| APRIL 2021 Newsletter #8 DAIMON and its extension, DAIMON 2 , are international projects dealing with derelict munitions, which contaminate the Baltic Sea's ground, water and marine life. Scientists from Poland, Germany, Sweden, Finland, Norway, Lithuania and Russia are cooperating with experts worldwide in order to solve this trans-boundary challenge. We are part-financed by the EU INTERREG Baltic Sea Region Programme 2014-2020. With the DAIMON 2 project progressing into its forth period, the efforts of the project' partners are visibly paying off. The one of project's main goal has taken form as an operational version of the Decision Support System (DSS) . The collected scientific data are integrated into the system and the system's AI is continuously trained by experts' risk assessments. The other main goal, the DAIMON 2 Demonstration Cruses and the DSS Trainings had to be re-scheduled. After successful training cruise hosted by IOPAN (see the previous newsletter 7 ) this part is now offered as webinars. The first webinar organised by Thünen Institute of Fisheries Ecology took place during the last autumn 2020. But there are still more webinars to go: hosted by our partners in Finland, Sweden, Poland and Norway. Registration open for upcoming webinars organised by: VERIFIN/SYKE (Finland, in Finnish, partly in English) on 15.04. (10-16, CEST +1) Chalmers (Sweden, in English) on 23.04. (10-11 CEST) PNA (Poland, in Polish) in April, May and June FFI (Norway) in June see info and registration here . Risk assessment of dumped munitions - webinar successfully completed by Thünen Institute of Fisheries Ecology, Germany The Thünen Institute of Fisheries Ecology hosted a webinar on 3rd November 2020 to demonstrate and train the practical application of the EcoTox Toolbox and the Decision Support System (DSS). Due to the corona situation, the two-day seminar originally planned in Kiel in August 2020 with practical exercises on board the FFS Clupea and various lectures unfortunately had to be cancelled. In the webinar about 40 end-users, both practical and executive level, attended. The participating experts came from politics, authorities, universities and NGOs. In excellent cooperation with the project partners of EGEOS GmbH and TU Clausthal-Zellerfeld the EcoTox Toolbox and the DSS were presented and discussed intensively. The info and the agenda of the webinar can be found here . The link to the Thünen Institute of Fisheries Ecology with the info about the EcoTox Toolbox can be found here . Standard Operational Procedures (SOPs) DAIMON 2 project has worked out a set of state-of-art, time and cost-saving methodologies for the detection, impact analysis and monitoring of dumped munitions (please check our website here) : 1. Methods for munitions detection’ and identification 2. Chemical methods for detecting warfare agents (parent compounds and degradation products) in water, sediments and biota 3. Biological methods for detecting effects of toxic warfare agents from chemical and conventional munitions in marine organisms (vertebrates, invertebrates) 4. Guidelines for additional measurements e.g. addressing habitat condition 5. Guidelines for data analysis and assessment They are widely acknowledged in the international scientific community and already applied by members of the DAIMON network. What should be done with chemical weapons found on the bottom of the Baltic Sea? Research efforts continue under the DAIMON 2 project. A doctoral thesis by Hanna Niemikoski , to be preliminarily examined in autumn 2020, describes the identification of new degradation products formedfrom phenylarsenic compounds used as warfare agents, in seafloor sediments. The compounds are most likely the result of microbial activity, and there is no research-based knowledge on their behaviour and impact on the marine ecosystem. The thesis also investigates the metabolism of the compounds using in vitro models. In addition to the primary degradation products, some of the identified metabolites have been found in fish caught from the dumpsites. For the whole article please visit the VERIFIN website here . Residues of chemical warfare agents have been found in hagfish caught in the Skagerrak strait. (photo Hanna Niemikoski) Save the Date: Kiel Munitions Clearance Week 6-10 September 2021(new dates!) The final version of the Decision Support System will be presented in Kiel during the Kiel Munition Clearance Week (KMCW) from 6 th to 10 th of September 2021. The KMCW will be a forum for exchange, a platform for discovering synergies and most importantly a driver towards actions. During this time several national and international research meetings are sharing their knowledge on the multiply dimensions of the underwater munitions problem. For a preliminary registration for the Kiel Munition Clearance Week just visit the KMCW registration page . VISIT OUR SITE |
DAIMON and its extension, DAIMON 2, are international projects dealing with derelict munitions, which contaminate the Baltic Sea's ground, water and marine life. Scientists from Poland, Germany, Sweden, Finland, Norway, Lithuania and Russia are cooperating with experts worldwide in order to solve this trans-boundary challenge.
