Intercalibration of Ecological Status of Rivers in Ireland for the Purpose of the Water Framework Directive

McGarrigle, Martin; Lucey, John

doi:10.3318/bioe.2009.109.3.237

Cited by 8 publications

(10 citation statements)

References 4 publications

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“…A report on drinking water found that mercury was not detected in 99% of samples [28]. Similarly, a report on water quality concluded that mercury was not detected in the vast majority of samples examined [29]. Variations in the biological measures of exposure were observed, with higher hair mercury levels found in mothers compared to children.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mercury Exposure in Ireland: Results of the DEMOCOPHES Human Biomonitoring Study

Cullen

Evans

Davidson

et al. 2014

IJERPH

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Background: Monitoring of human exposure to mercury is important due to its adverse health effects. This study aimed to determine the extent of mercury exposure among mothers and their children in Ireland, and to identify factors associated with elevated levels. It formed part of the Demonstration of a study to Coordinate and Perform Human Biomonitoring on a European Scale (DEMOCOPHES) pilot biomonitoring study. Methods: Hair mercury concentrations were determined from a convenience sample of 120 mother/child pairs. Mothers also completed a questionnaire. Rigorous quality assurance within DEMOCOPHES guaranteed the accuracy and international comparability of results. Results: Mercury was detected in 79.2% of the samples from mothers, and 62.5% of children’s samples. Arithmetic mean levels in mothers (0.262 µg/g hair) and children (0.149 µg /g hair) did not exceed the US EPA guidance value. Levels were significantly higher for those with higher education, and those who consumed more fish. Conclusions: The study demonstrates the benefit of human biomonitoring for assessing and comparing internal exposure levels, both on a population and an individual basis. It enables the potential harmful impact of mercury to be minimised in those highly exposed, and can therefore significantly contribute to population health.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mercury Exposure in Ireland: Results of the DEMOCOPHES Human Biomonitoring Study

Cullen

Evans

Davidson

et al. 2014

IJERPH

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“…272 of 2009). More detailed information on intercalibration of this metric is available in McGarrigle and Lucey 27 and a comparison with other intercalibrated European macroinvertebrate metrics is available in Bennett et al 13 . Note that the Q-value is based on the well-established sensitivities, abundance and diversity of macroinvertebrates and their relationship to water quality.…”

Section: Technical Validationmentioning

confidence: 99%

A national macroinvertebrate dataset collected for the biomonitoring of Ireland’s river network, 2007–2018

et al. 2020

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the Environmental Protection agency (EPa) in Ireland is responsible for the ecological monitoring and assessment of 37 hydrometric areas covering 46 river catchments and over 13,000 km of river channel nationwide. The national river monitoring program commenced in 1971 and has developed further since 2007 into the National Rivers Water Framework Directive (WFD) Monitoring Program following the implementation of the WFD across the European Union. the monitoring program is designed to obtain sufficiently representative information to assess ecological quality for each water body assessed. Consequently, macroinvertebrate data have been collected at over 2,900 river survey stations on a minimum 3-year cycle to fulfil these requirements. While the EPA has collected these data for water quality assessments we recognize that the data have value beyond this one purpose. We provide a summary of how these 10,987 data records, covering the years 2007 to 2018, have been collected and used to deepen understanding of water quality, biodiversity and general ecological health of Ireland's river network.

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“…In order to monitor progress towards this target, an inter-calibration process was conducted (e.g. McGarrigle and Lucey (2009)) so that water quality status can be compared across the wide range of bioregions and water body types across Europe or to account for shared bioregions between jurisdictions. Individual member states have subsequently set their own chemical, biological and hydromorphological water quality standards.…”

Section: Water Quality Targets and Standardsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Land Use: Catchment Management

Melland

Jordan

Murphy

et al. 2014

Encyclopedia of Agriculture and Food Systems

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Poor water quality in lakes, rivers, estuaries and groundwater can be attributed to indirect effects of agricultural land use. Land management practices that lead to excess nutrients, sediment, pathogens and agrochemicals reaching waterbodies, or that negatively affect the hydrology, habitat and structure of waterbodies, can degrade water quality. This chapter describes farm and landscape management practices that can potentially prevent or mitigate adverse water quality impacts. Some examples of improved catchment water quality in response to changes in agricultural management are reported. Challenges associated with collecting evidence of the effects of agricultural management on water quality at the catchment scale, the potential for pollution-swapping, the cost-effectiveness of mitigation practices and approaches to governance of water quality management are also discussed. 2

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Intercalibration of Ecological Status of Rivers in Ireland for the Purpose of the Water Framework Directive

Cited by 8 publications

References 4 publications

Mercury Exposure in Ireland: Results of the DEMOCOPHES Human Biomonitoring Study

Mercury Exposure in Ireland: Results of the DEMOCOPHES Human Biomonitoring Study

A national macroinvertebrate dataset collected for the biomonitoring of Ireland’s river network, 2007–2018

Land Use: Catchment Management

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