Objective A main objective in environmental policy of the European Commission is the safeguarding of soil ecosystems against detrimental effects of chemical contaminants. Therefore, EC-funded research is aiming to develop specific ecotoxicological test methods using terrestrial invertebrates. The advantage of these tests over chemical analysis of toxicants is that they account for bioavailability of hazardous compounds or detrimental effects on organisms. Furthermore, combined effects of different toxicants or the presence of unknown compounds can be measured using these test methods. Biochemical fingerprint techniques offer perspectives as tools for the risk assessment of chemicals in soils. By using biochemical indicators (biomarkers), they have the potential to bridge the gap between chemical analyses and impairment of physiology leading to effects at the ecosystem level. At present, different biomarker test systems for soil organisms, which include heat shock proteins, metal binding proteins, esterases and specific metabolic patterns, are under development and preliminary results are promising. The biomarker response appears to be a sensitive early warning of chemical stress before sublethal effects, such as inhibition of growth or reproduction, become apparent. Combined effects are integrated in the biomarker response and also unknown compounds are accounted for. The main objective of this collaborative project is the deployment of biochemical fingerprint techniques, which have already been developed, for assessing the exposure and effect of toxicants on soil invertebrates in the field. The participants are connected by: 1) applying specific biochemical expertise from each participant to various invertebrate species, 2) assessing confounding factors of biomarker response, 3) determining the effect of mixtures of toxicants and investigating the response persistence of biomarkers, 4) investigating the applicability of biomarkers in joint field experiments, and 5) aiming for standardisation of biomarker assays for risk assessment procedures by drawing up assay protocols. The research programme includes organisms of different taxonomic and ecological groups which play a vital role in soil ecosystem processes, e.g. nematodes, isopods, Collembola, gastropods and oligochaetes. BIOMARKERS, RISK ASSESSMENT, SOIL, TOXICANTS Fields of science natural sciencesbiological sciencesbiochemistrybiomoleculesproteinsnatural sciencesbiological sciencesecologyecosystemsmedical and health sciencesbasic medicinephysiologyengineering and technologymedical engineeringmedical laboratory technologylaboratory samples analysisnatural sciencesbiological scienceszoologyinvertebrate zoology Programme(s) FP4-ENV 2C - Specific programme of research and technological development in the field of environment and climate, 1994-1998 Topic(s) 02020102 - Risks to the environment Call for proposal Data not available Funding Scheme CSC - Cost-sharing contracts Coordinator WAGENINGEN UNIVERSITY EU contribution No data Address 10,Binnenhaven 10 6701 ES WAGENINGEN Netherlands See on map Total cost No data Participants (5) Sort alphabetically Sort by EU Contribution Expand all Collapse all Leopold-Franzens-Universität Innsbruck Austria EU contribution No data Address 25,Technikerstraße 6020 Innsbruck See on map Total cost No data NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH INSTITUTE - MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY Denmark EU contribution No data Address 25,Vejlsoevej 25 8600 SILKEBORG See on map Total cost No data NATURAL ENVIRONMENT RESEARCH COUNCIL United Kingdom EU contribution No data Address EDINBURGH RESEARCH STATION BUSH ESTATE EH26 0QB PENICUIK See on map Total cost No data Ruprecht-Karls-Universität Heidelberg Germany EU contribution No data Address 230,Im Neuenheimer Feld 69120 Heidelberg See on map Total cost No data Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam Netherlands EU contribution No data Address 1087,De Boelelaan 1081 HV Amsterdam See on map Total cost No data
