Effect-based trigger values for in vitro and in vivo bioassays performed on surface water extracts supporting the environmental quality standards (EQS) of the European Water Framework Directive

Escher, Beate I.; Aїt-Aїssa, Selim; Behnisch, Peter; Brack, Werner; Brion, François; Brouwer, Abraham; Buchinger, Sebastian; Crawford, Sarah E.; Pasquier, David Du; Hamers, Timo; Hettwer, Karina; Hilscherová, Klára; Hollert, Henner; Kaše, Robert; Kienle, Cornelia; Tindall, Andrew J.; Tuerk, Jochen; Oost, Ron van der; Vermeirssen, Etiënne L.M.; Neale, Peta A.

doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.01.340

Cited by 200 publications

(213 citation statements)

References 111 publications

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“…However, targeted chemical surveillance, as used to assess the chemical status of water bodies in the context of the EU-WFD, only allows to monitor the concentration of priority substances. The presence of unknown chemicals, metabolites, transformation products, or non-regulated substitutes of priority substances are not taken into account [22], but can be considered when using effectbased bioassays [66,68].…”

Section: Bridging the Gap Between Ecological And Chemical Status Withmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The laboratory experiments with combined water/ sediment samples were used as a plausibility measure to exclude environmental stress factors such as stream velocity or water temperature as causes for arising in vivo effects. In addition, the in vitro assays with water and sediment samples were performed to track local pollution sources and to gain effect-based information which could possibly explain appearing in vivo effects [21][22][23]. Based on the results of these in vivo and in vitro tests, an ecotoxicological assessment system in compliance with the EU-WFD was subsequently derived.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Detection of chemically induced ecotoxicological effects in rivers of the Nidda catchment (Hessen, Germany) and development of an ecotoxicological, Water Framework Directive–compliant assessment system

et al. 2019

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Background: Approximately 90% of German surface waters do not meet the objectives of the European Water Framework Directive (EU-WFD). This is primarily due to deficits in water body structure and biological quality components, which in turn are negatively affected by chemical pollution. In this context, hydromorphological restoration measures have often been conducted to improve habitat and species diversity and, therefore, the ecological status of water bodies. However, habitat improvement is not necessarily accompanied by biota enhancement and thus by the improvement of the ecological status of rivers. To prioritize water management measures, decision criteria for the water management practice are necessary, which enable the prognosis, whether chemical pollution and its resulting effects or other factors, such as structural deficits of the water bodies, are the main cause for the failure to meet the objective of a good ecological status. Results:To address this need, we applied the freshwater mudsnail Potamopyrgus antipodarum and the amphipod Gammarus fossarum in active monitoring campaigns and in laboratory experiments with combined water/sediment samples and analyzed water and sediment samples with in vitro assays quarterly over the course of 1 year to provide evidence and guideline to assess if chemical contamination is a relevant stress factor for the aquatic biodiversity in rivers of the Nidda catchment (Hessen, Germany). On the basis of these results, an ecotoxicological, WFD-compliant assessment system was developed which, in comparison with the ecological status classes of the EU-WFD, permits the identification of the probable causes for the failure to meet the objectives of the EU-WFD. From these findings, recommendations for action were derived for the implementation of priority measures in water management practice. For the rivers Nidda, Usa, and Horloff, we identified a need for action to improve water and sediment quality at all investigated sampling sites except for the reference sites in the headwaters. The ecotoxicological assessment system also highlighted that hydromorphological restoration measures on their own will not lead to a good ecological status of rivers, as long as water and sediment quality are deficient. Conclusion:Hydromorphological restoration measures should be performed in conjunction with measures to reduce chemical contamination to achieve a good ecological status of the rivers Nidda, Usa, and Horloff. which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license, and indicate if changes were made. 1 High Effects/values are as low as expected in the absence of disturbing influences or anthropogenic changes 2 Good Effects/values show minor anthropogenic changes, but deviate only slightly from the values that normally occur in the absence of disturbing influences 3 Moderate Effects/values indicate moderate anthropogenically induced change...

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Section: Bridging the Gap Between Ecological And Chemical Status Withmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Detection of chemically induced ecotoxicological effects in rivers of the Nidda catchment (Hessen, Germany) and development of an ecotoxicological, Water Framework Directive–compliant assessment system

et al. 2019

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“…Thus, restoration measures on their own will not lead to the desired good ecological status according to EU-WFD unless chemical contamination of water and sediments is reduced in parallel. As our approach provides clear advantages compared to the assessment of the chemical status according to EU-WFD, which focuses only on the concentrations of 45 priority substances and completely neglects effects of metabolites, transformation products, non-regulated substitutes of priority substances and mixture effects of substances [137][138][139][140][141][142][143], while these can be assessed by effect-based in vitro bioassays, we recommend implementing effect-based methods in the EU-WFD [137][138][139]144] and improving water and sediment quality in conjunction with hydromorphological restoration measures to achieve the objectives of the EU-WFD.…”

