Sponsor
German Federal Environment Agency (research project 3712 95 309)
Realisisation
Hydrotox GmbH, Freiburg, Dr. Stefan Gartiser (project direction), Dr. Ines Heisterkamp
BAM Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing, Berlin, Dr. Ute Schoknecht
HSR University of Applied Sciences Rapperswil, Institute for Environmental and Process Engineering (UMTEC), Rapperswil, Switzerland, Prof. Dr. Michael Burkhardt
ToxRat Solutions GmbH, Alsdorf, Dr. Monika Ratte
Project duration
September 2012 – April 2016
Project description
The European Construction Products Regulation (EU) No. 305/2011 allows Member States to adopt rules for evaluating the environmental impact of their buildings. The aim of the project was to develop recommendations for a test battery for the ecotoxicological assessment of the environmental impact of construction products for outdoor use, which contributes to the European harmonization of test methods. From a shortlist of 39 products 20 products were included in the ecotoxicological testing program. Monolithic and plate-like construction products were eluted in the Dynamic Surface Leaching test (DSLT) in accordance with CEN / TS 16637-2, granular products were eluated in the one stage batch test in accordance with DIN EN 12457-1. The eluates were examined in four aquatic toxicity tests (algae, daphnia, luminescent bacteria, fish eggs), a genotoxicity test (umu test) and in the respirometer test (OECD 301 F). Here, low to very high ecotoxicity was observed (up to a dilution factor of 1536).
In addition, a European round robin test with 17 participants and two construction products, was conceptually prepared, realised and evaluated compliant to ISO 5725. After excluding non-valid bioassays or those identified as outliers, the interlaboratory variability of the overall process for the ecotoxicological characterization of construction products was acceptable. The coefficient of variation of the 50% effective concentration (EC50) was between 9-110% for the various tests and construction products. These values describe the variability of the entire, complex process flow from the leaching process to the sample storage up to actual biotest performance. Recommendations for planning and performance of ecotoxicity tests for the evaluation of construction products were elaborated and submitted to the CEN working group, responsible for European harmonization of leaching tests for construction products.
Further information
The final report (in German) has been published in the UBA-Texte series No. 74/2016.
Contact person at Hydrotox
Dr. Stefan Gartiser
Hydrotox GmbH
Bötzinger Str. 29
D-79111 Freiburg
Tel.: +49-761- 4 55 12-0
E-mail: gartiser(at)hydrotox.de