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The Working Group on Biological Effects of Contaminants (WGBEC) investigates the biological effects of contaminants in the marine environment. The group provides research and increases the understanding of contaminant interactions and effects, including the development of inte- grated biological effects monitoring strategies, which are used to support international research and monitoring. The WGBEC has contributed significantly to the implementation and harmonization of tech- niques that can be used to evaluate the biological effects of pollutants in national monitoring programmes. An overview of national effect-based monitoring programmes of Member States is provided with the aim to support European countries and Regional Seas Conventions on their implementation. A summary of the national effects-based monitoring programmes has been pro- vided by twelve European countries represented at the WGBEC meetings. The adoption of bio- logical effects monitoring can differ widely and comparisons between approaches and the choice of biological effects methods used acts as an important tool. A summary of the main findings is presented. Furthermore, OSPAR's Hazardous Substances and Eutrophication Committee (HASEC) has en- couraged contracting parties to perform targeted biological effects monitoring to enhance the assessment of contaminants in sediment and biota towards the OSPAR QSR2023. WGBEC mem- bers contributed to the integrated biological effects approach assessment by providing data from their national monitoring activities to produce maps and figures to enable interpretations. Revision of the biological effects methods, including new techniques and developments, and the quality assurance of existing methods are core activities for the WGBEC, which require continu- ous discussion and evaluation by the group. Activities include the production of new ICES TIMES documents as well as intercalibration exercises to ensure Member States are providing comparable data for national monitoring. To this end, intercalibration exercises were performed under the BEQUALM programme for two of the more commonly used biological effects meth- ods, including micronucleus formation in mussel haemocytes and PAH metabolites in fish bile. These intercalibrations were successful despite identifying some variation in reported values be- tween laboratories. Further intercalibration exercises are planned and the WGBEC strongly sup- port the need for such quality assurance. In addition to the national monitoring activities and the different methods and approaches for determining the effects of contaminants on biological systems, the WGBEC was interested in discussing some key questions related to the potential impacts of contaminants to marine life. These questions included: the direct and indirect effects of natural and synthetic particles; how climate change and acidification parameters can interact with contaminants and influence bioa- vailability and effect; whether the structure of marine communities can be used to indicate con- taminant exposure; to provide guidance on performing risk assessments for contaminants of emerging concern; and to evaluate the effects of contaminants in marine sediments and whether current sediment toxicity tests are adequate. In addition, and as a wider concept, the linkages between contaminants in the marine environment and human health were also described.

The Working Group on Biological Effects of Contaminants (WGBEC) investigates the biological effects of contaminants in the marine environment. The group provides research and increases the understanding of contaminant interactions and effects, including the development of inte-grated biological effects monitoring strategies, which are used to support international research and monitoring. The WGBEC has contributed significantly to the implementation and harmonization of tech-niques that can be used to evaluate the biological effects of pollutants in national monitoring programmes. An overview of national effect-based monitoring programmes of Member States is provided with the aim to support European countries and Regional Seas Conventions on their implementation. A summary of the national effects-based monitoring programmes has been pro-vided by twelve European countries represented at the WGBEC meetings. The adoption of bio-logical effects monitoring can differ widely and comparisons between approaches and the choice of biological effects methods used acts as an important tool. A summary of the main findings is presented. Furthermore, OSPAR's Hazardous Substances and Eutrophication Committee (HASEC) has en-couraged contracting parties to perform targeted biological effects monitoring to enhance the assessment of contaminants in sediment and biota towards the OSPAR QSR2023. WGBEC mem-bers contributed to the integrated biological effects approach assessment by providing data from their national monitoring activities to produce maps and figures to enable interpretations. Revision of the biological effects methods, including new techniques and developments, and the quality assurance of existing methods are core activities for the WGBEC, which require continu-ous discussion and evaluation by the group. Activities include the production of new ICES TIMES documents as well as intercalibration exercises to ensure Member States are providing comparable data for national monitoring. To this end, intercalibration exercises were performed under the BEQUALM programme for two of the more commonly used biological effects meth-ods, including micronucleus formation in mussel haemocytes and PAH metabolites in fish bile. These intercalibrations were successful despite identifying some variation in reported values be-tween laboratories. Further intercalibration exercises are planned and the WGBEC strongly sup-port the need for such quality assurance. In addition to the national monitoring activities and the different methods and approaches for determining the effects of contaminants on biological systems, the WGBEC was interested in discussing some key questions related to the potential impacts of contaminants to marine life. These questions included: the direct and indirect effects of natural and synthetic particles; how climate change and acidification parameters can interact with contaminants and influence bioa-vailability and effect; whether the structure of marine communities can be used to indicate con-taminant exposure; to provide guidance on performing risk assessments for contaminants of emerging concern; and to evaluate the effects of contaminants in marine sediments and whether current sediment toxicity tests are adequate. In addition, and as a wider concept, the linkages between contaminants in the marine environment and human health were also described., SI

