Executive Summary 



assessment meeting in Sao Paulo, Brazil in April, 1993. PAH concentrations in the sample set are 

 within the range of PAH concentrations found in the NOAA NS&T data set, and several locations 

 had elevated concentrations. Both petroleum and fossil fuel combustion product PAHs were 

 identified in samples with elevated concentrations. These results indicate the need for assessing 

 further the extent and severity of PAH concentrations in coastal areas of this region and an 

 assessment of adverse effects in areas where PAH have elevated concentrations. 



International Mussel Watch Program Initial Phase has accomplished the following: 



• Provided a systematic regional assessment of the concentrations of several 

 chlorinated pesticides, chlorobiphenyls and PAH in bivalve sentinel organisms in 

 coastal areas of the region and contributed to the global data base for the 

 distribution of these chemicals in the environment. 



• Established a regional network of Host-Country scientists that can contribute to a 

 continued assessment of the extent and severity of contamination by several 

 chemicals of environmental concern in coastal areas by use of the bivalve sentinel 

 organism approach. 



• Provided technical support to this network of scientists and stimulated this 

 regional network to undertake further cooperative studies within the region on 

 problems of mutual interest. 



• Established an archive of frozen samples from stations in this global region. 



• Established a reference set of mollusk shells archived at the Museum of 

 Comparative Zoology of Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts. 



• Proved that the International Mussel Watch concept is viable and should be 

 undertaken in other regions of the world's coasts. 



Lessons learned or reinforced from the Initial Phase of International Mussel Watch: 



• Field collection of high-quality samples is logistically complex and requires a 

 skilled, scientifically competent Field Scientist who is authorized to make 

 decisions in the field. The Field Scientist must personally collect each sample or 

 personally supervise the collection and requires a budget for local sampling 

 expenses as well as a budget which includes travel, shipping, insurance, 

 communication etc. 



• Participation by Host-Country scientists is crucial to the success of the Project. 

 Local knowledge and local logistic support is essential and the Field Scientist 

 cannot successfully accomplished his/her sampling task without it. Good 

 communication with these local scientists prior to the Field Scientist visit is 

 necessary so they can adapt their own schedules. 



• Sampling by the Field Scientist should be accomplished in short trips from a 

 central base to minimize the risk of lost samples. The central base must have 

 adequate reliable freezer space, reliable international communication capability and 

 dependable international airline connections. Regular communication between the 

 Field Scientist and the Project Secretariat is essential. 



• Geographic station location data should be simultaneously acquired with the tissue 

 sample to document station location. A hand-held GPS should be carried by the 

 Field Scientist. Station selection by the Host-Country scientist can be improved if 

 the Project develops a standard "site selection process" for each local scientist to 

 follow. This process must include a recent site visit by the local scientist prior to 

 the arrival of the IMW Field Scientist. 



