Development and implementation of marine contaminant threshold values
This report compiles available Threshold Values (TVs) for marine chemical contaminants at EU, regional and beyond EU level, provides relevant information and discussion points for TV derivation and implementation, and outlines the main hindrances and potential approaches to fill the gaps. This document is a product of the MSFD Expert Network on Contaminants and is intended as a background guidance document to support developments to improve consistency in marine contaminant assessments.
The report highlights the reality of the lack of knowledge about reference values (whether they are background, threshold or Environmental Quality Standard values) for many contaminants in the marine environment. Although regulations and frameworks are in place, and new ones are being implemented, the assessment of Good Environmental Status will remain difficult without high quality environmental and toxicological data. The variety of applied TVs is hindering a comparable assessment of problematic substances and the necessary reduction/phase-out measures. Considering the huge work needed to develop TVs and the high number of potential contaminants, current approaches need to be reviewed. Furthermore, the concerns on the environmental significance of TVs when they are not based on sufficient data and relevant assessment factors, and the difficulty to generalise TVs for all matrix/species monitored, call for discussions on resource-efficient TV development and potential alternative ways forward.
TORNERO ALVAREZ Maria Victoria;
DEVILLER Genevieve;
HANKE Georg;
COATU Valentina;
DO CARMO ALVES MARTINS Inês;
FRYER Rob J.;
HJERMANN Dag;
IGLESIAS CAMPOS Alejandro;
KNEZEVIC Jelena;
KÜNITZER Anita;
MAGGI Chiara;
MAUFFRET Aourell;
MCHUGH Brendan;
MIL-HOMENS Mario;
MUNCH CHRISTENSEN Anne;
OROS Andra;
PARMENTIER Koen;
PIRNTKE Ulrike;
RAIMUNDO Joana;
ROWE Owen;
SMIT Els;
VAN DER STAP Irene;
VIÑAS Lucía;
ZALEWSKA Tamara;
2022-11-24
Publications Office of the European Union
JRC131257
978-92-76-59126-9 (online),
1831-9424 (online),
EUR 31318 EN,
OP KJ-NA-31-318-EN-N (online),
https://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/handle/JRC131257,
10.2760/088316 (online),
Additional supporting files
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