There is abundant evidence that anthropogenic activities have polluted all compartments of the oceans, from the poles to the tropics, by different physical, chemical, and biological stressors. Chemical pollution is particularly tackled here with focus on legacy pollutants and newly emerging man-made compounds (xenobiotics) or anthropogenic forcing in the increase of natural chemical substances. It has been estimated that more than 100,000 chemicals are currently on the market [ECHA (European Chemicals Agency), 2017], and thousands of new substances are being introduced every year due to industrialization, intensive agriculture, and urban development. This has led to a continuous flow of chemical products to the oceans that have the potential to alter the structure of ecosystems by causing changes in the biotic communities that constitute them. Traditionally, the assessment of marine chemical pollution would exclusively be based on chemical analysis of a limited set of potential pollutants in selected environmental matrices, and a comparison between their levels with those found in pristine areas not being subjected to direct human pressures. However, such chemical assessment of pollution only offers a partially suitable approach to the question of how marine organisms and ecosystem functioning are affected by pollutants. This can only be answered by means of an integrated assessment including both chemical analyses and biological tools that quantitatively link the levels of pollutants with their ecological effects, including new contaminants for which no analytical techniques have yet been developed. Ideally, we aim to detect disturbances caused by pollutants before ecosystems are affected. So we need sensitive indications for pollution effects that provide an early warning to allow taking measures to avoid ecological damage. As for this concern a unique effort based on a European consensus, has been developed by ICES/OSPAR (Davies and Vethaak, 2012). A new challenge in marine pollution monitoring is also based on the harmonization of two European Union directives for the protection of the marine environment, the Water Framework Directive (WFD, 2000/60/CE) and the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD, 2008/56/CE). The latter established a legislative context demanding the use of effect-based tools for the assessment of pollution. These two directives were constructed according to two different strategies to assess the status of continental and coastal water ecosystems, following either a risk assessment approach (WFD) or an ecosystem approach (MSFD), Sí

Biological effects measurements in fish and blue mussel are fundamental in marine environmental monitoring. Nevertheless, currently used biomarkers may be confounded by basic physiological phenomena, such as growth, reproduction, and feeding, as well as thereby associated physiological variation. Here, we present a number of supporting variables, which are essential to measure in order to obtain reliable biological effects data, facilitate their interpretation, and make valid comparisons. For fish, these variables include: body weight, body length, condition, gonad maturation status, various somatic indices, age, and growth. For blue mussels, these variables include: volume, flesh weight, shell weight, and condition. Also, grossly visible anomalies, lesions, and parasites should be recorded for both fish and blue mussels. General confounding factors and their effects are described, as well as recommendations for how to handle them, SI

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Årsliste 2006 Large volumes of produced water are released into the North Sea and there is still some uncertainty as to the environmental impacts. Following the BECPELAG workshop in 2001-2002, water column monitoring near selected platforms has been performed using a combination of chemical and biological effects methods. The aim of the present study was to investigate some new candidate biomarker methods. At the two chosen exposure levels, 4300- and 137000-fold diluted produced water, PAH concentrations in exposed blue mussels were similar to those found following deployment offshore. PAH bile metabolites in cod were not significantly increased. There was a clear response in micronucleus formation in mussel haemocytes. Other methods that could become useful for monitoring in the future included mixed xenobiotic defence (MXR) components in cod red blood cells, peroxisomal effects in mussel and cellular energy allocation in mussel. No exposure-related effects were seen for glutathione S-transferase in either species or MXR in blue mussel haemocytes. OLF

