title: Current levels and trends of selected EU Water Framework Directive priority substances in freshwater fish from the German environmental specimen bank.
abstract: Under the German environmental specimen bank programme bream (Abramis brama) were sampled in six German rivers and analysed for the priority hazardous substances dicofol, hexabromocyclododecane (HBCDD), hexachlorobenzene (HCB), hexachlorobutadiene (HCBD), heptachlor + heptachlor epoxide (HC + HCE), polybrominated diphenylethers (PBDEs), polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and -furans and dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls (PCDD/Fs + dl-PCBs), and perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS). The aim was to assess compliance with the EU Water Framework Directive environmental quality standards for biota (EQSBiota) for the year 2013, and to analyse temporal trends for those substances that are of special concern. General compliance was observed for dicofol, HBCDD and HCBD whereas PBDEs exceeded the EQSBiota at all sites. For all other substances compliance in 2013 varied between locations. No assessment was possible for HC + HCE at some sites where the analytical sensitivity was not sufficient to cover the EQSBiota. Trend analysis showed decreasing linear trends for HCB and PFOS at most sampling sites between 1995 and 2014 indicating that the emission reduction measures are effective. Mostly decreasing trends or constant levels were also observed for PCDD/Fs and dl-PCBs. In contrast, increasing trends were detected for PBDEs and HBCDD which were especially pronounced at one Saar site located downstream of the industries and conurbation of Saarbrücken and Völklingen. This finding points to new sources of emissions which should be followed in the coming years.
authors.affiliation: Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology (Fraunhofer IME), 57392 Schmallenberg, Germany. Electronic address: annette.fliedner@ime.fraunhofer.de.
authors.forename: Annette
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fliedner
authors.affiliation: Eurofins GfA Lab Service GmbH, Neuländer Kamp 1a, 21079 Hamburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Nina
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Lohmann
authors.affiliation: Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology (Fraunhofer IME), 57392 Schmallenberg, Germany.
authors.forename: Heinz
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Rüdel
authors.affiliation: Trier University, Department of Biogeography, 54286 Trier, Germany.
authors.forename: Diana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Teubner
authors.affiliation: German Environment Agency (Umweltbundesamt), 06813 Dessau-Rosslau, Germany.
authors.forename: Jörg
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wellmitz
authors.affiliation: German Environment Agency (Umweltbundesamt), 06813 Dessau-Rosslau, Germany.
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Koschorreck
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003530:Cyprinidae / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000379:methods*; D005062:European Union; D005618:Fresh Water / Q000032:analysis*; D005858:Germany; D033161:Government Regulation; D015386:Hazardous Substances / Q000032:analysis*; D012015:Reference Standards; D017747:Seafood / Q000032:analysis; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis*; D060753:Water Quality / Q000592:standards*
chemical_list: D015386:Hazardous Substances; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical
keywords: Biota monitoring; Compliance monitoring; Environmental quality standard; Environmental specimen bank; Trend monitoring