Radioecological models used to make predictions of the radionuclide activity concentrations in human foodstuffs must be sufficiently robust and fit for purpose with uncertainties reduced where practicable. The CONFIDENCE project had a work package with the objective to improve the capabilities of radioecological models and this paper presents the key findings of this work. Recommendations for future radioecological studies/model developments are made based on the findings of the work conducted and consultations with end-users.

This paper describes in detail the spatial radioactive contamination by condensation and fuel of the fallout caused by the Chernobyl accident in 1986, i.e. comparing 144Ce and 137Cs.Making these data available is, as nicely described in chapter 3 "Use of the data" important for assessing the long term effect of radiation exposure of the surrounding landscape including wildlife.The introduction is well written and interesting to read.

Author(s): Shore, R. F.; Potter, E. D.; Walker, L. A.; Pereira, M. G.; Chaplow, J. S.; Jaffe, J. E.; Sainsbury, A. W.; Barnett, E. A.; Charman, S.; Jones, A.; Giela, A.; Senior, C.; Sharp, E. A. | Abstract: Secondary exposure of predators to anticoagulant rodenticides, and in particular second generation anticoagulant rodenticides (SGARs), is a global phenomenon. The widespread and large-scale nature of this exposure has attracted considerable concern, although the consequences in terms of likelihood of poisoning of individuals and resultant impacts on populations are not well characterised. Secondary exposure of predators may as rise from once or more of: (i) eating contaminated commensal rodents subject to control (target species are typically rats and house mice); (ii) consumption of contaminated non-target small mammals (such as Peromyscus, Microtus, and Apodemus species) that encounter and feed on what are rodent-attractive baits; (iii) consumption of non-rodent vertebrate and invertebrate prey that may also incidentally encounter and eat baits. We hypothesised that predators feeding primarily on target species may be most at risk of exposure to SGARs while those predominantly taking non-mammalian prey may be at least risk. We tested this hypothesis by comparing exposure, determined from the presence and magnitude of SGAR liver residues, in red kites (Milvus milvus), which feeds extensively on rats, in barn owls (Tyto alba), kestrels (Falco tinnunculus), and tawny owls (Strix aluco) that feed widely on non-target small mammals, and in sparrowhawks (Accipiter nisus) that feed predominantly on small birds. We found that the scale and magnitude of exposure was broadly consistent with our hypothesis, and that controlling for age in the analysis could be important as older birds can accumulate residues with age. However, exposure in kestrels was typically greater than that in barn owls and tawny owls, despite what is thought to be a general similarity among the species in their diets. We discuss the relative importance of trophic pathways relative to other factors that may drive secondary exposure in predators, and confirm that species that feed on rats or other target species may be at most risk of exposure and poisoning.

Second generation anticoagulant rodenticides (SGARs) can be toxic to all mammals and birds. Various studies have shown that, in Britain, there is widespread exposure to SGARs in a diverse range of predatory mammals and birds, including red kites (Milvus milvus) which scavenge dead rats, a target species for rodent control. The Wildlife Incident Monitoring Scheme (WIIS) and the Predatory Bird Monitoring Scheme (PBMS) have shown that some mortalities result from this secondary exposure. The aim of the current study was to assess the scale and severity of exposure to SGARs (as assessed from the presence of liver SGAR residues) in red kites found dead in Britain in 2015. Carcasses, typically found by members of the public, were submitted for examination and analysis either to the Institute of Zoology’s Disease Risk Analysis and Health Surveillance programme (DRAHS) or to the Centre for Ecology & Hydrology’s Predatory Bird Monitoring Scheme, partners in the WILDCOMS network. We also report the results of SGAR analysis of red kites from England, Wales and Scotland that died in 2015 and analysed by the WIIS, who are also partners of the WILDCOMS network. Eighteen red kites from England & Wales were necropsied by either the DRAHS or the PBMS and the livers of the birds were analysed for SGARs by the PBMS. All had detectable liver residues of difenacoum and brodifacoum, and most also contained detectable liver bromadiolone residues. Difethialone was less frequently detected and flocoumafen was not detected in any birds. The presence of detectable brodifacoum residues in all birds may partly reflect the predominance of adult birds in the 2015 sample but may also indicate a growing prevalence of exposure to this compound. The percentage of red kites found by the PBMS to contain brodifacoum has increased since 2010 although any influence of age on this trend has not yet been examined. Sum liver SGAR concentrations in the 18 kites ranged between 50 and 1266 ng/g wet wt. (arithmetic mean: 463 ng/g). Post-mortems indicated that 7 of the kites had internal hemorrhaging that was not associated with detectable trauma; these birds typically had elevated sum SGAR liver concentrations. On the basis of these two factors, it is considered probable that SGARs were a contributory cause of death in these birds. The exposure pattern observed in 8 red kites from England & Wales analysed by the WIIS was very similar to that observed in birds analysed by the PBMS, with detectable liver residues of difenacoum and brodifacoum in all birds and bromadiolone in most. SGARs were assessed to be a contributory cause of death in two birds. Thus, of the 26 red kites from England & Wales analysed overall, SGARs were considered to be implicated in the deaths of 9 (35%). Residue data were available through the WIIS for 6 red kites from Scotland that died in 2015. Three kites (50%) had liver residues of at least two SGARs (bromadiolone and difenacoum); brodifacoum was also detected in one of these kites. SGARs were assessed to be a contributory cause of death in the bird that had residues of three SGARs. The data, although sample size is small, suggest that exposure of kites to SGARs may have been less marked in Scotland than in England & Wales in 2015, as has been found for other species.