We are part-financed by the EU INTERREG Baltic Sea Region Programme 2014-2020.
With the DAIMON 2 project progressing into its forth period, the efforts of the project' partners are visibly paying off. The one of project's main goal has taken form as an operational version of the Decision Support System (DSS). The collected scientific data are integrated into the system and the system's AI is continuously trained by experts' risk assessments.
The other main goal, the DAIMON 2 Demonstration Cruses and the DSS Trainings had to be re-scheduled. After successful training cruise hosted by IOPAN (see the previous newsletter 7) this part is now offered as webinars.
The first webinar organised by Thünen Institute of Fisheries Ecology took place during the last autumn 2020. But there are still more webinars to go: hosted by our partners in Finland, Sweden, Poland and Norway.
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Risk assessment of dumped munitions - webinar successfully completed by Thünen Institute of Fisheries Ecology, Germany | |
The Thünen Institute of Fisheries Ecology hosted a webinar on 3rd November 2020 to demonstrate and train the practical application of the EcoTox Toolbox and the Decision Support System (DSS). Due to the corona situation, the two-day seminar originally planned in Kiel in August 2020 with practical exercises on board the FFS Clupea and various lectures unfortunately had to be cancelled.
In the webinar about 40 end-users, both practical and executive level, attended. The participating experts came from politics, authorities, universities and NGOs.
In excellent cooperation with the project partners of EGEOS GmbH and TU Clausthal-Zellerfeld the EcoTox Toolbox and the DSS were presented and discussed intensively.
The info and the agenda of the webinar can be found here.
The link to the Thünen Institute of Fisheries Ecology with the info about the EcoTox Toolbox can be found here.
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Standard Operational Procedures (SOPs)
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DAIMON 2 project has worked out a set of state-of-art, time and cost-saving methodologies for the detection, impact analysis and monitoring of dumped munitions (please check our website here):
1. Methods for munitions detection’ and identification
2. Chemical methods for detecting warfare agents (parent compounds and degradation products) in water, sediments and biota
3. Biological methods for detecting effects of toxic warfare agents from chemical and conventional munitions in marine organisms (vertebrates, invertebrates)
4. Guidelines for additional measurements e.g. addressing habitat condition
5. Guidelines for data analysis and assessment
They are widely acknowledged in the international scientific community and already applied by members of the DAIMON network.
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What should be done with chemical weapons found on the bottom of the Baltic Sea? Research efforts continue under the DAIMON 2 project.
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A doctoral thesis by Hanna Niemikoski, to be preliminarily examined in autumn 2020, describes the identification of new degradation products formedfrom phenylarsenic compounds used as warfare agents, in seafloor sediments. The compounds are most likely the result of microbial activity, and there is no research-based knowledge on their behaviour and impact on the marine ecosystem. The thesis also investigates the metabolism of the compounds using in vitro models. In addition to the primary degradation products, some of the identified metabolites have been found in fish caught from the dumpsites.
For the whole article please visit the VERIFIN website here.
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Residues of chemical warfare agents have been found in hagfish caught in the Skagerrak strait. (photo Hanna Niemikoski) | | |
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Save the Date: Kiel Munitions Clearance Week 6-10 September 2021(new dates!) | |
The final version of the Decision Support System will be presented in Kiel during the Kiel Munition Clearance Week (KMCW) from 6th to 10th of September 2021.
The KMCW will be a forum for exchange, a platform for discovering synergies and most importantly a driver towards actions. During this time several national and international research meetings are sharing their knowledge on the multiply dimensions of the underwater munitions problem.
For a preliminary registration for the Kiel Munition Clearance Week just visit the KMCW registration page.
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