Bilat - Study of approaches of biomonitoring with risk assessment by construction of biomarker bridges

The theoretical framework for integration of biomonitoring into environmental risk assessment procedures was developed by IRIS. Experimental data were obtained and used to demonstrate that the established framework can be a possible approach to link the b iomonitoring with risk assessment. In order to make this approach operative the present project aims to provide sufficient data to complete the links between biomonitoring and risk assessment, and to develop practical procedures for its use. In relation t o produced water discharges there is presently a lack of links between biomonitoring and risk assessment methods. The major benefit of such links is that it enables judgement of water column monitoringresults in relation to expected values. This capabilit y is of key importance for the environmental management of produced water in the Norwegian sector, since the overall goal in our environmental regulation is expressed in terms of (no harmful) effects. Further, it is a proactive requirement for operators t o assess the environmental risks and demonstrate that harmful effects are not likely to occur as a result of their operations. In addition to the environmental management tools that will be developed, the project will bring new data and knowledge of biolo gical effects in fatty fish species, in particular for species that are economically and ecologically important in the Norwegian Sea and the Barents Sea. This will be done by long term exposures of capelin, herring, halibut and turbot to crude oil dispers ions in four different concentrations. Effects and biomarkers will be measured to provide input to species sensitivity distributions for biomarkers and fitness, and to form the basis for biomarker based water column monitoring in relation to oil discharge s in Norwegian and Russian Arctis waters.