2021

Low carbon subsurface technologies: identifying potential environmental impacts examined the potential impact of low carbon subsurface technologies on the environment, including air, land and water.

Exposure and adverse effects of chemicals on wildlife in the environment: interim H4 indicator is one of the indicators in the 25-Year Environment Plan’s (25-YEP) Outcome Indicator Framework. The indicator contributes to measuring whether we are moving towards the goal of ‘managing exposure to chemicals and pesticides.

State of the water environment indicator B3: supporting evidence is one of the important goals in the government’s 25 Year Environment Plan. To understand the condition of the water environment, as part of the outcome indicator framework, we measure and report data on the state of the water environment.

Understanding ecosystems and resilience using DNA explored opportunities for applying advances in DNA and RNA technologies to improve understanding of ecosystem function and resilience.

Scoping a flexible framework for producing river water temperature projections reviewed alternative approaches to modelling future river water temperature for England. The findings will help the Environment Agency to develop temperature projections and inform measures to help adapt to a changing climate.

A systems-based approach to catchment water management explored an innovative, systems-based approach to water management to help understand how different parts of the water system interact and develop ways of managing the water environment as a whole.

Poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) - sources pathways and environmental data  reviewed environmental monitoring data on poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in English rivers, estuaries and groundwater to evaluate PFAS use, sources and environmental pathways.

Baseline studies for assessing risks to groundwater from onshore oil and gas and other deep subsurface activities investigated the typical ‘baseline’ range of concentrations of substances that could be associated with onshore oil and gas and other deep subsurface activities in 3 aquifers.

Geochemical techniques to define deep thermal spring protection zones reviewed the range of geochemical methods that can be used to understand thermal spring systems in the UK. This information will help the Environment Agency protect thermal springs from subsurface activities in the future.

Methods for sampling and analysing methane in groundwater: a review of current research and practice reviewed the factors that influence variability and uncertainty in measurements of concentrations of methane in groundwater. This information will help improve groundwater sampling for methane and increase confidence in groundwater monitoring.

An analysis of national macroinvertebrate trends for England: 1991–2019 presents national-scale trends in the macroinvertebrate communities of English rivers over 29 years (1991–2019).

Linking the presence of invasive non-native species to measures of ecological quality looked at what impact invasive non-native species have on the ecology of sites at which they are recorded.

The nitrate leaching tool is a tool used to estimate annual losses of nitrate at the field and farm scale using data provided by farmers during farm visits. The tool helps the Environment Agency and farmers to identify more sustainable farming practices that prevent environmental pollution.

Assessing river nutrients using diatom DNA: further development of an operational method improved a DNA based method developed earlier (SC140024/R) to monitor and assess the make-up of diatom communities (a type of microscopic algae) that we use to assess nutrient enrichment in rivers.

Exploring the potential of DNA techniques to monitor macroinvertebrate communities and invasive species in rivers explored the potential for using DNA techniques to track and monitor small animals in rivers. The project was part of a wider programme of research by UK regulatory and conservation agencies to develop DNA-based methods for environmental monitoring.

Oestrogenic effects in wild fish: comparing contemporary and historical impacts studied wild roach in English rivers that indicate that oestrogenic contaminants continue to occur at levels sufficient to produce a biological response in fish in rivers. These findings have implications for the nationwide monitoring and regulating of oestrogenic contaminants to ensure the health of fish populations and other river life.

Framework for understanding environmental antimicrobial resistance in England identifies existing datasets, helping to set out a framework for understanding antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in the environment. It will inform future hazard characterisation and risk assessment efforts, allowing the Environment Agency to develop strategies to establish an environmental AMR surveillance system.

Review of airborne antimicrobial resistance presents the findings of a short project that explored the current state of knowledge on airborne antimicrobial resistance.

Social deprivation and the likelihood of flooding uses up-to-date data to provide in-depth evidence on flood risk exposure and social deprivation inequalities in England.

