2 research outputs found
Effect-Directed Analysis of Key Toxicants in European River Basins. A Review
9 pages, 3 figures, 1 table.Background. Extensive monitoring programs on chemical contamination
are run in many European river basins. With respect
to the implementation of the European Union (EU) Water
Framework Directive (WFD), these programs are increasingly
accompanied by monitoring the ecological status of the river
basins. Assuming an impact of chemical contamination on the
ecological status, the assignment of effects in aquatic ecosystems
to those stressors that cause the effects is a prerequisite
for taking political or technical measures to achieve the goals
of the WFD. Thus, one focus of present European research is
on toxicant identification in European river basins in order to
allow for a reduction of toxic pressure on aquatic ecosystems
according to the WFD.
Main Features. An overview is presented on studies that were
performed to link chemical pollution in European river basins
to measurable ecotoxic effects. This includes correlation-based
approaches as well as investigations that apply effect-directed
analysis (EDA) integrating toxicity testing, fractionation and
non-target chemical analysis. Effect-based key toxicants that
were identified in European surface waters are compiled and
compared to EU priority pollutants. Further needs for research
are identified.
Results. Studies on the identification of effect-based key toxicants
focused on mutagenicity, aryl hydrocarbon receptor-mediated
effects, endocrine disruption, green algae, and invertebrates.
The identified pollutants include priority pollutants and
other well-known environmental pollutants such as polycyclic
aromatic hydrocarbons, polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins,
furans, and biphenyls, nonylphenol, some pesticides and tributyltin,
but also other compounds that were neither considered
as environmental pollutants before nor regulated such as substituted
phenols, natural or synthetic estrogens and androgens,
dinaphthofurans, 2-(2-naphthalenyl)benzothiophene, and N-phenyl-
2-naphthylamine.
Discussion. Individual studies at specific sites in a European river
basin demonstrated the power of combined biological and chemical
analytical approaches and, particularly, of effect-directed
analysis. However, the available information on effect-based key
toxicants is very limited with respect to the entirety of rivers
possibly at risk due to chemical contamination and with respect
to toxicological endpoints considered at a specific site. A relatively
broad basis of information exists only for estrogenicity
and aryl hydrocarbon Ah-receptor-mediated effects.We would like to thank all MODELKEY partners
for their contribution to the project. We gratefully acknowledge the financial
support granted by the European Commission (Contract No
511237-GOCE).Peer reviewe