Research and analysis
H4: Exposure of wildlife to chemicals in the environment in England and, for some marine components the UK; up to 2022 where available
Updated 1 December 2025
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| broad pollutant category | chemical | wildlife | value |
|---|---|---|---|
| PBT substances | Mercury | Buzzard | No observed change in concentrations. Population average below threshold for most-recent year. Time period: 2001, 2004, 2006, 2010, 2013, 2016, and 2018–2021. |
| PBT substances | PBDEs | Buzzard | Data available; not currently able to assess trends. No threshold available; not currently able to assess risk. Time period: 2018, 2019 and 2021. |
| PBT substances | PCBs | Buzzard | Data available; not currently able to assess trends. No threshold available; not currently able to assess risk. Time period: 2018, 2019 and 2021. |
| PBT substances | PCB 118 | Buzzard | Data available; not currently able to assess trends. No threshold available; not currently able to assess risk. Time period: 2018, 2019 and 2021. |
| PBT substances | PFOS | Buzzard | Data available; not currently able to assess trends. No threshold available; not currently able to assess risk. Time period: 2018, 2019 and 2021. |
| PBT substances | PFAS | Buzzard | Data available; not currently able to assess trends. No threshold available; not currently able to assess risk. Time period: 2018, 2019 and 2021. |
| Metals | Lead | Buzzard | Increasing concentrations. 1 to 24% of samples above threshold for most-recent year. Time period: 2001, 2004–2006, 2010, 2013, 2016, and 2018–2021. |
| Metals | Cadmium | Buzzard | No observed change in concentrations. All individuals below threshold for most-recent year. Time period: 2001, 2004, 2006, 2010, 2013, 2016, and 2018–2021. |
| Metals | Nickel | Buzzard | No observed change in concentrations. No threshold available; not currently able to assess risk. Time period: 2001, 2004–2006, 2010, 2013, 2016, and 2018–2021. |
| Metals | Copper | Buzzard | Not set |
| Metals | Zinc | Buzzard | Not set |
| Pesticides and biocides | Pesticides | Buzzard | Not set |
| Pesticides and biocides | SGARs | Buzzard | Not set |
| PBT substances | Mercury | Sparrowhawk | No observed change in concentrations. Population average below threshold for most-recent year. Time period: 2000, 2005, 2006, 2011–2013, 2020, and 2021 (2021 for risk assessment only). |
| PBT substances | PBDEs | Sparrowhawk | Not set |
| PBT substances | PCBs | Sparrowhawk | Not set |
| PBT substances | PCB 118 | Sparrowhawk | Not set |
| PBT substances | PFOS | Sparrowhawk | Not set |
| PBT substances | PFAS | Sparrowhawk | Not set |
| Metals | Lead | Sparrowhawk | No observed change in concentrations. All individuals below threshold for most-recent year. Time period: 2007–2014, 2020 and 2021. |
| Metals | Cadmium | Sparrowhawk | No observed change in concentrations. All individuals below threshold for most-recent year. Time period: 2007–2014, 2020 and 2021. |
| Metals | Nickel | Sparrowhawk | Data available; not currently able to assess trends. No threshold available; not currently able to assess risk. Time period: 2007–2014, 2020 and 2021. |
| Metals | Copper | Sparrowhawk | Not set |
| Metals | Zinc | Sparrowhawk | Not set |
| Pesticides and biocides | Pesticides | Sparrowhawk | Not set |
| Pesticides and biocides | SGARs | Sparrowhawk | Not set |
| PBT substances | Mercury | Red kite | Not set |
| PBT substances | PBDEs | Red kite | Not set |
| PBT substances | PCBs | Red kite | Not set |
| PBT substances | PCB 118 | Red kite | Not set |
| PBT substances | PFOS | Red kite | Not set |
| PBT substances | PFAS | Red kite | Not set |
| Metals | Lead | Red kite | Not set |
| Metals | Cadmium | Red kite | Not set |
| Metals | Nickel | Red kite | Not set |
| Metals | Copper | Red kite | Not set |
| Metals | Zinc | Red kite | Not set |
| Pesticides and biocides | Pesticides | Red kite | Not set |
| Pesticides and biocides | SGARs | Red kite | No observed changes in concentrations. 1 to 24% of samples above threshold for most-recent year. Time period: 2015-2021. |
| PBT substances | Mercury | Red fox | Data available; not currently able to assess trends. No threshold available; not currently able to assess risk. Time period: 2018–2021. |
| PBT substances | PBDEs | Red fox | Not set |
| PBT substances | PCBs | Red fox | Not set |
| PBT substances | PCB 118 | Red fox | Not set |
| PBT substances | PFOS | Red fox | Data available; not currently able to assess trends. No threshold available; not currently able to assess risk. Time period: 2018–2021. |
| PBT substances | PFAS | Red fox | Data available; not currently able to assess trends. No threshold available; not currently able to assess risk. Time period: 2018–2021. |
