Minutes from the CEP

Workshop on Application of Biomarker

Technique in Environmental Monitoring and Management

Baku 22-24 February 2005

Participants:

CPU: Hamid Ghaffarzadeh, Volodomyr Myroshnychenko*, Reza Sheikholeslami:

Azerbaijan:

Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources: Rasim Sattarzade,

Laboratory of the Ministry of Environment: Latifa Huseynova, Sadiga Novruzova

Academy of Science, Baku: Rafik Kasimov, Arif Mehktiev, Gregory Palatnikov, Elchan Rustamov

Socar Laboratory: Shahabiddin B. Albushov (Environment and Rational Utilisation of Nature Reserves Manager)*

BP: Faig Askerov, Ayaz Hasanov

AmC-Caspian Environmental Laboratory: Endre Aas*, Afag Abbasova*, Nargis Garajayeva*

Iran:

Sohrab Rezvani Gilkolaei, Ali Maschinchian*

Kazakhstan:

Yevgeniya Monogarova*, Nurken Bultekov*, Panarkan Shingissova

Russia:

Ludmila Kiseleva*

Turkmenistan:

Jahan Annachariyeva*, Akbike Garayeva*

International Consultsultants:

Odd Ketil Andersen*, RF-Akvamiljo

David Lowe*, Plymouth Marine Laboratory (PML)

Brian Roddie*, Independent consultant

* Participant of the demonstration of biomarkers at AmC-CEL Thursday 24 February

Program:

22 February 2005

• Welcome by: Hamid Ghaffarzadeh CPU, and Faig Askerov BP
• Concept of biomarkers: Odd Ketil Andersen, RF Akvamiljo
  background for the biomarker approach, definitions of biomarkers, bioassays, bio-indicators; examples of biomarkers for different kinds of organisms and contaminant situations; long term/low dose exposure approach.
• Biological effects and biomarkers : Odd Ketil Andersen RF-Akvamiljo, Endre Aas AmC-CEL and David Lowe Plymouth Marine Laboratory (PML)
  (applications, discriminatory power, pros and cons, price of analysis, analytical complexity level). Examples: endocrine disruption in invertebrates, impaired chemical signaling, fluorescent bile metabolites in fish, immune system disorders in fish, induction of CYP1A detoxification, vitellogenin induction and impaired chemical sensing. Acute spills, operational discharges, old point source pollution. Wild animals, caged animals, effluent testing.
• BEEP-Biological Effects of Environmental pollution in coastal Marine Ecosystems: Odd Ketil Andersen RF-Akvamiljo.
  A 3 year EU project with 30 participating Institutes from 12 European countries. The aim was to develop new biomarkers and to validate the use of biomarkers in environmental effect monitoring in coastal marine ecosystems. Three regions was focused: The Mediterranean, Baltic, and the North Atlantic.
• Biomarkers of Contaminant Exposure & Effect. David Lowe Plymouth Marine Laboratory (PML)
  Presentation of the biomarker concept, the use of some biomarkers, and the statistical treatment of the result in UK. Results from the ECOMAN project was presented.
• Bioeffects monitoring in MEDPOL. Volodomyr Myroshnychenko CPU.
  Presentation of the Mediterranean project MEDPOL, participants, methods and results.
• Biomarkers in fish monitoring in Azerbaijan. Nargis Garajayeva, AmC-CEL
  Objective of the fish monitoring in Sangachal Bay was: To assess the presence, abundance of fish species. Contamination levels and General health status of fish populations was studied. Study species were sand smelt (Atherina mochon caspia) and goby (Neogobius fluviatilis pallasi).
• Sangachal Bay Mussel Biomonitoring. Afag Abbasova, AmC-CEL
  To assess water quality in Sangachal Bay. To build a time-series database on the health status and responses of mussels deployed at different times of the year. To establish a monitoring regime that can detect possible effects of operations in Sangachal Bay on overall water quality
• Adaptation of biomarkers to Caspian species and validation of biomarker responses. Odd Ketil Andersen RF-Akvamiljo
  Focus on how to choose species, biomarkers and how to validate their response on new species. Some thought on how to develop an effect monitoring program in the Caspian.
• State of the art on biomarkers used in environmental impact assessments (EIA) - Drivers for use of biomarkers. Odd Ketil Andersen RF-Akvamiljo.
  Examples of the use of biomarkers in different phases of field development. Pre-operational phase: ERA input to assessment of environmental consequences and Biomarker-EIA: Baseline monitoring study. During operation: ERA for environmental optimization and Biomarker-EIA where Environmental Effect Monitoring is performed to control those environmental goals are achieved. After operation: Biomarker-EIA where Environmental Effect Monitoring is performed to control that the field is redelivered in good environmental conditions after decommissioning
• Discussion on the concept and use of biomarkers

