The DIOXIN event was held in Antalya from November 1 to 6, 2025, as an annual public meeting with approximately 500 participants, bringing together representatives from water utilities, utility associations, policy makers, regulators, technicians, academia, and the general public.
The meeting introduced the SafeCREW project, its partners, and selected case studies, and included a presentation on the Green Deal toxic-free approach. Its purpose was to inform and engage stakeholders, encourage active participation, support policy development, and collect feedback. Over the four-day program, discussions focused on environmental pollutants such as PFAS, many of which are highly relevant to the water cycle. The project’s objectives on toxic-free testing within the framework of the EU Green Deal received strong support from participants.
Several non-animal-based SafeCREW CALUX bioassays, including assays for EDCs and PFAS, were presented. In particular, there was strong interest in the effect-based CALUX bioassay testing of disinfection by-products, plastic materials, and drinking water conducted in Milan, covering EDCs, PAHs, PFAS, and other complex mixtures of water pollutants.
Representatives from water utilities and international PFAS experts requested guidance documents and more detailed technical insights, while water professionals discussed the practical applicability of the solutions and shared implementation challenges. Policy makers expressed interest in continued updates and invited the project team to present SafeCREW at future meetings.