The NORMAN network on emerging substances: status and future plans www.norman-network.net valeria.dulio@ineris.fr NORMAN network – Emerging Substances Former FP6 research project Non-profit association since 2009 45 Members in 2010 (8 Founding Members + 37 Ordinary members) Activities funded by its members: via annual membership fees + in-kind contribution Focus on synergies with the various activities funded at the national level in the field of EP June 2010: signature of Collaboration Agreement between NORMAN and JRC Strong link with DG ENV (WFD CIS WG-E / CMEP) NORMAN Mission • Exchange of information on emerging substances – Assessment of occurrence in the environment (monitoring data) and associated risk – Identification of relevant pollutants among emerging substances • Harmonisation of methods for: – Measurement of concentration levels in the environment – Assessment of effects – Decision-making authorities – must be able to compare and interpret the data • Emerging substance a pollutant of concern need for regular monitoring sufficient capability across the EU for measuring it at the routine level Environmental contaminants: “knowns and unknowns” • “Conventional” pollutants e.g. PCBs, metals, PAHs We know how to measure them and we have data to assess the risks • “Known” emerging pollutants: e.g. PFCs, PPCP, nanomaterials We know that they are present in the environment, but we don’t have enough data to assess the risks • “Unknown” emerging pollutants : ??? We know they are present in the environment (causing effects, including as mixtures) but we don’t know yet WHAT they are (?) NORMAN focus Adapted from Francis S. Collins, 2008 Main targeted policies? • Water Framework Directive – – – – – Support to DG ENV WG-E and CMEP activities River Basin-Specific Pollutants New priority substances Quality and comparability of results at EU scale Implementation of bioassays / biomarkers in monitoring programmes • Marine Strategy Framework Directive • Upgrade of Drinking Water Directive – Water Safety Plans • REACh – Occurrence in the environment Chemical monitoring and emerging pollutants (CMEP) activity – sub-group of WG E • CMEP mandate: • “The NORMAN network will be closely associated with this activity, as well as other relevant research initiatives on emerging pollutants. The activity will provide: – Quickly reliable and EU-wide information about levels and occurrence of emerging environmental pollutants which can eventually support the identification of new priority substances. – Information on performance of existing analytical methods for emerging pollutants and any other information deemed relevant for the activities of the WGE on this field. – Information exchange on the use of alternative effect-based monitoring methods (e.g. biomarker, bioassays, EDA) needed for investigative monitoring and to better evaluate the link between chemical and ecological status and the effects of mixture of pollutants and emerging pollutants.” NORMAN Strategy TARGET & select: - PRIORITISATION of emerging SUBSTANCES - Target screening / monitoring Data comparability: -Common Protocol for methods validation -Interlaboratory studies Data sharing / info exchange: -Databases -Workshops -Bulletin Identification of relevant toxicants via FIELDBASED approaches - Biological tools in combination with chemical analysis Setting priorities among emerging substances (known emerging pollutants) Substance by substance assessment Emerging compounds cited in the literature Exposure assessment Hazard assessment Classification by action categories Cat1 Cat2 Cat3 Cat4 Cat5 Cat6 Ranking within each category •Classification into action categories followed by ranking Identification of relevant toxicants (unknown emerging pollutants) • Monitoring and modelling-based prioritisation can only partly solve dilemma of the complexity of contamination • Two Working Groups dealing with effect-based analysis: – WG-2 “The value of bioassays / biomarkers in water quality monitoring: strategies for interpretation of results” (INERIS / IVM / RIVM) – WG-3 “Effect Directed Analysis – (UFZ) – kick-off meeting, Leipzig 19-20 Oct Water Framework Directive River Basin Specific Pollutants Identification and Monitoring 10-11 June 2010 Stresa, Italy A JRC IES – NORMAN initiative in support of the WFD implementation EUROPEAN ENVIRONMENTAL SPECIMEN BANKS, Berlin – 21 Jun 2010 Overviews FUNDING EUROPEAN SPECIMEN Environment Human BANKING Archive Prioritisation Chemical safety management Standards NORMAN • Data quality / comparability: harmonisation and validation of analytical methods NORMAN validation protocol IWW → Provides a check list of criteria / indicators for validation of measurement methods: research lab, expert lab and routine lab level • Validation protocol developed during NORMAN project • Is now the basis for New Work Item Proposal submitted to the French mirror group of CEN TC 230 (Water Analysis) – AFNOR • Objective: CEN Technical Specifications Passive sampling – NORMAN Expert Group and Europe-wide harmonisation • An innovative monitoring tool for the time-integrated measurement of bioavailable contaminants in water and sediment • Activities of NORMAN – A position paper “Passive sampling of emerging pollutants in the aquatic environment: state of the art and perspectives” published in 2010 – An interlaboratory calibration study will take place in 2011 (field campaigns in spring – summer) • variability in data by comparing results from various passive samplers sent by participating laboratories exposed to water at a single (reference) site • Target substances: polar pesticides, pharmaceuticals, biocides, steroid hormones, brominated flame retardants Other activities 2011 • Challenges for sampling and analysis of emerging contaminats (EG meeting: NIVA) • New brominated flame retardants as emerging contaminants in the environment (EG meeting: IVL) • Validation of organic phosphorous flame retardants analysis in the environment (ILS: IVM) • Engineered nanoparticles in water (EG meeting: BfG) • Development and Implementation of a High Resolution Accurate MassBank for NORMAN (UFZ) • Methodological approaches for evaluation of mixture effects to human health in drinking water (EG meeting: KWR) Why is this needed? • To break the vicious circle: «not monitored, therefore not regulated» / «not regulated, therefore not monitored» • Not possible to answer all open questions at national/single country level Production and exchange of Reliable and high quality data is crucial for all these activities!!