23 February 2005

• Monitoring the offshore marine environment. Norwegian Pollution Control Authority – SFT. Presented by Odd Ketil Andersen RF-Akvamiljo
  Overview of the environmental conditions. Development and trends. To follow up the predictions done in the environmental impact assessment (EIA) and to measure the possible impact of the discharges (chemicals, produced water and cuttings) to the sea floor and water column. Follow up requirements in the Pollution Control Act, HSE regulations & Discharge permits. Monitoring has been carried out for 30 years and provides a good tool for the operator and the authorities. Results shall be available and may be used by all parties. Independent consultants carry out the surveys
• Environmental risk assessment (ERA) in European Community: Odd Ketil Andersen RF-Akvamiljo
  Background for environmental risk assessment; differences between risk assessment and hazard assessment.
• Environmental risk assessment (ERA) in connection with offshore studies: Endre Aas AmC-CEL
  How ERA is used toward offshore oil exploration and production activity, focus on drilling discharges and produced water discharges; methodologies and models in use.
• Examples on use of ERA and biomarker-EIA: Endre Aas AmC-CEL
  Case studies on ERA for E&P offshore activities; Examples on how biomarkers are used as a tool for environmental impact assessment.
• Case studies for validating the link between ERA and effect monitoring. Odd Ketil Andersen RF-Akvamiljo
  Examples of effect monitoring with biomarkers based on some cases from the North sea and Norwegian coastal waters: BECPELAG, WCM 2003, Pyrogenic PAH mixture from smelter industry and Acute discharges (spills)
• Environmental impact factor (EIF). Endre Aas AmC Akvamiljo
  Use in Norway – a computer model used by the offshore industry to assess the potential impact of offshore discharges.
• The role of biomarkers in a sustainable management of the marine environment: Odd Ketil Andersen RF-Akvamiljo
  Challenges related to linking impact prognosis (predictions) and diagnostic monitoring.
• Discussions on the use of effect monitoring in the Caspian Region

24 February 2005

• A guided tour of Akvamiljo Caspian (AmC) Caspian Environmental Laboratory
• Demonstration of selected biomarker methods
• Clearance rate as a biomarker in mussels
• Lysosomal membrane stability in mussels with the Neutral Red Retention essay.
• Fluorescence PAH metabolites in fish bile

Summary of the discussions

Generally there was interest among the participant countries of taking part in biomarker studies in the Caspian Sea. It was agreed to design a simple mussel-watch programme after the model used in the Black Sea, starting off with a limited number of biomarkers and study sites in each country. Suitable biomarkers for mussels include filtration rate and the Lysosomal Membrane Stability Test (NRRT method). Required equipment for these mussel biomarkers includes a standard microscope and a few chemicals.

If doable, simple biomarker on fish might also be implemented to the programme. Examples of relevant parameters are detection of PAH metabolites in bile with fluorescence, gill EROD activity (detoxification enzyme assay), micronuclei assay. Required equipment for fluorescence analyses of PAH metabolites is a Spectrofluorometer and a spectrophotometer and for micronuclei assay a microscope.

Without any commitments politically or otherwise, all the CEP country representatives confirmed that they have the capacity and ability to participate and perform in such this environmental effect monitoring with mussels. It was agreed that RF-Akvamiljo prepared a document with a few pages background including an outline of a proposed programme. This can be used in application for funding and as substantiation for the participation of the countries around the Caspian Sea. Caspian Environmental Programme will be a central driving force and coordinator in this work.

Click this link to download workshop documents and photos.