Title: Introduction to the Bremerhaven Workshop on Biological Effects of Contaminants
Abstract:for Polar and Marine Research (AWI) in Bremerhaven, Germany, from 12 to 30 March 1990 The main objective was to test a wide range of biological effects techniques on contaminant grad~ents under the ki...for Polar and Marine Research (AWI) in Bremerhaven, Germany, from 12 to 30 March 1990 The main objective was to test a wide range of biological effects techniques on contaminant grad~ents under the kind of conditions that they might be used in a monitorlng programme.Two gradients In the North Sea were used; the first in the German Bight extendlng from the mouths of the Rlvers Elbe and Weser out to the Dogger Bank, the second gradlent related to an exploratory dnlling site.The aim was to relate biological data to chemical analyses of contaminants in water, sediments and organisms taken during the workshop from the same stations on the same gradients.Over 100 scientists from countries bordering the North Sea, as well as from Sweden, Poland and North Amenca, carried out jolnt investigations on the 2 transects, primarily to test and compare a wide range of established and new biological techniques to monitor the effects of pollution The work Included physiological, b~ochemical, embryological, molecular, cellular and gross pathological studies in the d a b Lirnanda limanda, as well as various sediment and water quality bioassays and indices of bent h ~c community change Besldes providing a database that could be used for selection of techniques for monitoring, the workshop identified a number of new problems related to pollution of the North Sea that should be addressed.These are listed in the concluding section of this volume This MEPS Special Volume prov~des a n account of all the results of the workshop, prefaced by several papers that give background Information to help interpret the results of the workshop.The biological and chemical data are glven In tabulated and graphical form in the Appendices to this volume.Read More