AMAP's assessments are based to a large extent on information and results from recent (largely unpublished) monitoring and research work. Data from such activities are compiled together with routine monitoring data within AMAP Thematic Data Centres (TDCs). Data are made available from the TDCs to scientists engaged in AMAP assessments under strict conditions that protect the rights of data originators. These conditions are described in AMAP's Data Policy documentation. Consideration of quality assurance issues is an integral component of the AMAP monitoring and assessment process.

AMAP Thematic Data Centres have been established to meet the following objectives:

• to provide access to data from recent monitoring and research activities conducted as part of the AMAP National Implementation Plans (NIPs);
• to provide a means to ensure that data are treated in a consistent manner, undergo uniform statistical analysis, etc., including application of objective quality assurance procedures;
• to begin the process of establishing a long-term archive of Arctic-relevant monitoring data, for use in future assessments of, e.g. temporal trends, etc.; and
• to meet the terms of reference of the Ministerial declarations, charging AMAP with establishing databases of sources, types, and levels of radionuclide contamination of the atmospheric, aquatic and terrestrial environments of the Arctic and northern areas.

To date, six TDCs have been established, for:

• atmospheric contaminants data: at the Norwegian Institute for Air Research (NILU), Kjeller, Norway.
• marine contaminants data: at the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES), Copenhagen, Denmark - ICES Environmental Data Centre.
• freshwater and terrestrial contaminants data: at the University of Alaska - Fairbanks (UAF), Fairbanks, USA - UAF Syncon Database.
• radioactivity data, including both sources and levels and trends: at the Norwegian Radiation Protection Authority (NRPA), Oslo, Norway.
• human health data: at the National Institute of Public Health (NIPH), Copenhagen, Denmark.

AMAP TDCs are located at established centres with appropriate expertise and facilities for conducting the types of international data handling work required by AMAP. Some of these centres also conduct data handling work for other international monitoring programs, facilitating harmonized reporting of data to meet the needs of different regional programs.