engleski

Environmental status of the Croatian part of the coastal Adriatic Sea

Initial assessment of the situation and the load on the marine environment of the Croatian part of the Adriatic Sea was the first step in the preparation of the program of measures for achieving and maintaining good status of the marine environment. It was based on monitoring activities in the Adriatic coastal waters carried throughout national projects and in the frame of the MED POL monitoring program in the last decades. Outcomes of this activities represent a good background to define qualitative descriptors according to the MSFD and establish monitoring and observation system for ongoing assessment of the Croatian waters. With regard to Descriptor 8, hazardous substances data obtained for sediment and mussels Mytilus galloprovincialis from coastal areas, during period 2002-2011 and new monitoring activities in 2013 year, were used to assess the “on-going chemical status” and to ensure that concentrations of contaminants are at levels not giving rise to pollution effects. Contamination by target hazardous substances were observed in areas in the vicinity of large towns, identified as hot spots. Major contamination problems include untreated or partially treated urban and industrial wastewaters and to a lesser extent agricultural activities in the past. Environmental concentrations of organochlorine pesticides (HCB, lindane, aldrin, dieldrin, p, p’-DDTs), showing in general low levels of contamination, have declined due to ban of their production and use. Contrary, there is much more widespread contamination by PCBs as a result of their historical use, exhibiting a slight decrease of concentrations. Evidently, PCBs are still present in the environment probably reflecting an inefficient management of the existing regulations concerning their use and stocking.

Environmental status; Hazardous substances; Adriatic Sea

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