Exposure and Effects of Veterinary Medicines and Pesticides to Aquatic Wildlife in Protected Sites

Passive quantitative sampling methodology will be employed to allow the full picture of chemical exposure to wildlife to be assessed. Chemical analysis would be selective to chemicals most relevant to remain cost effective.

Based on the above analysis, evidence of exposure above the regulatory acceptable concentrations (RAC) for each substance can be used to assess the potential for adverse effects on aquatic species. Furthermore, the additive or synergistic adverse effects of chemical mixtures can be assessed.

Use of eDNA sampling methodologies is now well established and validated. eDNA data can demonstrate the ecological status of freshwater ponds and wetlands. Amphibia and aquatic invertebrate eDNA data will be used to assess effects of chemical contaminants in the protected aquatic habitats surveyed.

The evidence of effects from biomonitoring data collected and the risk assessment evidence may allow direct management practices to mitigate the adverse effects of these chemicals, either at source, in wastewater treatment works or at the protected site. This work is designed to feed directly into the effects of chemicals on D4/D5 indicator species conducted by DEFRA Pressures.