Årsliste 2006 Biological effects are increasingly used to monitor impacts of contaminants in marine ecosystems. Biomarkers have been defined as ”biochemical, cellular, physiological or behavioural variations in the tissue or body fluids or at the level of whole organism that provide evidence of exposure to chemical pollutants, and may also indicate a toxic effect”. The biomarkers reviewed here were PAH bile metabolites, cytochrome P4501A, glutathione S-transferase, markers for DNA damage (adducts, alkaline unwinding, Comet assay), micronucleus formation, peroxisomal proliferation, acetyl cholinesterase inhibition, metallothionein, vitellogenin and delta-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase. Focus for the review was dose-response relationships, confounding factors, links to population effects, baseline values, assessment criteria and quality assurance for the relevant biomarker. Whereas correlative links to population-relevant effects have been found for some biomarkers, e.g. biomarkers for DNA damage, most biomarkers are generally more useful as markers for possible impacts elsewhere in ecosystems. OLF

Årsliste 2005 This report presents results from the Water Column Monitoring 2004, carried out in collaboration between NIVA and RF-Akvamiljø, with sub-contractors. The objective of the survey was to assess the extent to which discharges from Statfjord B affect organisms living in the water column. The study was designed to monitor bioaccumulation and biomarker responses in organisms held in cages in the vicinity of the platform. Furthermore, feral saithe were caught at locations with increasing distance from the platform. The results from the survey indicate that caged organisms have been exposed to low levels of produced water components, compared to results from 2001 (BECPELAG). The reason for this is not clear, but several possible explanations are proposed. However, mussels accumulated PAHs, with levels following the expected gradient with distance from the platform. There was no clear signal from the biological effects, possibly with the exception of micronucleus formation in mussel haemocytes. Concentrations of PAH-metabolites in bile of caged cod and feral saithe were both low, suggesting low exposure levels. There were no differences between locations in the levels of hepatic DNA adducts in the saithe, but there were individuals at each of the locations that had elevated levels of adducts. There were no obviously contaminant-related effects on liver histology in the saithe. STATOIL AS

Årsliste 2002 En integrert kystovervåking må koble kunnskap om økologiske sammenhenger, bioakkumulering av miljøgifter i ulike trofiske nivåer og relevante effekter i de ulike organisme-gruppene i næringsnettet. I denne rapporten oppsummeres eksisterende kunnskap og det gis en bakgrunn for utvikling av et verktøy for integrert kystovervåking. Det har blitt analysert for miljøgifter i hardbunnsfauna fra Færøyene, Island og Norge. Det er generelt lave nivåer av miljøgifter i de utvalgte artene. På Færøyene var det noe forhøyde nivåer av kadmium i stortare, mens det i Nord-Norge var forhøyde verdier av blant annet bly og PCB (blåskjell). De absolutt laveste nivåene ble funnet i organismer innsamlet på Island. To mulige områder for metodeutvikling er utredet spesielt. Disse to områdene, Froan i Norge og den svenske Skagerrak-kysten, har tildels sammenfallende næringsnett, men ulik miljøgift-belastning og skulle derfor være egnet for utvikling av verktøy for integrert kystovervåking. Etter etablering av metodene må verktøyet testes i et større antall områder. Nordisk Ministerråd (NMD)

Tilførslene av næringssalter til Indre Oslofjord nådde et maksimum på 1970-tallet. Rensetiltakene har senere resultert i stadig mindre utslipp. Etter et minimum i 2003-2004 har tilførslene økt noe, men har vært stabile de siste par år. Utslippsreduksjonene har medført at oksygenforholdene i fjorden har blitt bedre med unntak av i Bærumsbassenget. I 2010 var det en omfattende dypvannsfornyelse som også ga gode oksygenforhold både i fjordens hovedbassenger og i Bunnefjorden hvor hydrogensulfidholdig dypvann ble skiftet ut. Det har vært en tydelig positiv utvikling i siktdyp og planteplanktonbiomasse (klorofyll-a), med de beste forholdene i perioden 2002-2010 og de dårligste i 1973-1982. Sommeren 2010 ble det dårligste siktdyp observert i de innerste områdene av indre fjord (tilstandsklasse dårlig). På de resterende stasjonene var forholdene bedre (tilstandsklasse mindre god og god) med de beste forholdene i de åpne områdene i Vestfjorden og Bunnefjorden. Det var lav forekomst av planteplankton i 2010 og blågrønnalgene transportert fra Årungen til Bunnefjorden var ikke giftige slik som i 2007. Det ble observert gode forekomster av reker i dypvannet ved Hellvikstangen i Bunnefjorden og i Lysakerfjorden og tilnærmet normal forekomst av reker på Steilene. Observasjoner viste et lavt antall reker i den søndre delen av indre fjord. Artsantallet og individtallet av bløtbunnsfauna økte relativt mye fra 1993 til 2009 og må totalt sett oppfattes som en klar miljøforbedring uten at dette samlet ga noen tydelig utslag på beregnede diversitetsindekser. Det ble ikke registrert noe høyt mangfold av marine naturtyper i Bunnefjorden. Det opptrer imidlertid naturtyper som en bør ta spesielle hensyn til pga. forekomst av ålegress og østers. Resultatene antyder påvirkninger fra miljøgifter på torsk har blitt gradvis redusert gjennom de siste årene. Fagrådet for vann- og avløpsteknisk samarbeid i Indre Oslofjord

