Organisation and performance of an international ringtest for the validation of the Enchytraeid reproduction test. Vol. 1 and 2. Organisation und Durchfuehrung eines internationalen Ringtests zur Validierung des Enchytraeen Reproduktionstests. Vol. 1 und 2

Abstract

The aim of the project was the organisation and performance of an international Ringtest for the Enchytraeid Reproduction Test (ERT) which was developed on behalf of the German Federal Environmental Agency (UBA) several years ago. An existing Draft Guideline presented during a workshop in Bad Soden (Germany) in 1995 was used to run the test. A total of 29 institutions (governmental agencies, universities, contract laboratories, and industry) from 15 different countries participated in the Ringtest. Most participants performed four test. Two of these tests were conducted with the fungicide Carbendazim (Formulation Derosal) and two with 4-Nitrophenol. For each chemical one test was designed according to an ECx approach and the other according to a NOEC approach. Several courses and workshops were organised to inform and train the participants. Six Ringtest newsletters (RTL) were prepared and distributed to all participants during the project. A task force consisting of 6 members supported the organisation of the Ringtest. A major aspect of the project was the detailed statistical evaluation of the test results. Additionally, these results are thought to be an important contribution to the recent discussion on ecotoxicological test design. As a result of the Ringtest, the ERT Draft Guideline, which losely follows formal requirements of the OECD test guidelines programme, was significantly improved. (orig.)SIGLEAvailable from TIB Hannover: RN 8422(1999,4) / FIZ - Fachinformationszzentrum Karlsruhe / TIB - Technische InformationsbibliothekBundesministerium fuer Umwelt, Naturschutz und Reaktorsicherheit, Bonn (Germany)DEGerman