This Technical Report gives information on existing methods to test ecotoxicity of construction products. Information is given on how to combine recommended leaching tests with biological tests for the aquatic environment and how to avoid possible problems, when performing biological tests. Also suitable terrestrial tests on granular construction products diluted with artificial soil are proposed for a minimum test battery.
Reference has been made as far as possible to existing International and European Standards and guidelines.
The test procedure described in this Technical Report is technically suitable for all construction product eluates and for terrestrial tests on granular or paste-like construction products. However, from the point of view of test efficiency it is recommended mainly for products containing organics or polymers in case chemical analysis alone is not deemed to be sufficient. For inorganic products the chemical analysis is seen as straightforward in construction product eluates and therefore the added value of data received through ecotoxicity tests is seen as limited.