Perspectives on protection of deep groundwater looked at deep subsurface activities and whether we need constraints in order to protect deep groundwaters. These constraints would depend on the value of the groundwater and the risks posed by the activities.

Mapping of brackish aquifers and deep sourced springs reviewed the occurrence of deep aquifers and presents methods for identifying and mapping them. This will help to protect them from activities carried out deep underground, including exploitation of onshore oil and gas resources.

Impacts on groundwater from shale gas production in northern England produced a number of case studies to show how groundwater could be affected by a large-scale development of the shale gas industry. The aim of the project was to provide evidence to inform decision-making by regulators, operators and government.

3D buffer strips: designed to deliver more for the environment considers how we can improve the effectiveness of riparian buffer zones to help tackle agricultural pollution. The project assesses the effectiveness of traditional grass buffer strips and suggests ways that buffers can deliver more for the environment.

Nitrate source apportionment for groundwater-dependent terrestrial ecosystems examined the sources of nitrogen contributing to nutrient enrichment at two nationally designated groundwater-dependent terrestrial ecosystems (GWDTEs) and explored land use and management actions to reduce the amount of nitrogen reaching the sites.

Atmospheric deposition at groundwater dependent wetlands developed an approach to find out information about nitrogen sources in wetlands by looking at nitrogen transported via the atmosphere and water.

Mapping denitrification potential in groundwater produced a literature review of the factors affecting removal of nitrate in groundwater by denitrification.

Nuclear power station cooling waters: protecting biota reviewed the recent published literature on the effectiveness and UK applicability of technologies which can protect animal and plant life from large-scale cooling water systems at nuclear power stations.

National groundwater recharge assessment under climate change investigated replenishment of groundwaters and how climate change might alter this in the future.

Eutrophication risk in English rivers under climate change shows how climate change may increase the risk of eutrophication (a process in which too much nutrient in water causes algae and higher plants to grow excessively) in slow flowing English rivers, reducing water quality.

Onshore oil and gas monitoring: assessing the statistical significance of changes aimed to identify appropriate mathematical methods for analysing environmental data, including groundwaters, near onshore oil and gas sites.

3D groundwater vulnerability examined how subsurface activities for unconventional and conventional oil and gas exploration might have an impact on groundwater.

Impacts on groundwater quality from abandoned hydrocarbon wells identified where abandoned wells had boreholes nearby that could be used to monitor groundwater quality.

Nuclear power station cooling waters: evidence on 3 aspects reviewed the evidence on cooling water abstraction and discharge that are particularly relevant to the protection of animal and plant life.

Celtic sea trout project aimed to learn more about the ecology of sea trout populations around the Irish Sea.

2020

Assessing river nutrients using diatom DNA: further development of an operational method improved a DNA based method developed earlier (SC140024/R) to monitor and assess the make-up of diatom communities (a type of microscopic algae) that we use to assess nutrient enrichment in rivers.

Exploring the potential of DNA techniques to monitor macroinvertebrate communities and invasive species in rivers explored the potential for using DNA techniques to track and monitor small animals in rivers. The project was part of a wider programme of research by UK regulatory and conservation agencies to develop DNA-based methods for environmental monitoring.

Oestrogenic effects in wild fish: comparing contemporary and historical impacts studied wild roach in English rivers that indicate that oestrogenic contaminants continue to occur at levels sufficient to produce a biological response in fish in rivers. These findings have implications for the nationwide monitoring and regulating of oestrogenic contaminants to ensure the health of fish populations and other river life.

Framework for understanding environmental antimicrobial resistance in England identifies existing datasets, helping to set out a framework for understanding antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in the environment. It will inform future hazard characterisation and risk assessment efforts, allowing the Environment Agency to develop strategies to establish an environmental AMR surveillance system.

Review of airborne antimicrobial resistance presents the findings of a short project that explored the current state of knowledge on airborne antimicrobial resistance.

