FRAM seminar - Hazardous substances in marine management

Effect-oriented monitoring was introduced in the 1980s in some European countries and more widely in the 1990s following recommendations from OSPAR and subsequent development of guidelines (OSPAR 1997, 1998). There has been significant scientific progress since then, both in terms of method development and, not least, in our understanding of biological effect methods (biomarker) application and interpretation. Biomarkers are rarely used in isolation, as there are typically multiple contaminants present in any given environment, and there is a need to identify and quantify a broad range of responses. Such a set of biomarkers is commonly referred to as a “battery” of biomarkers or as a “multibiomarker approach” for biomonitoring. 

Over the past decade, there has been an increasing focus on mechanisms of toxicity in environmental monitoring, mainly because some mechanisms directly link to decreased health status of organisms, potentially causing population impacts and broader ecosystem consequences. An ongoing study group (SGEFF) organized by OSPAR and HELCOM is currently revising available biomarkers and marine monitoring strategies. The aim is to suggest a battery of biomarkers and monitoring strategies that can be suitable for marine environmental monitoring in Europe. The biomarkers are recommended based on their quality assurance (QA) and reflect biological processes that may lead to toxicity and are linked to potential ecosystem consequences.

Talks and speakers: 

• ”New developments in biological effect based marine monitoring in Europe”, Joachim Sturve, Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Gothenburg
• "How biological effects can be used in policy making", Johan Gustafsson, Swedish Agency for Marine and Water Management