Article 8 Assessment Guidance Descriptor 8 Victoria Tornero Workshop on Art. 8 Assessment 20-21.04.2016, Brussels

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

(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

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

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

Visualization of results D8 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”

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

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

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

Thank you very much for your attention