Helsinki Commission

Heavy Metals

In accordance with the Memorandum of Understanding between the Baltic Marine Environment Protection Commission (HELCOM) and the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe on cooperation in the field of monitoring of air pollutants EMEP Centres (CCC, MSC-E and MSC-W) annually prepared a joint report on the evaluation of airborne pollution load to the Baltic Sea. MSC-E had the main responsibility for the evaluation of atmospheric transport and deposition of lead, cadmium, and mercury to the Baltic Sea. The deposition and atmospheric transport were assessed on the base of EMEP officially submitted emission data. Besides, this report provided detailed information about emissions of heavy metals in HELCOM countries and comparison of modelling results against measurement data collected in the HECLOM region in 2006.

In addition to the joint annual report, MSC-E prepared environmental indicator reports with the updated information on atmospheric emissions of heavy metals and their deposition to the Baltic Sea for 1990 – 2006 period. These reports are available in the Internet at the web site of the Helsinki Commission [www.helcom.fi].

According to the officially reported emission data, cadmium emissions in HELCOM countries declined by 47%, mercury – by 45% and lead by 86% for the period from 1990 to 2006 (Fig. 1). Generally, the reduction of heavy metal emissions in this area is caused by extensive use of unleaded gasoline and application of cleaner production technologies. Besides, it is partly connected with economic re-structuring which has taken place in Poland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Russia since early 1990s. The highest decrease of cadmium emissions took place in Lithuania (90%) and Estonia (88%). In case of lead emission, the most significant decrease can be seen for Denmark and Sweden where the emissions in 2006 were more than 20 times lower than in 1990. Mercury emission most significantly decreased in Latvia (92%) and Germany (85%). Essential reduction of annual lead emission of HELCOM countries from 2003 to 2004 is mostly caused by the change of emission in Russia.

Following the reduction of atmospheric emissions, deposition of heavy metals decreased for the period 1990 – 2006 as shown in Fig. 2. Deposition of lead is characterized by the most significant decline (66%). The decrease of cadmium deposition made up 43%, and mercury – 33%. When considering individual sub-basins of the Baltic Sea the highest decrease of cadmium and lead deposition was revealed for the Gulf of Finland (67% and 74%, respectively). For mercury, the most significant decline in deposition was obtained for the Belt Sea (37%).

In 2006 the highest modelled deposition of heavy metals were indicated for the southern-western part of the Baltic Sea (the Belt Sea and the Kattegat). Poland, Germany and Russia are the major contributors to atmospheric deposition of heavy metals to the Baltic Sea in 2006 among HELCOM countries.

Persistent Organic Pollutants

In accordance with the Memorandum of Understanding between the Baltic Marine Environment Protection Commission (HELCOM) and the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe on cooperation in the field of monitoring of air pollutants EMEP Centres (CCC, MSC-E and MSC-W) annually prepared a joint report on the evaluation of airborne pollution load to the Baltic Sea. MSC-E had the main responsibility for the evaluation of atmospheric transport and deposition of PCDD/Fs to the Baltic Sea. Officially reported emission data on PCDD/Fs to EMEP for 1990-2006 were used in simulations for the Helsinki Commission. Modelling results on the pollution of the Baltic Sea by PCDD/Fs and contributions of surrounding countries were described [Bartnicki et al., 2008].

Besides, the environmental indicator report with regard to temporal variations of PCDD/F emissions to the atmosphere and their deposition over the Baltic Sea in the period from 1990 to 2006 has been prepared. The indicator report is available in the Internet at the HELCOM web site [www.helcom.fi].

Annual emissions of dioxins and furans have decreased in HELCOM countries during the period from 1990 to 2006 by 22%. The most significant drop of PCDD/F emissions can be noted for Denmark (63%), Finland (60%), and Estonia (53%). Some decrease of emission can also be noted for Sweden (37%), Germany (26%), Russia (22%), and Poland (15%).

Annual net deposition of PCDD/Fs to the Baltic Sea has decreased in the period 1990-2006 by 59%. On the level of individual sub-basins the most significant drop in PCDD/F deposition took place for the Belt Sea (73%) and the Kattegat (65%) (Fig. 1). For other sub-basins the decrease of deposition varies from 45% to 59%. The highest levels of PCDD/F deposition over the Baltic Sea (0.27 ng TEQ/m2/y) can be noted for its southern-western part (the Belt Sea). Lowest level of PCDD/F deposition fluxes (0.07 ng TEQ/m2/y) is obtained for the Gulf of Bothnia. Among the HELCOM countries the most significant contributions to deposition over the Baltic Sea in 2006 belonged to Poland, Russia, and Denmark (12%, 7%, and 7%).