The European technical report on aquatic effect-based monitoring tools under the water framework directive

Ann-Sofie Wernersson,Caroline Whalley,Ulrike Kammann,Valeria Dulio,Inge Werner,Ines Lacchetti,Tobias Porsbring,Petra Kunz,Helen Clayton,Simon O’Toole,Klaas Den Haan,Cornelia Kienle,Marlies Messiaen,Maria Linderoth,Lars Förlin,Ioanna Katsiadaki,Mario Carere,Georg Reifferscheid,Carolina Di Paolo,Wilfried Sanchez,Teresa Lettieri,Henner Hollert,Stefano Polesello,Antonella Ausili,Karl Lilja,Laura Marziali,Werner Brack,Sebastian Buchinger,Chiara Maggi,Tove Lundeberg,Laura Mancini,Loredana Manfra,Alice James,Katja Broeg,Johan Bengtsson‐Palme ,Craig D Robinson ,B Fjällborg ,Petr Tušil ,Gawlik Bernd ,E Van Der Grinten ,Přemysl Soldán ,D G Joakim Larsson ,H Maas ,Brett P Lyons ,Etiënne L.m Vermeirssen ,Ralph Carvalho ,Robert Kaše

doi:10.1186/s12302-015-0039-4

Abstract

Abstract The Water Framework Directive (WFD), 2000/60/EC, requires an integrated approach to the monitoring and assessment of the quality of surface water bodies. The chemical status assessment is based on compliance with legally binding Environmental Quality Standards (EQSs) for selected chemical pollutants (priority substances) of EU-wide concern. In the context of the mandate for the period 2010 to 2012 of the subgroup Chemical Monitoring and Emerging Pollutants (CMEP) under the Common Implementation Strategy (CIS) for the WFD, a specific task was established for the elaboration of a technical report on aquatic effect-based monitoring tools. The activity was chaired by Sweden and co-chaired by Italy and progressively involved several Member States and stakeholders in an EU-wide drafting group. The main aim of this technical report was to identify potential effect-based tools (e.g. biomarkers and bioassays) that could be used in the context of the different monitoring programmes (surveillance, operational and investigative) linking chemical and ecological status assessment. The present paper summarizes the major technical contents and findings of the report.

Highlights

The Water Framework Directive (WFD), 2000/60/EC, [1] requires an integrated approach to the monitoring and assessment of the quality of surface water bodies in the European Union
In the mandate for 2010 to 2012 of the European subgroup Chemical Monitoring and Emerging Pollutants (CMEP) under the WG “Chemical Aspects” of the Common Implementation Strategy (CIS) for the WFD, a specific task was foreseen for the elaboration of a technical report on effect-based tools [5]
The new mandate 2013 to 2015 of the Working Group, approved by the Water Directors, has foreseen the continuation of the activity on effect-based tools, in particular, in relation to the detection and evaluation of effects caused by mixtures of pollutants

Summary

Introduction

The Water Framework Directive (WFD), 2000/60/EC, [1] requires an integrated approach to the monitoring and assessment of the quality of surface water bodies in the European Union. To estimate the risk of effects related to the large number of substances that are present and detected in the environment (including pollutants of emerging concern, metabolites and transformation products), it would be necessary to develop a very large number of assessment criteria (EQS). Such assessment criteria for chemicals are generally developed substance by substance, based on laboratory studies, and usually do not consider the consequences of simultaneous exposure to multiple chemicals [3] occurring in the environment, possibly giving rise to cumulative effects [4]. According to the mandate from the CMEP, the aim of the report was to identify potential effect-based tools (e.g. bioassays, biomarkers and ecological indicators) that could be used in the context of the different monitoring programmes (surveillance, operational and investigative) linking the chemical and ecological status assessment

Objectives

Methods

Conclusion