18 research outputs found
Distribution pattern of an expanding Osprey (Pandion haliaetus) population in a changing environment
Environmental Contaminants in Tissues of Bald Eagles Sampled in Southwestern Montana, 2006–2008
The use of monitoring data in EU chemicals management—experiences and considerations from the German environmental specimen bank
Combining chemical and biological endpoints, a major challenge for twenty-first century’s environmental specimen banks
Past, present, and future of environmental specimen banks
Environmental specimen banks are an essential part of the infrastructure of environmental sciences. They have various functions: (1) evaluation of governmental environmental policy-making and regulations; (2) a resource for animal health evaluation; (3) research tools to investigate time trends in ecosystems; (4) detection of newly emerging chemicals in the time trends; (5) validations of computer models for environmental phenomena; (6) source identification of contaminants; (7) a tool for food safety; (8) evaluation of genetic selection pressure due to environmental changes. In this review paper, we present a detailed description of the Kyoto University Human Specimen Bank (history, protocol and questionnaires) and provide brief outlines of other representative environmental specimen banks. We then review two illustrative cases in which environmental specimen banks have unveiled insidious contaminations of polybrominated diphenyl ethers and perfluorooctanoic acids. Finally, we give a perspective of new functions for environmental specimen banks in the next 20 years