A critical perspective on the Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry’s adherence to founding principles—Opportunities for the future

Barnett A. Rattner; Annegaaike Leopold; Carys L. Mitchelmore; Glenn W. Suter; Mark S. Johnson; Adriana C. Bejarano; Lawrence A. Kapustka; Niranjana Krishnan; Derek C.G. Muir; Beatrice O. Opeolu; Martha Georgina Orozco-Medina; April Reed; Bruce W. Vigon; Adam R. Wronski

doi:10.1093/etojnl/vgaf294

A critical perspective on the Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry’s adherence to founding principles—Opportunities for the future

Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry

By: Barnett A. Rattner, Annegaaike Leopold, Carys L. Mitchelmore, Glenn W. Suter, Mark S. Johnson, Adriana C. Bejarano, Lawrence A. Kapustka, Niranjana Krishnan, Derek C.G. Muir, Beatrice O. Opeolu, Martha Georgina Orozco-Medina, April Reed, Bruce W. Vigon, and Adam R. Wronski

https://doi.org/10.1093/etojnl/vgaf294

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Abstract

The Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry (SETAC) is a global organization whose mission is the advancement of environmental science and the promotion of science-informed decision making. On SETAC’s 45th anniversary, the following question was raised: Are the 1979 founding principles of SETAC, multidisciplinary approaches to solving environmental problems, multisector engagement and scientific objectivity, still relevant to the fulfillment of its mission? In a special session held at the 45th Annual Meeting in Fort Worth, Texas, U.S., a critical evaluation of the founding principles was initiated by reviewing SETAC’s history and ongoing activities, and recommendations were made for the future. With few exceptions, participants appreciated SETAC’s purposeful efforts to approach challenging environmental issues through multisector balance, an approach that is unique amongst scientific societies. We recognized that scientists have biases and views of what they find important, regardless of employing organization, and that objectivity is best served by being aware of these biases and views. SETAC’s founding principles have stood the test of time and continue to provide a strong foundation for the Society’s mission, and with a few suggested improvements, will continue to be instrumental in guiding environmental science, stewardship and policy into the future. The significance of SETAC’s contribution of robust science grounded in reliable evidence and data was recognized as being especially crucial at this time of triple planetary crisis (climate change, pollution and biodiversity loss), compounded by rapid technological developments and geopolitical issues.

Suggested Citation

Rattner, B., Leopold, A., Mitchelmore, C.L., Suter, G., Johnson, M.S., Bejarano, A.C., Kapustka, L.A., Krishnan, N., Muir, D.C., Opeolu, B.O., Orozco-Medina, M.G., Reed, A., Vigon, B.W., and Wronski, A.R., 2025, A critical perspective on the Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry’s adherence to founding principles—Opportunities for the future: Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, v. 45, no. 2, p. 292-302, https://doi.org/10.1093/etojnl/vgaf294.

Additional publication details
Publication type	Article
Publication Subtype	Journal Article
Title	A critical perspective on the Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry’s adherence to founding principles—Opportunities for the future
Series title	Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry
DOI	10.1093/etojnl/vgaf294
Volume	45
Issue	2
Publication Date	December 13, 2025
Year Published	2025
Language	English
Publisher	Oxford Academic
Contributing office(s)	Eastern Ecological Science Center
Description	11 p.
First page	292
Last page	302