Nutrient emissions in human waste and wastewater effluent fluxes from domestic sources are quantified for the UK over the period 1800–2010 based on population data from UK Census returns. The most important drivers of change have been the introduction of the water closet (flush toilet) along with population growth, urbanization, connection to sewer, improvements in wastewater treatment and use of phosphorus in detergents. In 1800, the population of the UK was about 12 million and estimated emissions in human waste were 37 kt N, 6.2 kt P and 205 kt organic C/year. This would have been recycled to land with little or no sewage going directly to rivers or coastal waters. By 1900, population had increased to 35.6 million and some 145 kt N were emitted in human waste but, with only the major urban areas connected to sewers, only about 19 kt N were discharged in sewage effluent. With the use of phosphorus in detergents, estimated phosphorus emissions peaked at around 63.5 kt P/year in the 1980s, with about 28 kt P/year being discharged in sewage effluent. By 2010, population had increased to 63 million with estimated emissions of 263 kt N, 43.6 kt P and 1460 kt organic C/year, and an estimated effluent flux of 104 kt N, 14.8 kt P and 63 kt organic C. Despite improvements in wastewater treatment, current levels of nutrient fluxes in sewage effluent are substantially higher than those in the early 20th century.

Abstract. The data set "Post Chernobyl surveys of radiocaesium in soil, vegetation, wildlife and fungi in Great Britain" was developed to enable data collected by the Natural Environment Research Council after the Chernobyl accident to be made publicly available. Data for samples collected between May 1986 (immediately after Chernobyl) to spring 1997 are presented. Additional data to radiocaesium concentrations are presented where available. The data have value in trying to assess the contribution of new sources of radiocaesium in the environment, providing baseline data for future planned releases and to aid the development and testing of models. The data are freely available for non-commercial use under Open Government Licence terms and conditions. doi:10.5285/d0a6a8bf-68f0-4935-8b43-4e597c3bf251 . Supporting information to assist with the reuse of this data is available from the Environmental Information Data Centre (EIDC) ( http://eidc.ceh.ac.uk/ ).

This is the second annual report from WILDCOMS, a Natural Environment Research Council collaborative Knowledge Exchange network between nine UK surveillance schemes that monitor disease and contaminants in wild vertebrates. The overall aim of the WILDCOMS network is to foster and facilitate knowledge exchange, harmonisation towards best practice and productive collaboration between: (i) partner organisations; (ii) surveillance schemes and end-users. WILDCOMS aims to facilitate development of a more cost-effective and integrated evidence base for assessing environmental disease and contaminant risk that will benefit end-users and underpin regulatory policy. This report describes the activities of the WILDCOMS network in the second year (2012-13) including an update in the communication tools (wiki, website, quarterly and annual reports for stakeholders) and activities, such as articles in specialised “in-house” publications of key stakeholders and presentations at national and international conferences. This report also describes how WILDCOMS has continued to expand the collaboration and sharing of resources between surveillance schemes in the network and the development of inventories of necropsies and recording activities across all partners’ schemes. Overall, WILDCOMS is on track to meet its original goals set out in the grant proposal that was supported by NERC funding. WILDCOMS has established itself as a Knowledge Exchange network with a website that has up to 2000 visits per month and a mailing list of 396 stakeholders to date. The establishment of the network has facilitated greater collaboration and sharing of resources between WILDCOMS partners and has become a point of contact for organisations seeking advice in a wide range of wildlife pollution and disease. We have had very successful meetings with stakeholders in England in 2012 and Scotland in 2013. Over the next year, WILDCOMS will continue its work to provide information to stakeholders on the activities and resources of its component partners’ schemes and holistic overviews on topics of current concern. It will also seek to further increase the efficient sharing of resources between partners, and further develop linkages with stakeholders.