Social deprivation and the likelihood of flooding uses up-to-date data to provide in-depth evidence on flood risk exposure and social deprivation inequalities in England.

Perspectives on protection of deep groundwater looked at deep subsurface activities and whether we need constraints in order to protect deep groundwaters. These constraints would depend on the value of the groundwater and the risks posed by the activities.

Mapping of brackish aquifers and deep sourced springs reviewed the occurrence of deep aquifers and presents methods for identifying and mapping them. This will help to protect them from activities carried out deep underground, including exploitation of onshore oil and gas resources.

Impacts on groundwater from shale gas production in northern England produced a number of case studies to show how groundwater could be affected by a large-scale development of the shale gas industry. The aim of the project was to provide evidence to inform decision-making by regulators, operators and government.

3D buffer strips: designed to deliver more for the environment considers how we can improve the effectiveness of riparian buffer zones to help tackle agricultural pollution. The project assesses the effectiveness of traditional grass buffer strips and suggests ways that buffers can deliver more for the environment.

Nitrate source apportionment for groundwater-dependent terrestrial ecosystems examined the sources of nitrogen contributing to nutrient enrichment at two nationally designated groundwater-dependent terrestrial ecosystems (GWDTEs) and explored land use and management actions to reduce the amount of nitrogen reaching the sites.

Atmospheric deposition at groundwater dependent wetlands developed an approach to find out information about nitrogen sources in wetlands by looking at nitrogen transported via the atmosphere and water.

Mapping denitrification potential in groundwater produced a literature review of the factors affecting removal of nitrate in groundwater by denitrification.

Nuclear power station cooling waters: protecting biota reviewed the recent published literature on the effectiveness and UK applicability of technologies which can protect animal and plant life from large-scale cooling water systems at nuclear power stations.

2021

Low carbon subsurface technologies: identifying potential environmental impacts examined the potential impact of low carbon subsurface technologies on the environment, including air, land and water.

Exposure and adverse effects of chemicals on wildlife in the environment: interim H4 indicator is one of the indicators in the 25-Year Environment Plan’s (25-YEP) Outcome Indicator Framework. The indicator contributes to measuring whether we are moving towards the goal of ‘managing exposure to chemicals and pesticides.

State of the water environment indicator B3: supporting evidence is one of the important goals in the government’s 25 Year Environment Plan. To understand the condition of the water environment, as part of the outcome indicator framework, we measure and report data on the state of the water environment.

Understanding ecosystems and resilience using DNA explored opportunities for applying advances in DNA and RNA technologies to improve understanding of ecosystem function and resilience.

Scoping a flexible framework for producing river water temperature projections reviewed alternative approaches to modelling future river water temperature for England. The findings will help the Environment Agency to develop temperature projections and inform measures to help adapt to a changing climate.

A systems-based approach to catchment water management explored an innovative, systems-based approach to water management to help understand how different parts of the water system interact and develop ways of managing the water environment as a whole.

Poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) - sources pathways and environmental data  reviewed environmental monitoring data on poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in English rivers, estuaries and groundwater to evaluate PFAS use, sources and environmental pathways.

Baseline studies for assessing risks to groundwater from onshore oil and gas and other deep subsurface activities investigated the typical ‘baseline’ range of concentrations of substances that could be associated with onshore oil and gas and other deep subsurface activities in 3 aquifers.

Geochemical techniques to define deep thermal spring protection zones reviewed the range of geochemical methods that can be used to understand thermal spring systems in the UK. This information will help the Environment Agency protect thermal springs from subsurface activities in the future.

Methods for sampling and analysing methane in groundwater: a review of current research and practice reviewed the factors that influence variability and uncertainty in measurements of concentrations of methane in groundwater. This information will help improve groundwater sampling for methane and increase confidence in groundwater monitoring.

