Metrology for monitoring endocrine disrupting compounds under the Water Framework Directive
Short Name: EDC-WFD, Project Number: 18NRM01
Reliable and harmonised methods for analysing endocrine disrupting chemicals
Even at ultra-trace levels, oestrogens in watercourses may cause disruptive effects to fish, biodiversity and human fertility. Some of these endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) are on a ‘Watch List’ of substances to be monitored under the EU Water Framework Directive, but no standard reference method is available and there’s no consistent monitoring method. There’s also no way to guarantee sample integrity, no quality control tools to ensure test reliability, or standard for measuring EDCs via chemical analysis.
To enable compliance with the Directive, the project developed mass spectrometry-based reference methods to analyse EDCs in water samples. Aqueous reference materials (RM) were also developed, an inter-laboratory comparison conducted, and input to standards committees fast-tracked. Backed by standards, accurate and reliable measurement data will enable identification of habitats at risk, and policymakers will be better able to protect human health, aquatic environments and biodiversity.
This project builds on from EMRP project ENV08 WFD.