Time series data (2008-2023) of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins, dibenzofurans and polychlorinated biphenyls in bivalves from Shellfish Production Areas of the Basque coast (SE Bay of Biscay).

The accumulation of contaminants in aquatic organisms is of concern to human health due to the potential for exposure through the consumption of seafood. This dataset presents the levels of 17 polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs), and 12 dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls (DL-PCBs) (PCB-81, PCB-77, PCB-126, PCB-169, PCB-123, PCB-118, PCB-114, PCB-105, PCB-167, PCB-156, PCB-157 and PCB-189) in bivalves collected annually between 2008 and 2023 from the four Shellfish Production Areas of the Basque coast (southeastern Bay of Biscay). Additionally, data on 6 non-dioxin like polychlorinated biphenyls (NDL-PCBs) (PCB-28, PCB-52, PCB-101, PCB-153, PCB-138 and PCB-180) is provided for the 2012-2023 time period.

Antibiotics in the Basque coast (N Spain): Occurrence in waste and receiving waters, and risk assessment (2017-2020).

The study of the presence of antibiotics in the aquatic environment is a preliminary step to analyse their possible harmful effects on aquatic ecosystems. In order to monitor their occurrence in the aquatic environment, the European Commission established in 2015, 2018, and 2020 three Watch Lists of substances for Union-wide monitoring (Decisions (EU) 2015/495, 2018/840, and 2020/1161), where some antibiotics within the classes of macrolides, fluoroquinolones and penicillins were included. In the Basque coast, northern Spain, three macrolide antibiotics (erythromycin, clarithromycin, azithromycin) and ciprofloxacin were monitored quarterly from 2017 to 2020 (covering a period before and after the COVID19 outbreak), in water samples collected from two Waste Water Treatment Plants (WWTPs), and three control points associated with receiving waters (transitional and coastal water bodies).

Contaminants of emerging concern in the Basque coast (N Spain): Occurrence and risk assessment for a better monitoring and management decisions.

The study of the presence in the aquatic environment of certain substances considered as contaminants of emerging concern (CEC) is a preliminary step to the analysis of the possible harmful effects on aquatic ecosystems and the establishment of the corresponding environmental quality standards. In order to monitor the occurrence of CECs in the aquatic environment, the European Commission established in 2015 and 2018 two watch-list of substances for Union-wide monitoring in the field of water policy (Decision (EU) 2015/495 and Decision (EU) 2018/840). In the coast of the Basque Country, southeast of the Bay of Biscay, 19 of these watch list substances were monitored quarterly from May 2017 to March 2019.

'The past is the future of the present': Learning from long-time series of marine monitoring.

Using a long-term (1995-2014) monitoring network, from 51 sampling stations in estuaries and coasts of the Basque Country (Bay of Biscay), the objective of this investigation was to assess the responsiveness of 83 variables in water (18), sediments (27), biota (26), phytoplankton (2), macroinvertebrates (5) and fishes (5) to different human pressures and management actions. We used a total of 3247 series of data to analyse trends of improvement and worsening in quality. In a high percentage of the cases, the management actions taken have resulted in positive effects in the environment, as shown by the trend analysis in this investigation.

Source characterization and spatio-temporal evolution of the metal pollution in the sediments of the Basque estuaries (Bay of Biscay).

According to Water Framework Directive requirements, Member States must identify and analyze effects derived from human pressures in aquatic systems. As different kind of pressures can impact water bodies at different scales, analyses of spatio-temporal evolution of water bodies becomes essential in order to understand ecosystem responses. In this investigation, an analysis of spatio-temporal evolution of sedimentary metal pollution (Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Ni, Pb, Zn) in 12 Basque estuaries (Bay of Biscay) is presented.

Implementation of the European Marine Strategy Framework Directive: a methodological approach for the assessment of environmental status, from the Basque Country (Bay of Biscay).

The implementation of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD) is directing European marine research towards the coordinated and integrated assessment of sea environmental status, following the ecosystem-based approach. The MSFD uses a set of 11 descriptors which, together, summarise the way in which the whole system functions. As such, the European Commission has proposed an extensive set of indicators, to assess environmental status.

Baseline of butyltin pollution in coastal sediments within the Basque Country (northern Spain), in 2007-2008.

Tributyltin (TBT), dibutyltin (DBT) and monobutyltin (MBT) were measured in surficial sediments at, the ports of Pasaia and Bilbao, together with other mid- and small-size harbours of the Basque Country (northern Spain), in 2007-2008. The highest values of the sum of the three measured butyltin species (3523-3640 ng g(-1), as Sn) were found at sampling stations near to shipyards located within the port of Pasaia. The highest value of TBT concentration (3143 ng g(-1), as Sn) was found at the marina of Getxo, in the port of Bilbao.

Using multiple ecosystem components, in assessing ecological status in Spanish (Basque Country) Atlantic marine waters.

The European Water Framework and Marine Strategy Directives relate to the assessment of ecological quality, within estuarine and coastal systems. This legislation requires quality to be defined in an integrative way, using several biological elements (phytoplankton, benthos, algae, phanerogams, and fishes), together with physico-chemical elements (including pollutants). This contribution describes a methodology that integrates all of this information into a unique quality assessment for 51 stations from 18 water bodies, within the Basque Country.

Investigative monitoring within the European Water Framework Directive: a coastal blast furnace slag disposal, as an example.

The European Water Framework Directive (WFD) establishes a framework for the protection of estuarine and coastal waters, with the most important objective being to achieve 'good ecological status' for all waters, by 2015. Hence, Member States are establishing programmes for the monitoring of water quality status, through the assessment of ecological and chemical elements. These monitoring programmes can be of three types: surveillance monitoring; operational monitoring (both undertaken on a routine basis); and investigative monitoring (carried out where the reason of any exceedance for ecological and chemical status is unknown).

Implementation of the European water framework directive from the Basque country (northern Spain): a methodological approach.

The European Water Framework Directive provides a challenge in the development of new and accurate methodologies. It addresses assessment of Ecological Quality Status within European rivers, lakes, groundwaters, estuaries and coasts. Although this directive is simple and flexible in its concept, it is necessary to develop an approach based upon scientific knowledge; however, at the same time it should be as simple as possible, in order to achieve both requirements and comparability of results throughout European waters.