What is SSEO

The Stimulation Program System-oriented Ecotoxicological Research (1998-2006) ended in 2008. All information on the programme will stay available on this website. The programme had the following problem definition, objectives and themes.

Problem definition
We have to conclude that unfortunately the quality of the environment has not really improved, that biodiversity is still under pressure and that there is a general lack of space. Some improvements are showing, in particular concerning water quality. However, in addition to clearly defined sites suffering from soil pollution, the country is covered by a ‘chemical blanket’; a diffuse load consisting of a range of different contaminants. Some of these substances are naturally present in the soil, e.g. nutrients and heavy metals, some substances, however, are alien to our ecosystems (xenobiotics). It is therefore crucial to determine the ecological risks of this diffuse, chronic stresses caused by combinations of contaminants on ecosystem level.

Objectives

• To gather scientific data on ecosystems' responses to chemical stresses of a chronic and diffuse nature. The causal relationship between populations and system levels deserves special attention.
• To use fundamental and scientific knowledge to provide support for future formulating and implementation of government policies on the ecological risks of chronic and diffuse stresses on the environment caused by a combination of contaminants.

Themes
On the basis of above objectives, four themes have been distinguished, each of which have been subdivided in a number of research themes:
1. Behaviour, paths and toxicity of substances
2. Ecological risks: processes and indicators
3. Intervention and remediation
4. Developing models and ecological analyses

Project duration
1998-2006

Funding
This stimulation programme is funded by the Dutch Ministries of
Agriculture, Nature Management and Fisheries (LNV),
Housing, Spatial Planning and the Environment (VROM),
Education, Culture and Science (OCW) and
Transport, and of Public Works and Water Management (V&W) and by
the Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research (NWO).

Budget
4,7 M€