TerraChem is a major collaborative research and innovation project which is working to address this knowledge gap and to develop a new systems approach to address chemical risks to terrestrial biodiversity in Europe.

This new systems approach integrates four key elements:

1. periodic pan-European monitoring of chemicals exposure and mixture effects in selected apex species food chains across representative terrestrial biomes;
2. modelling of chemical source-to-damage pathways in terrestrial ecosystems;
3. novel tools to prioritise substances for further risk assessment and novel approaches to better address terrestrial biodiversity and ecosystem services in environmental risk assessment and risk management of chemicals; and
4. a European data management and early warning system for chemicals in terrestrial biota and soils that integrates the monitoring data, modelling output and prioritisation tools.

TerraChem will help regulators better assess risks posed by specific chemicals to biodiversity in the terrestrial environment, with a view to the efficient identification of the most problematic substances and the introduction, where necessary, of more effective risk management measures. This in turn will help the EU meet its zero-pollution ambition.

TerraChem conceptual framework