Using environmental monitoring data from apex predators for chemicals management: towards harmonised sampling and processing of archived wildlife samples to increase the regulatory uptake of monitoring data in chemicals management

Abstract

Monitoring data from apex predators were key drivers in the development of early chemicals legislations due to the population declines of many species during the twentieth century, which was linked to certain persistent organic pollutants (POPs). Besides triggering the development of global treaties (e.g. the Stockholm Convention), chemical monitoring data from apex predators have been particularly important for identifying compounds with bioaccumulative properties under field conditions. Many apex predators are protected species and only a few environmental specimen banks (ESBs) regularly collect samples as many ESBs were established during the 1980–1990s when apex predators were scarce. Today, many POPs have been banned, which contributed to the recovery of many apex predator populations. As a consequence, apex predator samples are now available in research collections (RCs) and natural history museums (NHMs). These samples can be used for routine analysis as well as for screening studies using novel analytical techniques and advanced data treatment workflows, such as suspect and non-target screening. The LIFE APEX project has demonstrated how these samples can be used in a cost-efficient way to generate data on legacy compounds and contaminants of emerging concern. Furthermore, it has described quality assurance/control measures to ensure high quality and comparable data, with a view to uses in chemicals risk assessment and management. To increase the visibility of available sample collections and monitoring data from apex predators we developed accessible online database systems. Additionally, the acquired high-resolution mass spectrometric data were stored in a digital sample freezing platform that allows retrospective suspect screening in previously analysed samples for substances that may be of concern/under assessment in the future. These databases provide open access to a wide range of chemical data, for use by regulators, researchers, industry and the general public, and contribute to a stronger link between science and policy.

Using environmental monitoring data from apex predators for chemicals management: towards better use of monitoring data from apex predators in support of prioritisation and risk assessment of chemicals in Europe

“…Aims and scope of the LIFE APEX project are explained in detail in the first policy brief [41]. In total, about 200 pooled top predator and prey samples were screened for organic pollutants by wide-scope target and suspect screening, for presence of more than 65,000 chemicals.…”

A Review of the Occurrence of Metals and Xenobiotics in European Hedgehogs (Erinaceus europaeus)

“…Several programmes have been established to monitor the occurrence of hazardous chemicals in the environment, such as the European Union Water Framework Directive [3], the Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Programme [4], or the Partnership for the Assessment of Risks from Chemicals [5]. Where biota are included, measurements often focus on the aquatic environment-in particular, fish species-whereas relatively few monitoring initiatives exist for (terrestrial) wildlife [6].…”

Genomic diversity and differentiation between island and mainland populations of white‐tailed eagles (Haliaeetus albicilla)

“…It is considered to be a habitat generalist with a high dispersal potential (c.f. Hailer et al, 2007) and being an apex raptor it is an important indicator of environmental health (Badry et al, 2022). Habitat destruction and the expansion of humans into their territories during the last millennia (Kremer, 1993) may have restricted the population sizes of eagles via, for example, settlement of coastal sites and islands in the North Atlantic (Batt et al, 2015; Jackson et al, 2018).…”