Subscribe free to our newsletters via your
. Earth Science News .




FROTH AND BUBBLE
Chemical pollution of European waters is stronger than anticipated
by Staff Writers
Leipzig, Germany (SPX) Jun 23, 2014


Rivers such as the Danube are fascinating ecosystems. They provide important ecosystem functions and services such as recreation, fishing and drinking water for millions of people. Unfortunately, these ecosystems are subject to chemical inputs from adjacent urban areas, agriculture and industry. This leads to a chemical cocktail that adversely affects algae and freshwater animals and carries potential risks for humans. Image courtesy Andre Kunzelmann and UFZ.

Substantial improvements in freshwater quality by 2015 have been a declared objective of the EU member states, manifesting itself by the requirements of the Water Framework Directive (WFD). A recent study conducted by the Institute for Environmental Sciences Landau together with the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ) and fellow scientists from France (University of Lorraine and EDF) and Switzerland (Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology - EAWAG) shows that this target is unlikely to be met due to the high levels of toxicants in the water bodies.

One of the reasons: current measures for the improvement of water quality do not account for the effects of toxic chemicals. The study demonstrates for the first time on a pan-European scale that the ecological risks posed by toxic chemicals are considerably greater than has generally been assumed.

Up to now environmental authorities and parts of the scientific community have considered toxic chemicals to be rather a local problem affecting only a few bodies of water.

The current study, however, reveals for the first time on a large scale the ecological risks emanating from chemical toxicants for several thousands of European aquatic systems. Chemical toxicity represents an ecological threat to almost half of all European bodies of water, and in approximately 15% of cases, the biota in freshwater systems may even be subject to acute mortality.

Actual state of European aquatic ecosystems is presumably even worse
Together with their French and Swiss fellow researchers the scientists from Landau and Leipzig have investigated the exceedance of risk thresholds in the river basin of major stream networks, such as the Danube and the Rhine River at a pan-European level. For the first time, the extent to which risk thresholds were exceeded for three groups of organisms, namely fish, invertebrates and algae / primary producers, was estimated for these major river basins.

The data used originated from official water monitoring activities of recent years. The scope of sampling consequently varied significantly in terms of spatial coverage, as well as timing, therefore, direct comparison(s) between different countries proves rather difficult.

For example, the study finds, that water quality is worst in France, presumably due to the fact that authorities in this country installed a dense monitoring network and analyzed water samples for a multitude of substances, including the ecotoxicological relevant compounds. In other countries, by contrast, risks may remain unrecognized due to inadequate sensitivity in chemical analysis or an incomplete list of ecotoxicologically relevant monitoring compounds.

"Generally speaking we probably underestimated rather than overestimated the risks in our analyses", comments the head of the research study team, Jun.-Prof. Dr. Ralf B. Schafer from the Institute for Environmental Sciences Landau. "The actual state and condition of European freshwater ecosystems is probably even worse."

The primary factors contributing to chemical contamination of aquatic ecosystems are the discharge from agricultural activities, urban areas and municipal sewage treatment plants.

Pesticides were by far the major toxicants of freshwater systems, although, organotin compounds, brominated flame retardants and combustion-derived polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, also occurred at critical levels of concentration. EU requirements and targets regarding water quality currently focus primarily on the occurrence of the so-called priority substance, i.e. around 40 chemicals classified as being particularly hazardous to the aquatic environment.

"Fortunately the use of many of these priority substances is no longer permitted and therefore, their concentration levels are steadily decreasing in many parts of the European streams. The real problem, however, is that a large number of chemicals which are currently in use are not taken into account at all in the context of water quality monitoring", states Dr. Werner Brack from the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research in Leipzig. Additionally, recent findings show that for certain substances the assumed level(s) of effect concentration might be too high.

Improved definition of framework objectives and coordination are essential
In order to cope with the multitude of potentially hazardous substances , the scientists participating in this study recommend the introduction and intelligent linking of ecological and effects-based chemical screening methods as the only financially viable way of capturing the whole spectrum of ecotoxicologically relevant substances.

"In this way", Werner Brack points out, "hazardous substances can be detected even before they have been placed on the priority list". The current study, shows that there is an urgent need for action, especially with respect to the current chemical monitoring activities.