Section: Comparison Of the Rivers Horloff And Niddamentioning

confidence: 99%

Poison in paradise: increase of toxic effects in restored sections of two rivers jeopardizes the success of hydromorphological restoration measures

et al. 2019

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Background: To date, only 8.2% of German surface waters achieve a good ecological status according to the European Water Framework Directive. This is primarily attributed to structural deficits, intensive land use, and chemical contaminations of water bodies. In this context, hydromorphological restoration measures are implemented with the aim to increase habitat and species diversity and thus improve the ecological status of water bodies. Nevertheless, existing studies show that restorations promote the reintroduction of individual species, but only in exceptional cases an improvement in the ecological status is achieved. Therefore, we examined the impact of the prevailing chemical contamination on the restoration success in the catchment of the river Nidda in Hessen (Germany) by comparing restored river sections at the rivers Nidda and Horloff with unrestored sections upstream (space-for-time-substitution) and a transect downstream the restoration measures. For this purpose, we conducted active biomonitoring campaigns with Potamopyrgus antipodarum and Gammarus fossarum and analyzed water and sediment samples with effect-based in vitro bioassays. Results: At the river Horloff, mortality of P. antipodarum and toxicity in water samples measured via the microtox assay were highest within the restoration. At the river Nidda, the reproduction of snails and gammarids significantly increased within the restorations, and reproduction of snails correlated positively and significantly with estrogenic activities. The microtox assay also exhibited the highest toxicities in water and sediment samples from the restorations and dioxin-like as well as estrogenic activities significantly increased compared to the unrestored reference site. On the basis of these results, the prevailing chemical contamination has negatively affected snails and gammarids in the active biomonitoring campaigns and consequently is likely to have also a negative impact on the local invertebrate community and thus endangers the restoration success. Conclusion:Hydromorphological restorations as a stand-alone measure are insufficient to improve the ecological status of a water body as long as the water and sediment quality remain deficient. Therefore, it is necessary to improve water and sediment quality in parallel with hydromorphological restoration measures to achieve the objectives of the EU-WFD. which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license, and indicate if changes were made.

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“…This method cannot be applied on bioassays with “promiscuous” endpoints, i.e., with many different chemicals causing a response. Escher et al () proposed an approach to derive EBTs from European environmental quality standards (EQS) for a large number of bioassays, by including additional mixture considerations for the “promiscuous” endpoints. The derived tentative EBTs were compared with observed environmental effects.…”

Section: Effect‐based Trigger Values (Ebts)mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The value of effect‐based tools, from examples of their use as diagnostic research tools for hazard identification and testing of treatment efficiency of (novel) drinking water treatment methodologies, has also been recognized by the Directorate‐General (DG) Environment of the European Commission, and effect‐based tools and methods are currently being evaluated in the Common Implementation Strategy Work Programme. To optimize the chances of inclusion of effect‐based tools in water quality regulations, collaboration between researchers and policy makers is needed to obtain (1) more knowledge on the correlation between results from chemical analyses and in vitro bioassays (distinguishing different types of bioassays that either respond to a number of specific, highly active chemicals, or to many less active chemicals) (Escher et al ), (2) evaluation and harmonization of candidate in vitro bioassays to be used as bioanalytical tool, and (3) consensus on the derivation and application of EBTs to interpret results that are obtained in in vitro effect‐based tools.…”

Section: International Regulations and Implementation In The Netherlandsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Risk‐based approach in the revised European Union drinking water legislation: Opportunities for bioanalytical tools

Dingemans

Baken

Oost³

et al. 2018

Integr Envir Assess & Manag

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A plethora of in vitro bioassays are developed in the context of chemical risk assessment and clinical diagnostics to test effects on different biological processes. Such assays can also be implemented in effect-based monitoring (EBM) of (drinking) water quality alongside chemical analyses. Effects-based monitoring can provide insight into risks for the environment and human health associated with exposure to (unknown) complex, low-level mixtures of micropollutants, which fits in the risk-based approach that was recently introduced in the European Drinking Water Directive. Some challenges remain, in particular those related to selection and interpretation of bioassays. For water quality assessment, carcinogenesis, adverse effects on reproduction and development, effects on xenobiotic metabolism, modulation of hormone systems, DNA reactivity, and adaptive stress responses are considered the most relevant toxicological endpoints. An evaluation procedure of the applicability and performance of in vitro bioassays for water quality monitoring, based on existing information, has been developed, which can be expanded with guidelines for experimental evaluations. In addition, a methodology for the interpretation of in vitro monitoring data is required, because the sensitivity of specific in vitro bioassays in combination with sample concentration may lead to responses of chemicals (far) below exposure concentrations that are relevant for human health effects. Different approaches are proposed to derive effect-based trigger values (EBTs), including EBTs based on (1) relative ecotoxicity potency, (2) health-based threshold values for chronic exposure in humans and kinetics of reference chemicals, and (3) read-across from (drinking) water guideline values. Effects-based trigger values need to be chosen carefully in order to be sufficiently but not overly conservative to indicate potential health effects. Consensus on the crucial steps in the selection and interpretation of in vitro bioassay data will facilitate implementation and legal embedding in the context of water quality monitoring of such assays in EBM strategies. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2018;00:000-000. © 2018 The Authors. Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of Society of Environmental Toxicology & Chemistry (SETAC).

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Effect-based trigger values for in vitro and in vivo bioassays performed on surface water extracts supporting the environmental quality standards (EQS) of the European Water Framework Directive

Cited by 200 publications

References 111 publications

Detection of chemically induced ecotoxicological effects in rivers of the Nidda catchment (Hessen, Germany) and development of an ecotoxicological, Water Framework Directive–compliant assessment system

Detection of chemically induced ecotoxicological effects in rivers of the Nidda catchment (Hessen, Germany) and development of an ecotoxicological, Water Framework Directive–compliant assessment system

Poison in paradise: increase of toxic effects in restored sections of two rivers jeopardizes the success of hydromorphological restoration measures

Risk‐based approach in the revised European Union drinking water legislation: Opportunities for bioanalytical tools

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