Integrated indicator framework and methodology for monitoring and assessment of hazardous substances and their effects in the marine environment

Abstract

Many maritime countries in Europe have implemented marine environmental monitoring programmes which include the measurement of chemical contaminants and related biological effects. How best to integrate data obtained in these two types of monitoring into meaningful assessments has been the subject of recent efforts by the International Council for Exploration of the Sea (ICES) Expert Groups. Work within these groups has concentrated on defining a core set of chemical and biological endpoints that can be used across maritime areas, defining confounding factors, supporting parameters and protocols for measurement. The framework comprised markers for concentrations of, exposure to and effects from, contaminants. Most importantly, assessment criteria for biological effect measurements have been set and the framework suggests how these measurements can be used in an integrated manner alongside contaminant measurements in biota, sediments and potentially water. Output from this process resulted in OSPAR Commission (www.ospar.org) guidelines that were adopted in 2012 on a trial basis for a period of 3 years. The developed assessment framework can furthermore provide a suitable approach for the assessment of Good Environmental Status (GES) for Descriptor 8 of the European Union (EU) Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD).

Application of a Weight of Evidence Approach for Monitoring Complex Environmental Scenarios: the Case-Study of Off-Shore Platforms

“…The impact of pollutants is one of the most faceted issues to investigate since mixtures of organic and inorganic compounds can interact through complex mechanisms, modulate responsiveness to other stressors and thus affect several biological responses, from cellular and physiological processes, up to populations dynamics and ecosystem functioning (Newman and Clements, 2007): in this context, the development of accurate monitoring plans is crucial for environmental protection. Initial programs were typically aimed to quantify the presence and distribution of chemicals in the environment, but the importance of assessing biological effects of contaminants has gradually risen and actual monitoring practices recommend the integration of both chemical and biological approaches (Piva et al, 2011;Benedetti et al, 2014;Bebianno et al, 2015;Vethaak et al, 2017). The use of multidisciplinary studies for the characterization of aquatic environment quality is highly encouraged also by European Directives such as the Water Framework Directive (WFD, Directive 2000/60/EC) and the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MFSD, Directive 2008/56/EC), which require member states to evaluate and classify the ecological status of water bodies through the integration of different quality indicators.…”

“…The use of multidisciplinary studies for the characterization of aquatic environment quality is highly encouraged also by European Directives such as the Water Framework Directive (WFD, Directive 2000/60/EC) and the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MFSD, Directive 2008/56/EC), which require member states to evaluate and classify the ecological status of water bodies through the integration of different quality indicators. Strategies for integrated chemical and biological monitoring have been described and recently adopted by various international agencies or working groups such as OSPAR, HELCOM, MEDPOL, ICES (Broeg and Lehtonen, 2006;HELCOM, 2010;Davies and Vethaak, 2012;OSPAR, 2013;Hylland et al, 2017;Lyons et al, 2017;Vethaak et al, 2017): a recognized advantage of such approaches is the added interpretative value derived from the integration of multiple typologies of studies, thus improving our ability to describe and interpret variations of environmental conditions.…”

Recruitment of the Pacific oyster Crassostrea gigas in a shellfish-exploited Mediterranean lagoon: discovery, driving factors and a favorable environmental window

“…In the context of increasing demand for the recovery of ecosystem services (Bullock et al 2011) and good environmental status (Vethaak et al 2017), these ecosystems now face the challenge of evolving under oligotrophication (Jeppesen et al 1998, Duarte et al 2009, Yanagi 2015.…”

Biomarker responses and accumulation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in Mytilus trossulus and Gammarus oceanicus during exposure to crude oil

“…During the last decades, the approach of determining actual biological effects of contaminants on biota by using various types of biomarkers has been widely elaborated and applied both in laboratory and field studies (van Der Oost 2003; Garmendia et al 2011);Vethaak et al 2017;Sanni et al 2017;Beyer et al 2017). Post-accident monitoring campaigns in relation to marine oil spill disasters such as "Exxon Valdez" (Alaska, USA) in 1989 and "Prestige" (Galicia, Spain) 2002 still showed detectable biological effects in organisms after several years from the accidents when tissue accumulation of hydrocarbons could not be observed anymore (Esler et al 2010).…”