Compiling and summarizing Persistent Organic Pollutant (POPs) data from the U.S. Arctic for the Arctic Monitoring & Assessment Programme (AMAP)

Updated 2000-04-19

Objectives: 1. Locate and assemble scientific data from the U.S. Arctic on the concentrations and effects of POPs in all compartments (e.g., marine and terrestrial biota, abiotic substrates) of the Arctic. 2. Evaluate, analyze and summarize these scientific data from the U.S. Arctic into text suitable for inclusion in a new (second) AMAP publication on POPs. 3. Disseminate the summarized information via a U.S. AMAP Internet page that is directly linked to the current International AMAP Internet page. Summary (Abstract): The Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Programme (AMAP) was established in 1991 and given the responsibility of monitoring the concentrations and assessing the effects of selected anthropogenic pollutants in all compartments of the Arctic. The first AMAP assessment report, published in 1998, points out gaps in our current understanding of contaminant inputs, their transport processes and food web interactions. In addition, the AMAP report noted a serious lack of information about persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in the U.S. and Russian Arctic. Thus, the recommendations of the first AMAP report were to: monitor spatial distribution, contaminant levels and biological effects of POPs; improve the understanding of the adverse effects of POPs on human populations; and fill existing data gaps, specifically in the U.S. and Russia. In this work, we plan to identify sources of scientific information (e.g., published reports, datasets) on POPs in the U.S. Arctic and obtain these data for AMAP. Once data sources are identified, a small group of scientific experts will be assembled for a workshop to determine if any pertinent sources have been overlooked and to give advice on how best to evaluate, analyze, summarize and disseminate the information obtained. A working database will be designed so that the data and scientifically important findings or conclusions from each study can be organized and evaluated. Data will be analyzed statistically, as appropriate, to determine spatial and temporal trends. The data and scientific findings that have been collected and analyzed will then be summarized into text, for inclusion in the next AMAP publication on POPs. This major effort of synthesizing the existing data from the U.S. Arctic will ensure that the AMAP report adequately presents the accomplishments of U.S. scientists and research programs. The written publication and the summarized U.S. POPs data will also be presented as a U.S. AMAP Internet page linked to the International AMAP Internet page.

This is not a National Implementation Plan (NIP) project
Comments and additional information:

Budget (2000) $100K Budget (2001) $100K

Time frame

Status
Ongoing
Project time span
2000 - 2002
Data collection
not specified
Data processing
2000 - 2002
Data reporting
2000 - 2002

Contact information

Contact person
Margaret (Peggy) Krahn
Address
NOAA/NMFS/EC Division 2725 Montlake Boulevard East Seattle, WA 98112 USA
Phone
+1 201-860-3326
Fax
+1 206-860-3335
Email
vog.aaon@nhark.yggep
Other project contacts
Todd O'Hara Dept. of Wildlife Management North Slope Borough PO Box 69 Barrow, AK 99723 USA +1 907-852-0350

Parameters and Media

Parameter groups measured/observed/modelled
Persistent organic pollutants (POPs)
Media sampled/studied/modelled
Human media
Marine fish
Marine mammals
Marine sediments
Seabirds
Seawater/suspended particulate matter
Terrestrial mammals
Additional information or further specification of types of data / information collected, species / tissues / organs sampled, etc.

Data to be obtained from existing sources, so media sampled depends on the results of past programs.

Geography

Regions studied
Terrestrial TDC
Terrestrial TDC

Data availability

Are data archived or planned to be archived at an AMAP Thematic Data Centre?
yes-all
Data centres
Human Health TDC
Marine TDC
Terrestrial TDC
Samples/specimens archived in specimen banks?
No

Methods & Procedures

Procedures and methodology used for, e.g., sampling and sample storage, sample pretreatment, extraction and analysis, including which laboratories are involved, references to methods employed, etc.

Multiple methods employed by past programs that collected the original data.

QA/QC Information (what QA/QC procedures are implemented, laboratories involvment in QA/QC activities, model verification/validation routines, etc.)

Varies, depending on the original project.

Additional Information

Is this a bi- AND multi-lateral project (i.e. a project involving cooperation between different countries)?
Yes
Other institutes involved in the project

Part of AMAP Phase II, so all Arctic countries involved.

Is this project reporting to other organizations/programmes?

IARC/CIFAR NOAA/OAR Sponsored by the NOAA Arctic Research Office

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