|
(M/EH053) Questioning the acceptability of quality criteria for antibiotics in soil. Montforts, Mark1, de Knecht, Joop1, van Vlaardingen, Peter1, 1 ABSTRACT- Currently a global committee (VICH) has decided upon a trigger value for antibiotics in soil, that determines whether the use of an antibiotic as a veterinary drug is subject to effect assessment, risk analysis and risk management or not. An FDA dataset on antibiotics provided the basis to conclude that 100 ppb should provide an acceptable measure of safety to protect the terrestrial environment. Sixty-four test results on three taxonomic/trophic groups (plants, earthworms, microbial MIC tests) with 30 substances were given: the lowest value (100 ppb) was chosen. Arguments are presented to justify the redundancy of safety factors (the availability of substances in the presence of soil; the functional redundancy of microbes in soil; the influence of degradation in soil). There are many objections to this decision, both from ecotoxicological and from a policy pont of view. The argumentation of the FDA will be evaluated and this will demonstrate how concepts in ecotoxicology and environmental chemistry are effectively (and adversely) applied in decision making: science to serve society? Furthermore the inadequacy of using MIC tests, and standard toxicity tests designed for pesticides, for the effect assessment of antibiotics in soil is underlined. Key words: antibiotics, quality criteria, soil, risk assessment |