| Metals | Lead | Red fox | Data available; not currently able to assess trends. No threshold available; not currently able to assess risk. Time period: 2018–2021. |
| Metals | Cadmium | Red fox | Data available; not currently able to assess trends. No threshold available; not currently able to assess risk. Time period: 2018–2021. |
| Metals | Nickel | Red fox | Data available; not currently able to assess trends. No threshold available; not currently able to assess risk. Time period: 2018–2021. |
| Metals | Copper | Red fox | Not set |
| Metals | Zinc | Red fox | Not set |
| Pesticides and biocides | Pesticides | Red fox | Not set |
| Pesticides and biocides | SGARs | Red fox | Increasing concentrations. No threshold available; not currently able to assess risk. Time period: 2015-2022. |
| PBT substances | Mercury | Freshwater | Not set |
| PBT substances | PBDEs | Freshwater | Not set |
| PBT substances | PCBs | Freshwater | Not set |
| PBT substances | PCB 118 | Freshwater | Not set |
| PBT substances | PFOS | Freshwater | Decreasing concentrations. 1 to 24% of sites above threshold for most-recent 3 years. Time period: 2016–2022. |
| PBT substances | PFAS | Freshwater | Data available; not currently able to assess trends. No threshold available; not currently able to assess risk. Time period: 2016–2022. |
| Metals | Lead | Freshwater | Decreasing concentrations. 1 to 24% of sites above threshold for most-recent 3 years. Time period: 2014-2022. |
| Metals | Cadmium | Freshwater | Decreasing concentrations. 1 to 24% of sites above threshold for most-recent 3 years. Time period: 2014-2022. |
| Metals | Nickel | Freshwater | Decreasing concentrations. 1 to 24% of sites above threshold for most-recent 3 years. Time period: 2014-2022. |
| Metals | Copper | Freshwater | No observed change in concentrations. 1 to 24% of sites above threshold for most-recent 3 years. Time period: 2014-2022. |
| Metals | Zinc | Freshwater | Decreasing concentrations. 25 to 49% of sites above threshold for most-recent 3 years. Time period: 2014-2022. |
| Pesticides and biocides | Pesticides | Freshwater | No observed change in concentrations. More than 75% of sites above threshold for most-recent year. Time period: 2016-2022. |
| Pesticides and biocides | SGARs | Freshwater | Not set |
| PBT substances | Mercury | Freshwater fish | No observed change in concentrations. More than 75% of sites above threshold for most-recent year. Time period: 2014–2019 and 2022. |
| PBT substances | PBDEs | Freshwater fish | Decreasing concentrations. All sites below threshold for most-recent year. Time period: 2015–2019, 2021 and 2022. |
| PBT substances | PCBs | Freshwater fish | No observed change in concentrations. No threshold available; not currently able to assess risk. Time period: 2015–2019 and 2022. |
| PBT substances | PCB 118 | Freshwater fish | Decreasing concentrations. No threshold available; not currently able to assess risk. Time period: 2015–2019 and 2022. |
| PBT substances | PFOS | Freshwater fish | Decreasing concentrations. All sites below threshold for most-recent year. Time period: 2015–2019, 2021 and 2022. |
| PBT substances | PFAS | Freshwater fish | Data available; not currently able to assess trends. No threshold available; not currently able to assess risk. Time period: 2022. |
| Metals | Lead | Freshwater fish | Increasing concentrations. No threshold available; not currently able to assess risk. Time period: 2016–2019, 2021 and 2022. |
| Metals | Cadmium | Freshwater fish | No observed change in concentrations. No threshold available; not currently able to assess risk. Time period: 2016–2019, 2021 and 2022. |
| Metals | Nickel | Freshwater fish | Not set |
| Metals | Copper | Freshwater fish | Not set |
| Metals | Zinc | Freshwater fish | Not set |
| Pesticides and biocides | Pesticides | Freshwater fish | Not set |
| Pesticides and biocides | SGARs | Freshwater fish | Not set |
| PBT substances | Mercury | Otter | No observed change in concentrations. Population average below threshold for most-recent year. Time period: 2014–2021. |
| PBT substances | PBDEs | Otter | Decreasing concentrations. No threshold available; not currently able to assess risk. Time period: 2015–2021. |
| PBT substances | PCBs | Otter | No observed change in concentrations. No threshold available; not currently able to assess risk. Time period: 2015–2021. |
| PBT substances | PCB 118 | Otter | No observed change in concentrations. No threshold available; not currently able to assess risk. Time period: 2015–2021. |
| PBT substances | PFOS | Otter | No observed change in concentrations. No threshold available; not currently able to assess risk. Time period: 2015–2021. |
