B. M. Gawlik ies.jrc.ec.europa.eu / jrc.ec.europa.eu /

1. Pilot investigation of mechanisms for a Watch List to support the identification of Priority Substances B. M. Gawlik http://ies.jrc.ec.europa.eu/ http://www.jrc.ec.europa.eu/

2. A vicious circle

3. Background • Monitoring of new PS and EQS critical • Weak databases impose high safety factors • Lack of data for not regulated substances • Coordinated and integrated approach building on the existing infrastructure • Facilitate QA/QC • Idea for a Watch List mechanism • Assessment by JRC • Identify new candidate priority substances • Establish a pan-European levels for occurrence and levels • Representative sub-set of WFD Monitoring Stations (ca. 250) • Suitable analytical protocols as a first guidance

4. Can we have an impact? Data Quality Study (ENV, 2010) A closer look: Benzene Total measurements: 26737 LOQ missing: 9.7% LOQ not compliant: 2.6% Useful data: 87.8% Cadmium and its compounds Total measurements: 100302 LOQ missing: 40.3% LOQ not compliant: 58.7% Useful data: 1% (1039) Pentabrominated diphenyl ethers Total measurements: 536 LOQ missing: 1.5% LOQ not compliant: 98.5% Useful data: 0% • 2000 to 2008 (spring) data • 1151 substances • 19946 stations • 547161 individual samplings • 14 602 873 analyses • Water types • 96% River Water • 2% Transitional Water • 1% Lake Water • 1% Coastal Water • Matrices covered • 93% whole water • 6.3% sediment • 0.7% biota

5. Pan-EuropeanScreeningby JRC • Objective:To produce evidence-based and independent data on the occurrence and fate of less-investigated and new chemical substances in the environmental media on a manageable sample set. • Characteristics: • Concern-driven approach • Integrative assessment • Synchronisation and coordination of existing capacities • Pan-regional assessments • Non-probabilistic approach • Multi-methods and –parameter • Work plan (2008 – 2012) • Surface Water • Groundwater • Effluents and sewagesludge • Compost and biowaste • Coastal waters • The Lipid Project • Soils • Effect-based tools • Substance/Property classes • Pesticides • (Candidate) priority substances • Pharmaceuticals • Personal care products • Heavy Metals • Industrial chemicals • Effects of mixtures …

6. TestingtheFeasibility Structureof the Pilot Exercise • Identify possible short-comings • Substance set should reflect different properties in terms of • stability of the analyte in water • required instrumentation (ICP, GC, LC) • various degrees of polarity (ionic, polar to apolar) • different release pathways (point release vs. diffuse emissions, different economic sectors). • Consider available screening information • JRC ensures the collection of existing screening information from the Member States • Matrix approach: Proposal welcome • Some 20 test substances (not to be mixed up with future Watch List Substances) • Synchronisation with ongoing activities Identification of substances for the pilot study A sound Watch List Mechanism has to be science-based and needs to aim on those (emerging) pollutants identified of being of concern

7. Ideal... Number of substances:4 x 5 x 3 = 60 substances

8. Feasible... Number of substances:3 x 3 x 2 = 18 substances

9. TestingtheFeasibility Structureof the Pilot Exercise • Use existing monitoring station network • 5-10 sites per MS – in total 200 to 250 sites • Official WFD Monitoring Sites only • MS must agree to provide and share all relevant information (coordinates) • Synchronisation with normal operation • Methodology for site selection of the sites to be agreed a priori among the MS  Pragmatism • Capture a “snap-shot” • Experience shows that biases are averaged out on EU level • Avoid extreme conditions of pollutions • Consider rivers, lakes and coastal/transitional waters Selection of EU watch list sites The set of stations should represent typical scenarios in order to grasp the European picture.

10. TestingtheFeasibility Structureof the Pilot Exercise • Selected expert laboratories vs. national laboratories • Identify and nominate “expert laboratories” • Stability of the compound in water samples is an important technical detail • JRC is offering to take over ca. 50 % of the analytical work (capabilities and capacities provided) • Deliver fully validated methods (uncertainty budget, Joint NORMAN/CEN protocol) • Pre-normative input to the standardisation process. • Performance indicators in compliance with the QA/QC Directive. • Hand over final report to WG E Laboratories and analytical methods Transparency on the analytical methodology is generally accepted as a key criterion for an expert laboratory.

11. Planning and Timing

12. Resources Exploratory and research (in place) Member States funding (already in place) Commission funding (allocated for 50% plus logistics)

13. Breaking the vicious circle • Invite your laboratories to sync efforts • Delegate measurement capacity (200-250 samples) • Grant access to WFD Stations • Provide screening information • Favour link to research and innovation (EIP Water Efficiency)

14. Thank you! Thank you! bernd.gawlik@jrc.ec.europa.eu http://ies.jrc.ec.europa.eu