Objective In 1989 the European Community introduced a directive to restrict the use of TBT-based antifouling paints on boats under 25m. This, in combination with other National and International legislation, has provoked paint manufacturers and chemica] companies to develop and vend a range of agents for ne v antifouling paints for the lucrative small boat market and as an addition to TBT-based fornnulations to enhance efficacy for larger vessels. Examples of the types of compounds being used or promoted include: 2,3,5,6-tetrachloro4-(methyl sulphonyl) pyridine; 2methylthio-4-tertiary-butylamino-6-cyclopropylamino-s-triazine (IRGAROL 1051); cuprous thiocyanate; 2,4,5,6-tetrachlora iso phthalo nitrile; 4,5-dichloro-2-n-octyl-4-isothiazolin-3-one (SeaNine 211); dichlorophenyl dimethylurea (Diuron); 2(thiocyanomethyl thio)benzthiazole; zincpyrithione; 4-chloro-meta-cresol; arsenic trioxide; cis 1-(3-chloroallyl)- 3,5,7-triazal-azonia adamantane chloride; zineb; dichlofluanid; folpet; thirarn; oxy tetracycline hydrochloride; zirarn and maneb. This lisl includes compounds which are known to be highly toxic (e.g. cyanides, arsenicals) or to act as endocrine disruptors (e.g. maneb, ziram) but negligible data concerning contamination, (potential) effects and risks of these compounds in the coastal and marine environment are available. Antifouling paints are a neccessity for shipping operators and are considered to be indispensible by owners of small boats. Consequently, the market of antifouling paints is large. Effective alternatives to TBT-based antifoulings have a large perspective from the commercial point of view. Without a well-founded management strategy, however, large environmental problems may lay await. IRGAROL may be an exarnple. Recent publications indicate that current levels of contamination in European coastal zones will give rise to perturbations in coastal phytoplankton communities. This concern has led the Group of Experts on the Scientific Aspects of Marine Pollution (GESAMP) of the United Nations to consider this compound into more detail. The information on IRGAROL as well on other alternatives is, however, very limited. This proposed project has the objective to provide information and tools which enable environmental managers at national and international levels to address the issue of antifouling agents in a systematic, effective manner in an early stage of the use ol these compounds. In this manner, a contribution is made to prevention of problems. The following activities are to be carried out: 1. to survey antifouling agents and products being used and marketed; 2. to assess geographical patterns / differences in usage; 3. to establish a database with environmental and toxicological properties of these compounds using information from literature or employing data generated in the project; 4. to develop suitably sensitive analytical techniques to measure environmental levels (and to intercompare analyses) 5. to assess the extent of contamination of European coastlines 6. to investigate fates and effects in (semi-) field conditions 7. to predict future concentrations levels and effects in a selected European coastal zones with models using the data obtained; 8. to compare the products regarding environmental properties (fate, toxicity) and effects using different scenario's for usage. Partners involved comprise expert analytical /environmental and ecotoxicological institutions with considerable experience in marine science. They represent several EU States and cover a large proportion and diverse EU coastal areas. An industrial perspective is included through the participation of an antifouling biocide manufacturer. Fields of science natural sciencescomputer and information sciencesdatabasesnatural sciencesearth and related environmental sciencesenvironmental sciencespollutionnatural sciencesearth and related environmental sciencesoceanography Programme(s) FP4-MAST 3 - Specific programme of research and technological development in the field of marine science and technology, 1994-1998 Topic(s) 020103 - Methods for monitoring, forecasting and management of shelf seas and coastal zones Call for proposal Data not available Funding Scheme CSC - Cost-sharing contracts Coordinator NERC Centre of Coastal and Marine Sciences EU contribution No data Address Prospect Place West Hoe PL1 3DH Plymouth United Kingdom See on map Total cost No data Participants (7) Sort alphabetically Sort by EU Contribution Expand all Collapse all CONSEJO SUPERIOR DE INVESTIGACIONES CIENTIFICAS Spain EU contribution No data Address 18-26,Jordi Girona 18-26 08034 BARCELONA See on map Total cost No data GOETEBORG UNIVERSITY Sweden EU contribution No data Address 22B,Carl Skottsbergs Gata 22B 413 19 GOETEBORG See on map Total cost No data IFREMER - INSTITUT FRANÇAIS DE RECHERCHE POUR L'EXPLOITATION DE LA MER France EU contribution No data Address Rue de l'Ile d'Yeu 44311 NANTES See on map Total cost No data NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH INSTITUTE - MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY Denmark EU contribution No data Address 399,Frederiksborgvej 399 4000 ROSKILDE See on map Total cost No data UNIVERSITY OF IOANNINA Greece EU contribution No data Address 1,Panepistimioupolis 1 45110 IOANNINA See on map Total cost No data VRIJE UNIVERSITEIT AMSTERDAM - VERENIGING VOOR CHRISTELIJK WETENSCHAPPELIJK ONDERWIJS Netherlands EU contribution No data Address De Boelelaan 1115 1081 HV AMSTERDAM See on map Total cost No data Water Quality Institute Denmark EU contribution No data Address 11,Agern Allé 2970 Hørsholm See on map Total cost No data