent Organic Pollutants) and Very Persistent and Very Bioaccumulative substances (vPvBs) and Persistent, Bioaccumulative and Toxic substances (PBTs) are generally considered to be substances of very high concern.
Substances of very high concern include substances with CMR (Carcinogenic, Mutagenic, reproductive toxic), PBT/vPvB and ED(Endocrine Disruptive) properties and substances of equivalent concern (see further in e.g. article 55-66 of REACH).
PBT/vPvB substances are defined in REACH Annex XIII in relation to their persistent, bioaccumulative and/or toxic properties, but similar substances have also been targeted in other legislative frameworks such as the OSPAR Convention and the two POP conventions , i.e. the UNECE LRET Air Protocol and the Stockholm Convention .
The Danish EPA made in 1999 a QSAR based screening for POPs as an input to the discussions regarding the establishment of criteria for POPs under the Stockholm Convention which at that time was under development.
In 2002 the Danish EPA made a similar report on identification of potential PBTs and vPvBs by use of QSAR.
This report was an input to the discussions which took place at that time concerning PBTs/vPvBs and the draft REACH Regulation. The report was also used as one of several inputs to a voluntary PBT Working Group, which was established at that time.
The substances considered in this PBT /vPvB screening were discrete organic substances on EINECS with a total European production volume of more than 10 tons per year per EU manufacturer / importer, because this production volume trigger was considered suitable for an initial identification of the substances which may have a significant environmental release and exposure potential.
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