Ecotoxicological Risk Assessment as a Base for Development of Soil Quality Criteria

Abstract

The Dutch government has adopted a progressive risk assessment strategy. This strategy aims at determining risk levels in agreement with recent scientific developments. Currently evaluation and revision is taking place of both target values, representing a negligible risk level, and C-values, representing a ‘serious threat’ level. An important base for this evaluation are two studies on the ecotoxicity of several substances and actual risk assessment methods carried out by the National Institute of Public Health and Environmental Protection (RIVM). The results of this strategy are an important step in the implementation of ecotoxicological arguments in standard setting.