Monitoring mixtures of pollutants discharged into surface waters and assessing the risk of the cocktail effect
Current monitoring and assessment of the chemical status of water bodies fails to characterize the likelihood of complex mixtures of chemicals affecting water quality. Recent and forthcoming developments in European legislation increasingly take into account the fact that this probability can be estimated using effect-based monitoring (EBM) methods, supplemented by chemical screening. In the course of this study, these tools were applied to discharges likely to be major sources of emerging pollutants (storm water overflows, hospital discharges, pharmaceutical industries, etc.) and to the course of a model river: the Mehaigne.
Biological assays or in vitro bioassays (Yeast Estrogen and Yeast Androgen Screen Tests (YES/YAS tests)), biomarkers measured on in situ encaged gammarids This triad approach (known as the “weight-of-evidence” approach) enables us to synthesize the responses of the various indicators for a better understanding of the modes of action involved, and therefore better management of the factors responsible. The year 2023 was devoted to processing the macroinvertebrate samples, processing the results and writing the final report. The project is now complete.

ISSeP project leader: Yves Marneffe | Financing : ENVIeS Plan |
Contact: y.marneffe@issep.be | Partners: SPW-ARNE-DEE-DESU |
Duration: January 2020 – December 2023 |