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Background – HistoryThe Department of Contaminant Research – a Conclusive History.
Guillemot eggs. Photo: Tjelvar Odsjö
The Department of Contaminant Research (DCR) has been active for over four decades. It was formed in the early 1960s in response to the discovery of negative environmental trends in Sweden— dramatic declines in the populations of many bird species, especially in farming and aquatic environments. A similar trend was noted for other animals, including the grey seals of the Baltic Sea and otters along inland waters. The suspected cause was the unlimited, unregulated use of toxic chemicals and their subsequent dispersion in the environment. With its wealth of bird and mammal specimens collected over many years, the Swedish Museum of Natural History (NRM) perceived that there was a lack of knowledge in this area, and was soon ready to conduct unique historical studies of environmental contaminant levels, changes over time, and geographical variations. The value of the museum collections as an archive of environmental history had been discovered. The widespread distribution of pollutants could be traced to known and previously unknown sources. It was found that the levels of many toxic substances were steadily increasing. That knowledge provided an important basis for determining the need for countermeasures. With the biological expertise of DCR researchers, it was possible at an early stage to organize a co-operative, interdisciplinary research effort to find solutions for ecotoxicological problems. The project involved experts within the fields of ecology, pathology, chemistry, ethology, genetics, microbiology, parasitology and others. Another key factor was the rapid development of analytical chemistry techniques.
Pup of grey seal. Photo: Mart Jüssi
The research soon came to focus on the effects of chlorinated toxins and heavy metals on exposed animals. The Baltic Sea and its feeder rivers were among the most polluted waters in the world. The fauna was severely affected, with increasing morbidity, reproduction disturbances and population declines among such species as seals and the white-tailed eagle. Inland raptors, including some owl species, were also affected; their populations were declining rapidly due to egg-shell thinning and increased foetal mortality.During the 1970s, DCR launched studies of transport mechanisms and conducted Sweden's first programmes for monitoring environmental contaminants, based on OECD guidelines. DCR has also built up the world's first environmental specimen bank, containing samples of certain plants and soft organs of exposed animal species. Systematic collections according to strictly defined criteria are conducted annually. Today, the museum's Environmental Specimen Bank (ESB) contains over 260,000 environmental samples preserved mainly by freezing; some 8000 new samples are added every year and around 3000 are analysed.
Since 1980, ESB has provided the basis for studies of concentration trends and spatial distribution within the framework of Sweden's environmental contaminant monitoring programme. The specimen bank contains the world's longest time series of biological samples, which are also used for virtually all the screening projects that NRM carries out every year in co-operation with the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency. The purpose of the joint studies is to search for suspected environmental contaminants which previously have never or only occasionally been detected or studied in Sweden. Due to DCR's capacity to conduct accurate trend studies, we have been able to contribute to the international discussion of the presence and dispersion of organic pollutants, and to the determination of their half-lives.
An extensive project for monitoring marine top consumers has been carried out since the late 1980s. It includes surveys of the grey seal and ringed seal populations, as well as reproduction and population trends of the harbour seal and white-tailed eagle along the coasts of Sweden. Also included are studies of the health status of all Swedish seal species, based on the pathology of animals that have been shot to death, drowned after being trapped in fishing gear or died of natural causes. The project contributes to effective environmental monitoring of the Baltic Sea by combining studies of population and reproduction trends, environmental contaminants and health status. In addition, DCR participates in several projects whose purpose is to increase awareness and understanding of contaminants in ecosystems, by means of an extensive network of national and international organizations, government agencies and institutions of higher learning.Between 1994 and 2007 a Special Analytical Laboratory, RSL, was located at the Department of Contaminant Research, where biological samples were analyzed for chlorinated substances as PCB, DDT, HCH etc.
Thus far, the activities of DCR have been financed entirely with research grants and commissions— primarily from the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency but also from other organisations. During the period 1970 to 2008, the staff increased from four to nineteen, occasionally augmented with temporary contract workers and university students.
DCR's work area in the museum's north wing is being thoroughly renovated during the first half of 2005. The laboratories and offices are being suitably adapted to the requirements of technical procedures and occupational health. In year 2000 the cold store for the ESB was completed and has a storage capacity of about 100,000 litres. Together with the modern facility for dissecting animals, DCR has an adequate basis for continuing its research and monitoring of environmental contaminants.
With one of the world's most well-regarded environmental specimen banks, it is important to intensify research related to the further development of freezing and storage techniques. It is also important to expand the use of environmental samples into new areas, such as biomarkers, enzyme systems, DNA, etc.
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