| PBT substances | PFAS | Otter | No observed change in concentrations. No threshold available; not currently able to assess risk. Time period: 2015–2021. |
| Metals | Lead | Otter | Decreasing concentrations. No threshold available; not currently able to assess risk. Time period: 2014–2021. |
| Metals | Cadmium | Otter | No observed change in concentrations. No threshold available; not currently able to assess risk. Time period: 2014–2021. |
| Metals | Nickel | Otter | No observed change in concentrations. No threshold available; not currently able to assess risk. Time period: 2014–2021. |
| Metals | Copper | Otter | Not set |
| Metals | Zinc | Otter | Not set |
| Pesticides and biocides | Pesticides | Otter | Not set |
| Pesticides and biocides | SGARs | Otter | Not set |
| PBT substances | Mercury | Estuarine/coastal waters | Not set |
| PBT substances | PBDEs | Estuarine/coastal waters | Not set |
| PBT substances | PCBs | Estuarine/coastal waters | Not set |
| PBT substances | PCB 118 | Estuarine/coastal waters | Not set |
| PBT substances | PFOS | Estuarine/coastal waters | Not set |
| PBT substances | PFAS | Estuarine/coastal waters | Not set |
| Metals | Lead | Estuarine/coastal waters | No observed change in concentrations. 1 to 24% of sites above threshold for most-recent 3 years. Time period: 2014–2022. |
| Metals | Cadmium | Estuarine/coastal waters | No observed change in concentrations. All sites below threshold for most-recent 3 years. Time period: 2014–2022. |
| Metals | Nickel | Estuarine/coastal waters | No observed change in concentrations. All sites below threshold for most-recent 3 years. Time period: 2014–2022. |
| Metals | Copper | Estuarine/coastal waters | No observed change in concentrations. All sites below threshold for most-recent 3 years. Time period: 2014–2022. |
| Metals | Zinc | Estuarine/coastal waters | No observed change in concentrations. 50 to 74% of sites above threshold for most-recent 3 years. Time period: 2014–2022. |
| Pesticides and biocides | Pesticides | Estuarine/coastal waters | Not set |
| Pesticides and biocides | SGARs | Estuarine/coastal waters | Not set |
| PBT substances | Mercury | Blue mussel | Increasing concentrations. More than 75% of sites above threshold for most-recent year. Time period: 2011–2019, 2021, and 2022. |
| PBT substances | PBDEs | Blue mussel | Decreasing concentrations. All sites below threshold for most-recent year. Time period: 2015–2022. |
| PBT substances | PCBs | Blue mussel | No observed change in concentrations. 25 to 49% of sites above threshold for most-recent year. Time period: 2011–2022. |
| PBT substances | PCB 118 | Blue mussel | No observed change in concentrations. 25 to 49% of sites above threshold for most-recent year. Time period: 2011–2022. |
| PBT substances | PFOS | Blue mussel | Not set |
| PBT substances | PFAS | Blue mussel | Not set |
| Metals | Lead | Blue mussel | Decreasing concentrations. No threshold available; not currently able to assess risk. Time period: 2011–2022. |
| Metals | Cadmium | Blue mussel | No observed change in concentrations. No threshold available; not currently able to assess risk. Time period: 2011–2022. |
| Metals | Nickel | Blue mussel | No observed change in concentrations. No threshold available; not currently able to assess risk. Time period: 2011–2022. |
| Metals | Copper | Blue mussel | Decreasing concentrations. No threshold available; not currently able to assess risk. Time period: 2011–2022. |
| Metals | Zinc | Blue mussel | Increasing concentrations. No threshold available; not currently able to assess risk. Time period: 2011–2022. |
| Pesticides and biocides | Pesticides | Blue mussel | Not set |
| Pesticides and biocides | SGARs | Blue mussel | Not set |
| PBT substances | Mercury | Estuarine/coastal fish | Data available; not currently able to assess trends. More than 75% of sites above threshold for most-recent year. Time period: 2018–2022. |
| PBT substances | PBDEs | Estuarine/coastal fish | Data available; not currently able to assess trends. All sites below threshold for most-recent year. Time period: 2017–2022. |
| PBT substances | PCBs | Estuarine/coastal fish | Data available; not currently able to assess trends. More than 75% of sites above threshold for most-recent year. Time period: 2018–2022. |
| PBT substances | PCB 118 | Estuarine/coastal fish | Data available; not currently able to assess trends. More than 75% of sites above threshold for most-recent year. Time period: 2018–2022. |
| PBT substances | PFOS | Estuarine/coastal fish | Data available; not currently able to assess trends. All sites below threshold for most-recent year. Time period: 2017–2022. |
| PBT substances | PFAS | Estuarine/coastal fish | Not set |
| Metals | Lead | Estuarine/coastal fish | Data available; not currently able to assess trends. No threshold available; not currently able to assess risk. Time period: 2018–2022. |
