Ecotoxicity and biodiversity

Biodiversity loss is increasing, as is pollution, which is classified by IPBES as one of the five direct factors impacting nature on a global scale. As a founding member of the Foundation for Research on Biodiversity (FRB), INERIS aims to contribute to better identification and consideration of the impact of chemical pollution on biodiversity.
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Crédit photo : Eric Nocher

Better characterisation of environmental contamination is one of the key levers for public policy on biodiversity preservation. 
For aquatic environments, the environmental objectives of the Water Framework Directive (WFD) have been instrumental: improvements to the monitoring system have made it possible to increase the reliability of the data acquired, rationalise costs, and anticipate and prioritise emerging issues, in particular through the development of innovative tools for the early detection of effects on ecosystems. 
Thus, INERIS, in partnership with BRGM, IFREMER, IRSTEA and LNE, is responsible for strengthening French expertise in the field of aquatic environment monitoring through the National Reference Laboratory for Aquatic Environment Monitoring (AQUAREF) , based on the networking of the skills and research capacities of the five public institutions directly concerned.
The institute's work addresses biodiversity issues through the WFD, focusing on the presence of chemicals in aquatic environments by conducting multidisciplinary research on chemicals, from predicting the ecotoxicity of substances to characterising pressures and their impacts on aquatic ecosystems. INERIS draws on its research programmes, which are particularly recognised in the field of endocrine disruption, to develop specific biological tools (bioassays/bioanalysis or effect biomarkers to identify early alterations caused by substances and characterise the health status of fish populations).
For other environments, particularly terrestrial environments, consideration of these emerging issues is less advanced, which should be remedied by the soil health initiative expected in the 2025-20  at European level. However, INERIS has developed expertise in the terrestrial environment and has cross-disciplinary expertise in ecotoxicological tools that can be used for soils.
Ineris now intends to continue its work on developing and implementing tools for monitoring chemical pollution and its effects in different environments and on providing integrated methodologies and approaches for assessing risks to ecosystems.

Prioritising substances to be monitored

In 2011, INERIS proposed a methodology for prioritising substances in aquatic environments based on work carried out by the European NORMAN network, which it coordinates. The aim was to objectively identify and prioritise actions to be taken on relevant substances to be monitored, whether for prospective studies or for inclusion in regulatory lists of substances to be monitored. It also involves prioritising the efforts to be pursued, whether they relate to analytical developments or future studies of the hazardous properties of these substances. These prioritisation approaches are now used in contexts other than aquatic environments, in particular in multi-environment case studies on PFAS and EDCs conducted within the European PARC partnership.

Developing risk management tools for ecosystems

In 2022, the Institute published a guidance document on ecosystem risk assessment (ERA) proposing to combine complementary chemical, ecotoxicological and ecological approaches by substance, matrix and environment.

Assessing the impact of pollution on environmental quality and developing solutions for reduction and monitoring

INERIS designs innovative monitoring strategies and contributes to their implementation by combining chemical characterisation of substances (targeted and non-targeted analysis) with biological tools (batteries of bioassays and biomarkers). These strategies have been implemented in the context of research into markers of biodiversity change at the local level.

Partnerships

INERIS now has a number of key partnerships to help it achieve its biodiversity objectives. 
At the national level, the French Biodiversity Agency and INERIS have been partners for nearly 15 years. This collaboration includes support for the AQUAREF consortium, which is led by INERIS. 
In terms of research, INERIS co-directs UMR-I Sebio (Environmental Stress and Biomonitoring of Aquatic Environments). The continuation of a joint work programme with Ifremer within the ARC (Chemical Risk Analysis) Unit enables the institutes to pool their expertise to conduct risk assessments related to chemical substances in the marine environment.
Finally, as a founding member, INERIS supports the actions of the Foundation for Research on Biodiversity (FRB).
At European level, INERIS relies on the NORMAN network and the 200 partners of the PARC partnership (2022-2029). 
INERIS participates in the work of the European Environment Agency's Thematic Centre on Biodiversity and Ecosystems, which began in January 2023. In this capacity, it will contribute to the provision of integrated methodologies for identifying pressures on biodiversity.

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