An analysis of national macroinvertebrate trends for England: 1991–2019 presents national-scale trends in the macroinvertebrate communities of English rivers over 29 years (1991–2019).

Linking the presence of invasive non-native species to measures of ecological quality looked at what impact invasive non-native species have on the ecology of sites at which they are recorded.

The nitrate leaching tool is a tool used to estimate annual losses of nitrate at the field and farm scale using data provided by farmers during farm visits. The tool helps the Environment Agency and farmers to identify more sustainable farming practices that prevent environmental pollution.

2022

River water temperature projections for English Chalk streams developed water temperature projections to 2080 for English chalk streams. The projections will help the Environment Agency and others better understand the potential impacts of climate change and inform where adaptation measures may help.

Evaluation of the potential approaches to risk assessment of unintentional chemical mixtures for future UK REACH assessments identifies a recommended approach to address the risks to both the environment and human health from unintentional mixtures of chemicals under the UK Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and restriction of Chemicals (REACH) Regulation.

Applicability of OECD Test Guideline 201 validity criteria to algae in the genus Skeletonema  examined whether the validity criteria specified by a widely used standard method for algal growth inhibition studies are relevant for Skeletonema species. The results will help the Environment Agency to understand the reliability and relevance of such data for chemical hazard assessment.

Persistent, Bioaccumulative and Toxic (PBT) properties of Long Chain Chlorinated Paraffins (LCCPs) updates a previous Environment Agency PBT evaluation on LCCPs, published in 2009. This work is important for determining the potential hazard of this substance to the environment, which is the focus of growing international regulatory concern.

Guidance on interpreting biota tissue concentrations for bioaccumulation assessment  investigated the relationship between the total body burden of a chemical in whole organisms and tissue-specific concentrations.

Characterising the hazard of highly persistent substances that exhibit low levels of bioaccumulation found a standard exposure model can identify highly persistent chemicals for which a more conservative regulatory assessment may be appropriate. This work is important for determining and prioritising the potential hazard and risk management of these chemicals.

Scoping review into environmental selection for antifungal resistance and testing methodology reviews the current understanding of the mechanism for selection for antifungal resistance in fungal species following exposure to antifungals.

Sampling strategy and assessment options for environmental antimicrobial resistance in airborne microorganisms reviewed and summarised the available sampling options for antimicrobial resistant (AMR) microorganisms, including their antimicrobial resistance genes, from the atmosphere.

Antimicrobial resistance surveillance pilot site selection and database extension developed selection criteria to identify suitable river catchments for piloting a surveillance programme for environmental antimicrobial resistance (AMR).

Working with nature discusses the importance of nature in providing ecosystem services and presents recent and historical trends in biodiversity. It outlines some of the main pressures affecting England’s habitats, wildlife and ecosystems: land use; climate change; pollution; invasive non-native species; and hydrological change.

The extent and zonation of saltmarsh in England 2016 - 2019 examines the overall picture of change in marsh extent between these time periods in England, providing detail of zonation and several in-depth case studies from different regions around the country.

2023

Using DNA to understand river diatom communities applied recent developments in DNA data analysis to an existing dataset to see if improvements could be made in the match between ecological classifications obtained using light microscopy and those from DNA.

Field-scale evaluation of collection methods for dissolved methane samples in groundwaters investigated field methods for sampling methane concentrations in groundwater under different conditions. Monitoring practitioners can use this information to increase confidence in measurements of methane concentrations in groundwater.

Lipid normalisation in the OECD 305 dietary test explored the currently accepted calculations in the main test method used to understand how chemicals accumulate in fish.

Environmental risk evaluation reports: Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) produced nine reports on the environmental hazards and risks from certain PFAS being made or used in the UK. This work contributes to the UK Government’s action plan to address concerns arising from PFAS by providing an informal assessment of the available data to gain a better understanding of the hazards, exposure and risks these substances may pose to the UK environment.