| Metals | Cadmium | Estuarine/coastal fish | Data available; not currently able to assess trends. No threshold available; not currently able to assess risk. Time period: 2018–2022. |
| Metals | Nickel | Estuarine/coastal fish | Data available; not currently able to assess trends. No threshold available; not currently able to assess risk. Time period: 2018–2022. |
| Metals | Copper | Estuarine/coastal fish | Data available; not currently able to assess trends. No threshold available; not currently able to assess risk. Time period: 2018–2022. |
| Metals | Zinc | Estuarine/coastal fish | Data available; not currently able to assess trends. No threshold available; not currently able to assess risk. Time period: 2018–2022. |
| Pesticides and biocides | Pesticides | Estuarine/coastal fish | Not set |
| Pesticides and biocides | SGARs | Estuarine/coastal fish | Not set |
| PBT substances | Mercury | Offshore fish (common dab) | No observed change in concentrations. More than 75% of samples above threshold for most-recent 2 years. Time period: 2008–2022. |
| PBT substances | PBDEs | Offshore fish (common dab) | Decreasing concentrations. 1 to 24% of samples above threshold for most-recent 2 years. Time period: 2008–2022. |
| PBT substances | PCBs | Offshore fish (common dab) | No observed change in concentrations. More than 75% of samples above threshold for most-recent 2 years. Time period: 2008–2022. |
| PBT substances | PCB 118 | Offshore fish (common dab) | No observed change in concentrations. More than 75% of samples above threshold for most-recent 2 years. Time period: 2008–2022. |
| PBT substances | PFOS | Offshore fish (common dab) | Data available; not currently able to assess trends. All samples below threshold for most-recent 2 years. Time period: 2014–2022. |
| PBT substances | PFAS | Offshore fish (common dab) | Data available; not currently able to assess trends. No threshold available; not currently able to assess risk. Time period: 2014–2022. |
| Metals | Lead | Offshore fish (common dab) | Increasing concentrations. No threshold available; not currently able to assess risk. Time period: 2008–2022. |
| Metals | Cadmium | Offshore fish (common dab) | Increasing concentrations. No threshold available; not currently able to assess risk. Time period: 2008–2022. |
| Metals | Nickel | Offshore fish (common dab) | No observed change in concentrations. No threshold available; not currently able to assess risk. Time period: 2008–2022. |
| Metals | Copper | Offshore fish (common dab) | No observed change in concentrations. No threshold available; not currently able to assess risk. Time period: 2008–2022. |
| Metals | Zinc | Offshore fish (common dab) | No observed change in concentrations. No threshold available; not currently able to assess risk. Time period: 2008–2022. |
| Pesticides and biocides | Pesticides | Offshore fish (common dab) | Not set |
| Pesticides and biocides | SGARs | Offshore fish (common dab) | Not set |
| PBT substances | Mercury | Harbour porpoise | No observed change in concentrations. No threshold available; not currently able to assess risk. Time period: 2009 and 2011–2021. |
| PBT substances | PBDEs | Harbour porpoise | Decreasing concentrations. All individuals below threshold for most-recent year. Time period: 2004–2008 and 2010–2021. |
| PBT substances | PCBs | Harbour porpoise | No observed change in concentrations. 25 to 49% of samples above threshold for most-recent year. Time period: 2004–2021. |
| PBT substances | PCB 118 | Harbour porpoise | Increasing concentrations. No threshold available; not currently able to assess risk. Time period: 2004–2021. |
| PBT substances | PFOS | Harbour porpoise | Decreasing concentrations. All individuals below threshold for most-recent year. Time period: 2001–2003, 2009 and 2012–2021. |
| PBT substances | PFAS | Harbour porpoise | No observed change in concentrations. No threshold available; not currently able to assess risk. Time period: 2009 and 2012–2021. |
| Metals | Lead | Harbour porpoise | Increasing concentrations. No threshold available; not currently able to assess risk. Time period: 2009 and 2011–2021. |
| Metals | Cadmium | Harbour porpoise | No observed change in concentrations. No threshold available; not currently able to assess risk. Time period: 2009 and 2011–2021. |
| Metals | Nickel | Harbour porpoise | No observed change in concentrations. No threshold available; not currently able to assess risk. Time period: 2009 and 2011–2021. |
| Metals | Copper | Harbour porpoise | Not set |
| Metals | Zinc | Harbour porpoise | Not set |
| Pesticides and biocides | Pesticides | Harbour porpoise | Not set |
| Pesticides and biocides | SGARs | Harbour porpoise | Not set |