Persistence Science Interest Group Pushes Forward with Global Collaboration and New Initiatives
By SETAC Staff
This article is based on a report prepared by the steering committee of the SETAC Persistence Science Interest Group. The full report is available on the PSIG group page.
The SETAC Persistence Science Interest Group (PSIG) is gaining momentum as it expands its role in advancing understanding of chemical degradation and persistence in the environment. Recent efforts reflect the group’s mission to bring together researchers, regulators and business representatives to address critical scientific and regulatory challenges.
At the SETAC Europe 35th Annual Meeting in Vienna this May, PSIG convened its second in-person session at a SETAC Europe meeting. This gathering was held in memory of John Parsons, a leading scientist in the field, whose dedication continues to inspire those working in persistence science. His wife, Anneke Ruitenberg-Parsons, along with colleagues and friends, offered heartfelt tributes that underscored Parsons’ lasting impact on the scientific community.
The group’s administrative updates reflected a steady pace of growth. Membership now exceeds 100, and the current steering committee, including the chair and vice chair, will continue for another year before elections are held in late 2025. Those interested in connecting with the group and staying up to date on PSIG activities are encouraged to join through the SETAC website (an Explorer-level SETAC membership is required). Registered members can access the group’s documents, participate in discussions and receive email updates about future initiatives, including the presentation slides from the SETAC Vienna meeting.
PSIG’s collaborative efforts span multiple continents. In the past year alone, members have connected at SETAC meetings in Seville, Tianjin and Fort Worth, and they participated in an online topical discussion on extreme persistence. The recording of this discussion is available to group members and a publication is in preparation.
Survey feedback collected at these events highlighted regional research priorities, including work on polymers, testing standardization, microbial communities and transformation products. The results offer a valuable snapshot of global perspectives, reinforcing PSIG’s role in identifying and bridging research gaps.
The SETAC Vienna meeting also spotlighted several key initiatives from regulatory bodies and research organizations. Presenters from ECHA, German Environment Agency (UBA) and Hydrotox Gmbh, ECETOC, Cefic-LRI/Concawe and ICCS outlined ongoing projects aimed at refining biodegradation test methods and improving their relevance for challenging substances. These updates serve as a reminder that PSIG is not only a venue for information sharing but a conduit for shaping international testing guidance and methodologies. More details are available in the full PSIG report on the group’s page.
Join Upcoming PSIG Initiatives on Persistence Science
Looking ahead, PSIG is launching a number of activities designed to enhance collaboration and raise visibility of persistence-related work. A new survey invites SETAC members to share information about ongoing projects in this field by 30 September, helping identify areas of innovation and opportunity for resource-sharing across the community.
PSIG will also host a virtual meeting on “How to increase understanding of microbial inocula in biodegradation testing?” at 16:00 CEST on Friday, 13 June. The event will feature an expert panel discussion moderated by Aina Wennberg and Gabriel Sigmund. Additional virtual meetings are in development on topics including polymer biodegradability, persistent transformation products, and bioavailability and its role in regulatory decision-making.
These events are more than technical briefings—they’re an open invitation to the broader SETAC community. Whether you're working in academia, government, industry or consulting, PSIG encourages you to get involved, share your expertise, and shape the scientific conversation on persistence.
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