A newly validated method to test for the presence of the chemical
pyridine in animal tissue and sediments has been developed by the
Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (Cefas)
and published in a report today (3 November).
Cefas was commissioned to develop and validate a quantitative
method to test for pyridine in organic tissue and sediment after
a crustacean mass mortality event that occurred in the North East
of England during Autumn 2021.
In January 2023, an independent Crustacean
Mortality Expert Panel (CMEP) of experts from academia
and industry concluded it was very unlikely (< 10%) that
pyridine was the sole cause of the crab deaths. This included
considering the impact of industries such as chemical production
and steelworks associated with historical production of pyridine
in Teesside.
At the time of the initial investigation by the Environment
Agency, there was no available validated method to test for
pyridine in animal tissue, and the test used by the Environment
Agency was adapted from the method that tests for pyridine in
water.
The research
reported today now provides a robust method to test for
the presence of pyridine in animal tissue and sediments and has
been reviewed by scientists from the Environment Agency.
Cefas has used the new validated method to re-analyse samples
collected during the mass mortality event. This found low levels
of pyridine in crab tissue and sediments, supporting the
conclusion of the expert panel (CMEP) that it is very unlikely
that pyridine caused the crab and lobster mortalities in the
North East of England in October 2021.
Gideon Henderson, Defra Chief Scientific Adviser, said:
I welcome Cefas’ expert work to develop and validate this new
analytical method for measurement of pyridine which now enables
accurate and reliable measurements of this molecule in organic
tissue and sediments. It will be a useful tool to assess
potential pollution issues in the future, in UK waters and more
widely.
I look forward to seeing this work in the academic literature and
expect the method to be of interest to other labs working on
contaminations and potential impacts on ecosystems.
Dr Rachel Hartnell, Cefas Science Director said:
This new method is a really useful addition to the scientific
knowledge that can be used to assess pyridine in animals and
sediments. The methodology is now available if there are future
mass mortality events and for other organisations to also carry
out their own research.
That work will shortly be submitted to an academic journal for
peer-review. Pending peer review, the report is
available on gov.uk given public interest in the causes
of crab deaths in North East England.
The Crustacean Mortality
Expert Panel report can also be found on gov.uk.