"In practical terms, this means that urgent action is required at all levels, to ensure the sustainable protection of our aquatic ecosystems", says Schafer. The necessary steps to be taken range from general prevention of excessive chemical inputs into water bodies and the banishment and substitution of particularly problematic substances, up to a reduction in the application of agricultural chemicals and an improvement of sewage and wastewater treatment methods and technology.

There is consensus among the members of the research team that, unless there is noticeable change to the current situation, the objectives and targets of the Water Framework Directive will not be met, due to toxicity from chemicals in the freshwater ecosystems. In the long term this may also lead to risks for humans, caused by possible failure of ecosystem services, such as impairment of the self-purification capacity of water bodies.

"Organic chemicals jeopardize the health of freshwater ecosystems on the continental scale" Egina Malaj, Peter C. von der Ohe, Matthias Grote, Ralph Kuhne, Cedric P. Mondy, Philippe Usseglio-Polatera, Werner Brack, Ralf B. Schafer.

.


Related Links
Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ)
Our Polluted World and Cleaning It Up






Comment on this article via your Facebook, Yahoo, AOL, Hotmail login.

Share this article via these popular social media networks
del.icio.usdel.icio.us DiggDigg RedditReddit GoogleGoogle




Memory Foam Mattress Review
Newsletters :: SpaceDaily :: SpaceWar :: TerraDaily :: Energy Daily
XML Feeds :: Space News :: Earth News :: War News :: Solar Energy News





FROTH AND BUBBLE
Nanoparticles from dietary supplement drinks likely to reach environment
Washington DC (SPX) Jun 20, 2014
Nanoparticles are becoming ubiquitous in food packaging, personal care products and are even being added to food directly. But the health and environmental effects of these tiny additives have remained largely unknown. A new study now suggests that nanomaterials in food and drinks could interfere with digestive cells and lead to the release of the potentially harmful substances to the environmen ... read more


FROTH AND BUBBLE
Godzilla: Still relevant and raging after 60 years in Japan

Japan to help Bhutan brush up 'happiness' census

Japan satellites to monitor Fukushima, Chernobyl

Fukushima struggling to build ice wall to plug leak

FROTH AND BUBBLE
Defense against laser beam flashes at aircraft being tested

3D printer cleared for lift-off to ISS in August

SanDisk buys storage rival Fusion-io for $1.6 bn

3-D printing technology transforms dentistry, real estate and more

FROTH AND BUBBLE
China blamed as fishing case postponed in Philippines

Fighting hits water supply in east Ukraine city

Fiji leader blasts global inaction on climate change

Australia says UNESCO reef deferral 'a win for logic'

FROTH AND BUBBLE
Antarctic species dwindle as icebergs batter shores year-round

New permafrost is forming around shrinking Arctic lakes

Researchers find major West Antarctic glacier melting from geothermal sources

Great Lakes finally free of ice

FROTH AND BUBBLE
India authority orders Coke plant closed

Findings may advance iron-rich, cadmium-free crops

Palmer amaranth threatens Midwest farm economy

Famine fear won't sway minds on GM crops

FROTH AND BUBBLE
Flood damage to Bosnia estimated at 2 billion euros

Changes in wind shear offers evidence for pole ward shift of hurricane intensity

Moderate quakes hit near Japan's Fukushima

Cristina strengthens to category four hurricane: NHC

FROTH AND BUBBLE
Chinese VP lauds better ties with African workers

Nearly 4,000 Eritreans flee each month: UN

Chinese VP in Zambia to boost ties with Africa's copper giant

Two years jail for Togolese ivory smuggler 'Le Patron'

FROTH AND BUBBLE
What amino acids in shells can tell us about Bronze Age people

Brain syncs blood flow to match activities

Feel-good hormones could cause UV addiction

Chimpanzees spontaneously initiate and maintain cooperative behavior




The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2014 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. Privacy Statement All images and articles appearing on Space Media Network have been edited or digitally altered in some way. Any requests to remove copyright material will be acted upon in a timely and appropriate manner. Any attempt to extort money from Space Media Network will be ignored and reported to Australian Law Enforcement Agencies as a potential case of financial fraud involving the use of a telephonic carriage device or postal service.