Review of the research and scientific understanding of drought conducted a review of the current scientific knowledge about drought in the UK. It includes how drought may alter due to climate change, and what the implications are for both the catchment environment and the way we manage water resources, now and in the future.

Shellfish as bioindicators for coastal antimicrobial resistance sought to develop a suite of testing approaches to assess the presence and identity of antimicrobials and resistant microorganisms in marine shellfish.

Review: approaches to monitoring and surveillance of antimicrobial resistance in bathing waters  aimed to improve our understanding of antimicrobial resistance in relation to human exposures via bathing waters and to identify options for any future surveillance at designated bathing water sites.

Antimicrobial resistance in bioaerosols: towards a national surveillance strategy considers the decisions that must be made in designing a national surveillance strategy for antimicrobial resistance in bioaerosols.

Antimicrobial resistance surveillance strategies within wild flora and fauna of England reviewed potential data sources and existing wild flora and fauna surveys that could be used to improve understanding of the presence of microorganisms that are resistant to antimicrobial substances in the wild.

Environmental antimicrobial resistance: review of biological methods reviewed methods for the detection of environmental microorganisms that have become resistant to the effects of antimicrobial compounds.

Environment Agency natural capital condition indicator mapping explored the natural capital condition and ecosystem service evidence base available to support mapping through participatory workshops and an evidence review.

State of the environment: the coastal and marine environment provides an evidence-based overview of the pressures, state and trends in England’s coastal and marine environments, including estuaries.

2024

Environmental impacts of temperature changes from ground source heating and cooling systems examined the potential for ground source heating and cooling systems to change the temperature in the ground around them and identified receptors that could be impacted by these changes.

Exploring the use of resilience concepts in catchment management explores what is meant by resilience, and how it is currently understood and used in the Environment Agency. The findings inform a framework that could help implement resilience concepts in practice to improve environmental outcomes.

Improving river habitats to support wildlife during high and low flows examines which river restoration measures can improve river habitats during high and low flows in different river types to help build geomorphological and ecological resilience to droughts and floods.

Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) additives: a scoping review identifies which PVC additives are likely to be relevant to the UK market. Gaining information on them helps to understand the risks that they pose to the environment and human health, and to prioritise those that may need further evaluation.

Understanding catchment responses to drought in current and future climates explored new approaches for examining the impact of droughts on English catchments and water supply systems, with the aim of increasing preparedness and understanding the range of interventions to take in different droughts.

Net zero technologies: environment impact summaries provides an overview of the potential environmental impacts of different net zero technologies and how the Environment Agency may need to regulate such impacts.

Exposure and adverse effects of chemicals on wildlife in the environment: interim H4 indicator supports the 25 Year Environment Plan outcome indicator framework.

State of the water environment indicator B3: supporting evidence supports the 25 Year Environment Plan and its outcome indicator framework.

Pilot surveillance of antimicrobial resistance in river catchments in England presents the results of a pilot scale approach to detection, identification and quantification of antimicrobial resistance in three selected river catchments in England.

Development of experimental approaches for determining concentrations of antifungals that select for resistance looked at methods for the determination of the lowest concentration of antifungals that can lead to a selective advantage for resistant organisms.

Determining selective concentrations for antibiotics and antifungals in natural environments determined the concentrations of specified antimicrobials at which selection for resistance may occur.

Determining concentrations of substances that influence development of antimicrobial resistance reviewed the available data on concentrations at which selection for antimicrobial resistance has been reported for different antimicrobials and the approaches used to determine these concentrations.

Potential impact of disinfectants on antimicrobial resistance development identified the range of disinfectants currently used in the UK and reviewed available information on their potential role in the development of antimicrobial resistance.

Overview of potential human pathogens in the environment reviewed pathogens to which people can be exposed through water, land and air, now and in the future.

Risk screening and prioritisation tool for antimicrobial resistance in the environment developed a risk screening and prioritisation tool to assess antimicrobial resistance in the environment.