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Abstract title
Taking the past into the future - the German Environmental Specimen bank
Author
Koschorreck, Jan, Umweltbundesamt, Dessau-Roßlau, Germany(P)
Co-author(s)
Gies, Andreas, Umweltbundesamt, Dessau-Roßlau, Germany
Kolossa-Gehring, Marike, Umweltbundesamt, Dessau-Roßlau, Germany
Keywords
Chemicals, environmental specimen bank, monitoring, REACH
In the 1980s the German Environmental Specimen Bank started to systematically store human and environmental specimens. All specimens are archived in biobanks, which allows for retrospective analysis of chemical contamination of food webs and human populations. As yet, roughly 190 000 individual human samples and 220 0000 environmental subsamples are stored. Over the last 20 years the specimen bank developed robust standard operation procedures for sampling, preparing and storing of samples. Real-Time analysis provided time trends for a range of elements and organic compounds. Retrospective time trends allowed to evaluate needs for regulatory measures and/or followed their effectiveness. New chances for collaboration of specimen banks with environment and health agencies are introduced by the new chemical Legislation and the Water Framework Directive focussing more on biota quality standards. We see great chances for European and international specimen banks in networking and joint monitoring strategies. A systematic and harmonised screening approach for emerging contaminants in the EU can identify and correct weaknesses in product and substances regulation. The work programme of specimen banks is also likely to become more tailored to the risk assessment and management of substances of very high concern. Efficient use of the resources of European new specimen banks can generate powerful retrospective analyses for substances in focus of regulation and reliable insights into the mechanistic understanding of bioaccumulation at and across trophic levels. Finally, specimen banks can integrate data from human and environmental monitoring and serve as a springboard for the integrated risk assessment of chemicals.