1. Article 8 Assessment Guidance Descriptor 8
Victoria Tornero
Workshop on Art. 8 Assessment
, Brussels

2. Descriptor 8 Criterion D8C1: Concentration of contaminants
Criterion D8C2: Effects on biota
Areas: HELCOM and Spanish demarcations
Estrecho y Alborán
Levantino-balear
Sudatlántica
Noratlántica
Canaria

3. (possibly same as step 1 OOAO)
HELCOM approach 1:
OOAO per core indicator
Scale: OFFSHORE AREA
Descriptor 8
(possibly same as step 1 OOAO)
D8C1 – Contaminant concentrations
D8C2 –
Effect on biota
GES Criteria 1
OOAO
Integration Level
HBCDD
PFOS
Radioactive substances
PAH and metabolites
Reproductive disorders (eelpout, amphipod)
(HELCOM core indicators, and pre-core indicators)
Indicators
White-tailed eagle productivity
Lysosomal membrane stability
PBDE
PCB dioxin and furan
Metals
TBT and imposex
Data

4. CHASE for core indicators
HELCOM approach 2:
CHASE for core indicators
Scale: OFFSHORE AREA
Descriptor 8
(possibly same as step 4 OOAO)
D8C1 – Contaminant concentrations
D8C2 –
Effect on biota
GES Criteria 4
OOAO 3
Compartment classified ‘distance to target’
CHASE compartment (other groupings possible)
Biota
Sediment
Water
Bio-effect
Integration Level 2
CS: chemical score
(HELCOM core indicators, and pre-core indicators)
Indicators
HBCDD
Metals
PAH and metabolites
PFOS 1
White-tailed eagle productivity
Lysosomal membrane stability
Reproductive disorders (eelpout, amphipod)
PBDE
PCB dioxin and furan
Radioactive substances
TBT and imposex
CR: chemical ratio (measured value: GES boundary value)
Data/ substance

5. SPANISH approach GES Criteria Indicators Elements
Scale: Spanish demarcation
Scale: Spanish demarcations
Descriptor 8
D8C1 – Contaminant concentrations
D8C2 –
Effect and exposure 4
95% of samples below Environmental Quality Criteria/Standards in the demarcation
GES Criteria
different congeners in one index
<T1 (%)
T0>Value>T1 (%)
<T0 (%) 3
Reproductive disorders (eelpout, amphipod)
Integration Level
PCBs
PCBs
PAHs
PAH and metabolites
White-tailed eagle productivity
Lysosomal membrane stability
Indicators
same weight to each matrix
<BAC (%)
BAC>C>EAC (or other) (%)
<EAC (%)
PCB28 sediment+ biota
PCB52 sediment + biota
Benzo(a)pyrene sediment +biota
Anthracene sediment+ biota 2 1
Individual chemical congeners (PAHs, PCBs) at different sample stations in different matrices (e.g. PCB in mussel, PAH in sediment).
% samples per area:
<BAC (%)
BAC>C>EAC (or other) (%)
<EAC (%)
Elements

6. Visualization of resultsD8
HELCOM approach 1: OOAO
HELCOM approach 2: CHASE
Simple integration
Highlights sub-GES areas
Does not retain distance to target information
Integration steps not as simple as OOAO
Highlights distance to GES
Possible at a late integration stage to also visualize as ”OOAO approach”

7. Visualization of results IDEAL criteria in future: 100%
SPANISH approach
% of samples below GES
IDEAL criteria in future: 100%
BAC
EAC, EC o ERL
Natural levels
Low impact
Probable biological effects

8. Further work: Integration requires harmonization!
Alignment WFD/MSFD national/regional assessments
Selection/exclusion of contaminants
Appropriate matrix for the selected contaminants
Agreed (sub)regional environmental standards when there is no WFD EQS
Integration of concentrations and effects

9. Further work: Scales Compatibility with WFD (1-12 nm)
Representativeness beyond 12 nm (lack of data for open seas)
Identification of small scale pressure which can have large-scale impact
Distance from GES and changes: technical specifications for trend assessment

10. Thank you very much for your attention