Featured Image Credit: U.S. Geological Survey
By Adam Trautwig
We probably don’t have to tell you how easy it can be to fall into a routine. The familiar rhythm of our day-to-day activities can be more about muscle memory than careful thought and consideration.
A new study published by researchers based out of Stockholm, Sweden found out that the same might also be said for the testing of chemicals in fish populations.
The study, led by Dr. Sobek Anna at the Stockholm University, analyzed twelve years of data collected from Baltic Sea fish. The information was collected from environmental monitoring programs and published scientific research. Across all of these studies, over 100 different substances or substance groups were analyzed.
According to the findings, 87%, of the studies surveyed less than 20% of all substances encompassed in the study. Seems like we’re missing a lot…Meanwhile, 44% of the substances were only tested for once. In addition, new pollutants were often not tested for in favor of pollutants that were already known to be in the environment and are regulated for.
Of particular interest to the researchers were persistent organic pollutants (or POP’s). These compounds have also been referred to as “legacy pollutants” for their tendency to persist in the environment. POP’s are well known for undergoing long-range transportation to remote areas. In fact, entire teams of researchers are dedicated solely to determining where these compounds are distributed.
Frequently they focus only on POP’s in one medium, like air, or a few locations, such as the tropics or arctic. These compounds can have dire impacts on fish populations and the humans that depend on them for income and food.
It is impossible to screen for all chemicals, at all times. That’s why managers rely on scientists to help them determine what they should be testing for.
Looking forward, it is important that research, like that conducted by Dr. Anna, is used to more effectively develop testing strategies. Instead of falling into a routine of determining if chemicals we already know to be present in the environment are still present, we can evolve in order to stay ahead of pollution as it occurs.
While industry is a fundamental aspect of our species, the byproducts of production can be harmful. The good news is that we can use technology to improve, not just industry, but also environmental chemical risk assessment also.
For more information consult: “The Dilemma in Prioritizing Chemicals for Environmental Analysis: Known Versus Unknown Hazards” by Anna et al. and “Tracking the Global Distribution of Persistent Organic Pollutants Accounting for E‑Waste Exports to Developing Regions” by Breivk et al.