POLLUTION IN THE BALTIC SEA

The Baltic Sea is almost totally surrounded by land and therefore more endangered by pollution than other marine areas. The sources of marin e pollution are municipal and industrial waste inputs directly into th e sea or via rivers, and atmospheric inputs mainly from traffic and ag riculture. The increase of inorganic plant nutrients (NH3, NOx, PO4) c aused eutrophication and consequent oxygen depletion in coastal bottom waters as well as in the depths of the open sea. In the anoxic sedime nts, hydrogen sulfide can be produced by protein-decomposing and sulfa te-reducing bacteria. The bottom fauna will be destroyed and only H2S tolerant microorganisms can survive. Originating from cellulose manufa cturing and from paper mills, large amounts of poisonous chlorinated c ompounds contaminated the coastal waters of Sweden and Finland until t he 1980s. Most of this material is still present in sediments of the c entral Baltic Sea and can be resuspended by near bottom currents. To r educe pollution and improve the situation in the Baltic Sea, the surro unding countries organized the Helsinki Convention, which came into fo rce on 3.5.1980. The Helsinki Commission (HELCOM) founded in 1974 acts as coordinator and is responsible for the enforcement of the Baltic m onitoring program and international research projects. The activities of HELCOM have led to the reduction of dangerous pollutants which in t urn has caused the regeneration of flora and fauna in some areas. Furt her improvements can be expected.