“Persistent, Bioaccumulative, and Toxic / very Persistent and very Bioaccumulative” is used to describe the negative effects of a substance on the environment and human health:
Persistent: Substances that remain in the environment for a long time and are not easily broken down by natural means.
Bioaccumulative: Substances that accumulate in the tissues of living organisms over time and can be carried along the food chain.
Toxic: Substances that have properties that may harm human health or the environment.
vPvB substances, on the other hand, have properties that are particularly very persistent and very bioaccumulative. These types of substances require special attention because they persist in the environment for a long time and can accumulate in living organisms and cause harmful effects.