Abstract
BackgroundDescriptor 8 of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD) (Directive 2008/56/EC) addresses the good environmental status with regard to pollution of marine waters by chemical contaminants. Commission decision (EU) 2017/848 lays down the criteria and methodological standards on good environmental status of marine waters. Member States, in regional or subregional cooperation, shall establish lists of relevant contaminants beside those already covered by the Water Framework Directive (WFD). To provide information on emerging contaminants in marine biota, the German Environmental Specimen Bank (ESB) has compiled data of blue mussels and eelpouts from coastal sites in the North and Baltic Seas. Substances identified by the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) as of emerging concern for the marine environment have been used as a starting point.Results and conclusionsThe study presents data of 19 emerging flame retardants and degradation products, 40 per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and three cyclic volatile methylsiloxanes (cVMS). Among the emerging flame retardants, only Dec 602 was detected in all samples of 2015. Dec 604, Cl10-antiDP, 1,5-DPMA, EH-TBB, PBEB, TBP-AE, BATE, BTBPE and HBBz were constantly < limit of quantification (LOQ). Time trends were barely detected. Legacy PBDE still dominates in most samples. PFAS concentrations were usually higher in samples from the North Sea sites compared to samples from the Baltic Sea. PFOS dominated in most samples. Increasing trends over time were detected for PFNA, PFDA and PFDoDA at the Baltic Sea site and for PFDA at one North Sea site. Concentrations of the cVMS D4, D5 and D6 were below the detection limit at the ESB sampling sites. Based on the results, it should be considered to include the emerging flame retardants DP and Dec 602 and the long-chain perfluoroalkyl substances PFNA, PFDA, PFUnDA and PFDoDA in a regular monitoring in the North and Baltic Seas.
Highlights
Descriptor 8 of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD) (Directive 2008/56/EC) addresses the good environmental status with regard to pollution of marine waters by chemical contaminants
In response to the request, ICES in a first step identified eight substance groups with critical chemical properties that may be of emerging concern in the marine environment, i.e., Dechlorane Plus, alternative brominated flame retardants, organo-phosphorous flame retardants (OPFR), antifoulants, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) other than PFOS and PFOA, benzotriazoles, siloxanes, and anticorrosion agents
In a report issued by ICES in 2017, data were compiled on Dechlorane Plus and dechloranes 602 and 603, as well as 16 alternative brominated flame retardants (aBFR), 27 OPFR, 25 PFAS, and two types of corrosion agents used in offshore windmill parks, whereas new antifoulants, benzotriazole compounds, and methylsiloxanes were not considered [8]
Summary
Descriptor 8 of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD) (Directive 2008/56/EC) addresses the good environmental status with regard to pollution of marine waters by chemical contaminants. Improvements in chemical analysis as well as screenings and research programs have led to the detection of new substances in the marine environment that give rise to concern because of problematic environmental properties like persistence, bioaccumulation and/or long-range transport [6, 7]. To cope with these upcoming substances, the Hazardous Substances and Eutrophication Committee (HASEC) of the Oslo-Paris-Commission (OSPAR; Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment of the North-East Atlantic) requested advice from the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) to identify chemicals of emerging concern (CEC), indicate information gaps and recommend what further work or information is needed to take action [8]. In a report issued by ICES in 2017, data were compiled on Dechlorane Plus and dechloranes 602 and 603, as well as 16 aBFR, 27 OPFR, 25 PFAS, and two types of corrosion agents used in offshore windmill parks, whereas new antifoulants, benzotriazole compounds, and methylsiloxanes were not considered [8]
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