Ecotoxicology of dyestuffs—A joint effort by industry

Within the dyestuff industry it was realized that the ecotoxicological problems ahead could be tackled more effectively by the deployment of the large but nonetheless limited scientific and technical resources on a collaborative basis. This led to the formation of an international association, ETAD (Ecological and Toxicological Association of the Dyestuffs Manufacturing Industry) in 1974. An outline of its organization and modus operandi is given. ETAD's activities are mainly directed at ensuring the safety of commercial synthetic organic dyestuffs and pigments. Besides the determination of the ecotoxicological properties of specific dyestuffs ETAD also deals with more fundamental problems. Its current and completed studies include a widely accepted safety data sheet, development of test methods, analysis of exposure potential, and the formulation of viewpoints concerning testing requirements and legislation.