Getting a grip on environmental persistence – Irene Bramke, AstraZeneca
What happens to the chemicals we use in everyday life once they enter the environment?
In this episode, I am joined by Dr. Irene Bramke, Senior Environmental Risk Assessor at AstraZeneca.
Irene and I have a detailed discussion about persistence (how long it takes for chemicals to break down in the environment). With recent concerns around plastic pollution, PFAS 'forever chemicals', and broader sustainability goals, the persistence of chemicals in the environment has become one of the most urgent and pressing issues for policymakers and society.
Irene and I discuss the science behind persistence, and how it relates to the risks chemicals might pose to people and the environment. We also talk about recent regulatory developments in Europe, and how these are reshaping the future of chemicals management.
Our conversation covers:
Irene's background and career journey
Grappling with complexity - insights from studying soils in an agrochemicals company
Industry's participation in regulatory science - then vs now
Issues of environmental relevance in laboratory biodegradation testing
The evolving policy landscape for persistence
Non-degradable chemicals and the legacy P/vP criteria
In the eye of the beholder - the meaning of word 'persistent'
Implications of new policies - the PMT/vPvM hazard classes
A troubling outlook - data gaps, transformation products, and questionable impact assessments?
Reflections on OECD simulation tests as tools for persistence assessments
Insights from AstraZeneca's Ecopharmacovigilance programme
The importance of data quality in monitoring efforts - the CREED approach
Shifting regulatory paradigms - hazard assessment vs risk assessment, and the need for continuing dialogue
Can we get better at assessing persistence? High-throughput and predictive methods
PBT/PMT assessment of active pharmaceutical ingredients - ScienceDirect
Overcoming challenges and advancing (bio)degradation guidelines: OECD TG309 revisited - ECETOC