This report has been produced by the Marine Board Working Group on Existing and Emerging Chemical Pollutants (WGPOL) first convened in 2008 and tasked to examine the assessment and monitoring of existing and emerging chemicals in the European marine and coastal environment. The Working Group considered (i) existing monitoring/assessment frameworks; (ii) current monitoring practices; and (iii) new and emerging chemicals of concern and the mechanisms used to include them in current monitoring programmes. The primary conclusions and recommendations of this position paper are: 1. Fully implement state of the art environmental risk assessment procedures (combining exposure and effect assessment) to evaluate the full impact of chemical substances on the different compartments of coastal and open sea systems. 2. Further improve the coordination, cooperation and harmonization between existing monitoring efforts and those under development, to avoid duplication of effort, loss of expertise and a reduced willingness to fulfil the obligations towards regional conventions. 3. Ensure that the development and implementation of monitoring programmes for the assessment of chemicals in marine and coastal environment are based on a science-based and dynamic process. 4. Apply more resources targeted at developing appropriate approaches, tools and practices (education and training) to improve the acquisition and management of monitoring data. In addition to the above main recommendations, two further recommendations have been identified on the basis of two specific case studies which form part of this paper and which focus on the release, effects and monitoring of (i) hydrophobic and insoluble chemicals in the marine environment from merchant shipping; and (ii) chemicals released by the offshore oil-industry in the North Sea. These case studies highlighted the need to: 5. Develop a consistent, pan-European or regional (legal) framework/regulation which covers the activities of the oil and gas industry at sea. At the same time, more information and research is needed on the release and the effects of chemicals arising from offshore oil and gas activities. 6. Develop and apply state-of-the-art environmental risk assessment procedures (combining exposure and effect assessments, including on human health) to evaluate the impact of noxious liquid substances listed under MARPOL Annex II on the different compartments in coastal and open sea ecosystems.

Årsliste 1999 Målet med undersøkelsen var å klargjøre om det er problemer med miljø-østrogener i norske ferskvann og eventuelt identifisere kilder til slike stoffer. Det ble satt ut 10 ungfisk av ørret i hvert av to bur i syv områder i oktober: Breisjøen (referanse), Hunnselva, Litlevatn (Ålesund), Merkedamselva, Mjøsa, Nitelva og Ådalselva. De valgte lokalitetene representerer resipienter for kloakk, avrenning fra jordbruk, tilførsler fra treforedlingsindustri og lokaliteter med høye konsentrasjoner av plastmyknere (ftalater). I tre av områdene, Breisjøen, Hunnselva og Merkedamselva ble det også samlet inn vill ørret. Det ble tatt blodprøver av ørret før utsetting og etter to ukers eksponering. Blodprøver ble analysert for plasma vitellognin (Vg). Det vil normalt være lave konsentrasjoner av Vg i plasma til ungfisk, men denne vil øke ved eksponering for miljø-østrogener. Resultatene tyder på at det ikke var betydelige konsentrasjoner av miljø-østrogener tilstede i vannet på de valgte lokalitetene i forsøksperioden. Enkelte hunn-fisk (to fra Hunnselva og to fra Merkedamselva) hadde høye Vg-nivåer, men det er ikke mulig å fastslå hvorvidt dette skyldtes tidlig kjønnsmodning eller ekponering for miljø-østrogener. All ørret som ble satt ut i Litlevatn døde, men det er uklart om dette skyldtes giftighet eller andre faktorer (oksygenmangel). Statens forurensningstilsyn (SFT)