Large-scale monitoring in environmental geochemistry

Transboundary pollution as well as more nationally related pollution is an increasing problem. In order to determine the amount of pollution, monitoring is used. Geochemistry as a subject is involved in this monitoring and should become even more involved. This paper presents data on the different types of monitoring used mainly in Europe but also in other parts of the world and will discuss the extent to which environmental geochemistry can become involved in the programmes. The longer a series of measurements is, the more useful it becomes. Long series of environmental data make it easier to distinguish natural from anthropogenic environmental changes, for example. The monitoring results can be used as a basis for decision-making, such as decisions to ban the use and emission of harmful substances. GEMS (Global Environmental Monitoring System), EMEP (Co-operative Programme for Monitoring and Evaluation of the Long-Range Transmission of Air Pollutants in Europe) and AMAP (Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Programme) are demonstrated. During the 1980s, different monitoring programmes started within the UN/ECE Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution, all with the purpose of monitoring and assessing effects from air pollution in the environment. These International Co-operative Programmes (ICPs) which are directed towards integrated monitoring of forest, freshwaters, crops and materials are discussed. One method used for large-scale monitoring of long-range transport is the moss technique. This technique was developed in the late 1960s in Sweden as a means of surveying atmospheric metal deposition. The method is now used as a monitoring method throughout Europe. A method proven to be efficient for monitoring the aquatic environment is biogeochemistry. This method, developed for environmental geochemical monitoring, has now been used for 14 a. The method gives information on the bioavailable concentrations of heavy metals in the environment, which is of interest to medical and veterinary authorities in trying to find connections between metals in the environment and environmentally related diseases. The moose as an environmental monitor will also be discussed in this context. An important subject in environmental monitoring is the storing of data and the availability of all data for users and researchers. Therefore CORINE, GRID (Global Resource Information Database) and Centre for Environmental Data from Satellites are discussed. Copyright (C) 1996 Elsevier Science Ltd