Michael O. Angelidis, UNEP/MAP

on behalf of the Task Group 8 on MSFD Descriptor 8

(Chair R. Law, CEFAS, UK and co-Chair G. Hanke, JRC)

Marine Strategy 2012 Conference, Copenhagen, Denmark, 14-16 May 2012

Contaminants - levels

“Concentrations of contaminants are at levels not giving rise to

pollution effects”

Contaminants are defined as substances (i.e. chemical elements and compounds) or groups of substances that are toxic, persistent and liable to bioaccumulate, and other substances or groups of substances which give rise to an equivalent level of concern.

This definition is in line with the definition of hazardous substances used in the Water Framework Directive 2000/60/EC (WFD), and by OSPAR, HELCOM and the Barcelona Convention.

Contaminants - Effects

Pollution effects :

Direct and/or indirect adverse impacts of contaminants on the marine environment, such as:

harm to living resources and marine ecosystems, including loss of biodiversityhazards to human healthhindering of marine activities, including fishing, tourism and recreation and other legitimate uses of the seaimpairment of the quality for use of sea waterreduction of amenities or, in general, impairment of the sustainable use of marine goods and services.

Coverage of the Descriptor

The descriptor is concerned with the pressures exerted by chemical pollution onto marine ecosystems (including oil slicks). All contaminant types and pollution effects other than those covered by other descriptors will be considered Not covered:

Nutrients (D5) Introduction of energy (D11)Health issues related to contaminants in fish and seafood (D9)Tar balls (primarily aesthetic D10 – Marine litter)Marine algal toxins (they are natural products rather than contaminants)

Relation of MSFD D8 with WFD

WFD WFD

Establishes requirements for good surface water chemical status, including transitional, coastal and territorial waters.

Chemical status is defined in terms of compliance with environmental quality standards (EQSs) established for chemical substances at European level. Directive 2008/105/EC sets EQSs for the priority substances and certain other pollutants in accordance with WFD requirements. MS are required to take actions to meet those quality standards by 2015.

Directive 2009/90/EC lays down, pursuant to Directive 2000/60/EC, technical specifications for chemical analysis and monitoring

Relations MSFD - WFD:Relations MSFD - WFD:Substances and group of substances to be considered in the MSFD

(COM DEC 2010/477/EU)

MSFD: “Relevant provisions of the WFD in territorial and/or coastal waters have to be taken into consideration to ensure proper coordination of the implementation of the two legal frameworks…”

MS have to consider substances that:

i.exceed the relevant Environmental Quality Standards (WFD 2000/60/EC) in coastal or territorial waters adjacent to the marine region or sub-region, be it in water, sediment and biota,

ii.are listed as priority substances in Annex X to Directive 2000/60/EC and further regulated in Directive 2008/105/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council, which are discharged into the concerned marine region, sub-region or subdivision,

iii.are contaminants and their total releases (including losses, discharges or emissions) may entail significant risks to the marine environment from past and present pollution in the marine region, subregion or subdivision concerned, including as a consequence of acute pollution events following incidents involving for instance hazardous and noxious substances.

Conceptual approach

The assessment of achievement of GES should be based upon monitoring programmes covering:

concentrations of chemical contaminantsbiological measurements relating to the effects of pollutants on marine organisms

To avoid occurrence of adverse effects at various levels of organisation (organism, population, community, and ecosystem), monitoring schemes should also indicate the approaching of critical values as an early warning of the potential for effects. Where possible, this should also include effects which may be caused by synergistic or cumulative interactions between different contaminants.

Regional Seas Conventions activities

With regards to hazardous substances:

OSPAR and HELCOM aim to continuously reduce discharges, emissions and losses of hazardous substances, with complete cessation by 2020, the ultimate aim being the achievement of concentrations in the marine environment near background values for naturally occurring elements and substances and close to zero for man-made synthetic substances.

The Barcelona Convention (UNEP/MAP) aims to prevent, abate, combat and to fullest possible extent eliminate pollution of the Mediterranean Sea. Also (LBS Protocol) to phase out inputs of substances that are toxic, persistent and liable to bioaccumulation.

The Convention on the Protection of the Black Sea Against Pollution (Bucharest Convention) implements an integrated Monitoring and Assessment Programme.

Criteria

Level•Concentrations of contaminants in water, sediment and biota are below assessment thresholds identified on the basis of toxicological data •Levels of pollution effects are below assessment thresholds representing harm at organism, population, community and ecosystem levels Trend•Concentrations of contaminants in water, sediment and biota, and the occurrence and severity of pollution effects, should not be increasing

BOTH attributes needed BOTH attributes needed for GESfor GES

Criteria - Concentrations

GES description on concentrations of contaminants (PRESURES):

Environmental concentrations of contaminants are below

Environmental Quality Standards (EQSs) derived under the

Water Framework Directive .

Environmental targets:

Concentrations of naturally occurring pollutants (as heavy

metals) should be close to background reference levels.

Concentrations of synthetic pollutants should be close to zero.

Criteria - Effects

GES description on biological effects of contaminants (IMPACTS):

The effects of contaminants on selected biological processes and taxonomic groups, where a cause/effect relationship has been established, are kept within agreed levels

Environmental targets:

The intensity of biological or ecological effects due to contaminants is below the toxicologically-based standards

Data availability - monitoring

Contaminants concentrations in sediment and biota

but scope and scale varies Biological effects monitoring less developed

Therefore

GES will be based on relatively small number of contaminants and biological effects

Harmonization is needed for contaminants and matrices but where needed develop targeted monitoring programmes

Harmonize Regional Seas Conventions monitoring approach Assessment criteria have to be developed and agreed upon

Methodological standards availability

Methodological standards available at Regional Seas Conventions

Chemical analytical methods are standardized and subject to quality control procedures

Biological effects methods: small number validated and quality controlled, but increasing

Possible improvements

Spatial coverage of European Seas Open sea and off-shore environment Screening for emerging pollutants Passive sampling Multi-sensor buoys and marine stations Biogeochemical Modelling (coupling biogeochemical, ecological,

sedimentary, hydrodynamic and atmospheric models), Bioaccumulation and bioamplification Models (How and why

chemical contaminants bioaccumulation differs among contaminants, species, food chains and environments using kinetic parameters of uptake, transfer and excretion)

Research needs

Understanding ecosystem responses to pollution

Causal relationships and mechanistic processes between contaminants and their effects on biota. Especially mixture effects and interactions between contaminants and other environmental stressors

Knowledge of the marine foodwebs with regard to contaminants

Transfer of contaminants through thefod chain: Bioaccumulation, biomagnification, additive, synergistic and antagonistic effects

Contaminant uptake and effects to top predators

Sources identification and quantitative apportionment

Fluxes and interfaces exchanges (sea/air, water/sediment)

Monitoring methods improvement

Cost effective methods for greater amount of contaminants

Deep sea research

Cost effective sampling; sensors on board of Autonomous Underwater Vehicles

Passive sampling techniques (temporally integrated technique for priority and emerging pollutants

Biological effects techniques

Summary

The approach is to rely on the levels established by the WFD The approach is to rely on the levels established by the WFD (EQSs). (EQSs).

The target is based on a quantitative description.The target is based on a quantitative description.There is a gap in the biological effects of contaminants There is a gap in the biological effects of contaminants

((insufficient knowledge to define targets). insufficient knowledge to define targets).

Further needsAgreement at (sub-) regional level on the development of

supplementary EQSs and relevant matrix (e.g. for sediment, biota) and Environmental Assessment Criteria (EACs)

Agreement at (sub-) regional level on biological effects of contaminants

Development of associated indicators (at the appropriate level)

Thank you