Using environmental monitoring data from apex predators for chemicals management: towards harmonised sampling and processing of archived wildlife samples to increase the regulatory uptake of monitoring data in chemicals management

Monitoring data from apex predators were key drivers in the development of early chemicals legislations due to the population declines of many species during the 20th century, which was linked to certain persistent organic pollutants (POPs). Besides triggering the development of global treaties, chemical monitoring data from apex predators have been particularly important for identifying compounds with bioaccumulative properties under field conditions. Apex predator samples are available in research collections and natural history museums and can be used for routine analysis as well as screening studies using novel analytical techniques and advanced data treatment workflows, such as suspect and non-target screening. The LIFE APEX project has demonstrated how those samples can be used in a cost-efficient way to generate data on legacy compounds and contaminants of emerging concern, with a view to uses in chemicals risk assessment and management. To increase the visibility of available sample collections and available monitoring data from apex predators we developed accessible online databases systems. These databases provide open access to a wide range of chemical data, for use by regulators, researchers, industry and the general public, and contribute to a stronger link between science and policy.

BADRY Alexander;  SLOBODNIK Jaroslav;  ALYGIZAKIS Nikiforos;  BUNKE Dirk;  CINCINELLI Alessandra;  CLASSEN Daniela;  DEKKER Rene;  DUKE Guy;  DULIO Valeria;  GÖCKENER Bernd;  GKOTSIS Georgios;  HANKE Georg;  JARTUN Morten;  MOVALLI Paola;  NIKA Maria-Christina;  RÜDEL Heinz;  THOMAIDIS Nikolaos;  TARAZONA Jose;  TORNERO ALVAREZ Maria Victoria;  TREU Gabriele;  VORKAMP K;  WALKER Lee;  KOSCHORRECK Jan; 

2022-09-19

SPRINGER

JRC130306

2190-4707 (online),   

https://enveurope.springeropen.com/articles/10.1186/s12302-022-00664-6,    https://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/handle/JRC130306,   

10.1186/s12302-022-00664-6 (online),