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Contaminants in Europes seas

Publication Created 07 Mar 2019 Published 15 May 2019
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Moving towards a clean, non-toxic marine environment. This assessment represents a first attempt to map contamination 'problem areas' and 'non-problem areas' at the scale of Europe's seas, while also exploring whether Europe has broken some of the trends for long‑established hazardous substances.
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Publication Created 07 Mar 2019 Published 15 May 2019
EEA Report No 25/2018
Moving towards a clean, non-toxic marine environment. This assessment represents a first attempt to map contamination 'problem areas' and 'non-problem areas' at the scale of Europe's seas, while also exploring whether Europe has broken some of the trends for long‑established hazardous substances.

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CHASE classification in seawater, excluding Hg Results of classification of Chemical Status using the CHASE+ tool. Chemical status is evaluated in five classes, where NPAhigh and NPAgood are recognised as ‘non-problem areas’ and PAmoderate, PApoor and PAbad are recognised as ‘problem areas’.
CHASE classification in biota, excluding Hg Results of classification of Chemical Status using the CHASE+ tool. Chemical status is evaluated in five classes, where NPAhigh and NPAgood are recognised as ‘non-problem areas’ and PAmoderate, PApoor and PAbad are recognised as ‘problem areas’.
CHASE classification in sediments, excluding PBDEs Results of classification of Chemical Status using the CHASE+ tool. Chemical status is evaluated in five classes, where NPAhigh and NPAgood are recognised as ‘non-problem areas’ and PAmoderate, PApoor and PAbad are recognised as ‘problem areas’ .
CHASE classification in biota, excluding PBDEs Results of classification of Chemical Status using the CHASE+ tool. Chemical status is evaluated in five classes, where NPAhigh and NPAgood are recognised as ‘non-problem areas’ and PAmoderate, PApoor and PAbad are recognised as ‘problem areas’.
CHASE classification in seawater, excluding Hg and PBDEs Results of classification of Chemical Status using the CHASE+ tool. Chemical status is evaluated in five classes, where NPAhigh and NPAgood are recognised as ‘non-problem areas’ and PAmoderate, PApoor and PAbad are recognised as ‘problem areas’ .
CHASE classification in the Western Mediterranean Sea and the Bay of Biscay Results of classification of Chemical Status using the CHASE+ tool. Chemical status is evaluated in five classes, where NPAhigh and NPAgood are recognised as ‘non-problem areas’ and PAmoderate, PApoor and PAbad are recognised as ‘problem areas’.
CHASE classification in the Black Sea Results of classification of Chemical Status using the CHASE+ tool. Chemical status is evaluated in five classes, where NPAhigh and NPAgood are recognised as ‘non-problem areas’ and PAmoderate, PApoor and PAbad are recognised as ‘problem areas’.
CHASE classification in seawater, excluding PBDEs Results of classification of Chemical Status using the CHASE+ tool. Chemical status is evaluated in five classes, where NPAhigh and NPAgood are recognised as ‘non-problem areas’ and PAmoderate, PApoor and PAbad are recognised as ‘problem areas’.
CHASE classification in sediments, excluding Hg and PBDEs Results of classification of Chemical Status using the CHASE+ tool. Chemical status is evaluated in five classes, where NPAhigh and NPAgood are recognised as ‘non-problem areas’ and PAmoderate, PApoor and PAbad are recognised as ‘problem areas’ .
CHASE classification in biota, excluding Hg and PBDEs Results of classification of Chemical Status using the CHASE+ tool. Chemical status is evaluated in five classes, where NPAhigh and NPAgood are recognised as ‘non-problem areas’ and PAmoderate, PApoor and PAbad are recognised as ‘problem areas’
CHASE classification in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea Results of classification of Chemical Status using the CHASE+ tool. Chemical status is evaluated in five classes, where NPAhigh and NPAgood are recognised as ‘non-problem areas’ and PAmoderate, PApoor and PAbad are recognised as ‘problem areas’.
CHASE classification excluding PBDEs Results of classification of Chemical Status using the CHASE+ tool. Chemical status is evaluated in five classes, where NPAhigh and NPAgood are recognised as ‘non-problem areas’ and PAmoderate, PApoor and PAbad are recognised as ‘problem areas’.
CHASE classification in sediments, excluding Hg Results of classification of Chemical Status using the CHASE+ tool. Chemical status is evaluated in five classes, where NPAhigh and NPAgood are recognised as ‘non-problem areas’ and PAmoderate, PApoor and PAbad are recognised as ‘problem areas’ .
CHASE classification in the Celtic Seas and the North Sea Results of classification of Chemical Status using the CHASE+ tool. Chemical status is evaluated in five classes, where NPAhigh and NPAgood are recognised as ‘non-problem areas’ and PAmoderate, PApoor and PAbad are recognised as ‘problem areas’.
CHASE classification in the Iceland Sea, Norwegian Sea and Barents Sea Results of classification of Chemical Status using the CHASE+ tool. Chemical status is evaluated in five classes, where NPAhigh and NPAgood are recognised as ‘non-problem areas’ and PAmoderate, PApoor and PAbad are recognised as ‘problem areas’ .
Mapping of ’problem areas’ and ’non-problem areas’ in Europe’s seas, based on CHASE classification Results of classification of Chemical Status using the CHASE+ tool. Chemical status is evaluated in five classes, where NPAhigh and NPAgood are recognised as ‘non-problem areas’ and PAmoderate, PApoor and PAbad are recognised as ‘problem areas’ .
CHASE classification excluding Hg Results of classification of Chemical Status using the CHASE+ tool. Chemical status is evaluated in five classes, where NPAhigh and NPAgood are recognised as ‘non-problem areas’ and PAmoderate, PApoor and PAbad are recognised as ‘problem areas’.
CHASE classification in biota, excluding metals Results of classification of Chemical Status using the CHASE+ tool. Chemical status is evaluated in five classes, where NPAhigh and NPAgood are recognised as ‘non-problem areas’ and PAmoderate, PApoor and PAbad are recognised as ‘problem areas’ .
CHASE classification in the Baltic Sea Results of classification of Chemical Status using the CHASE+ tool. Chemical status is evaluated in five classes, where NPAhigh and NPAgood are recognised as ‘non-problem areas’ and PAmoderate, PApoor and PAbad are recognised as ‘problem areas’ .
CHASE classification of contaminant status in sediments Results of classification of Chemical Status using the CHASE+ tool. Chemical status is evaluated in five classes, where NPAhigh and NPAgood are recognised as ‘non-problem areas’ and PAmoderate, PApoor and PAbad are recognised as ‘problem areas’
CHASE classification of contaminant status in seawater Results of classification of Chemical Status using the CHASE+ tool. Chemical status is evaluated in five classes, where NPAhigh and NPAgood are recognised as ‘non-problem areas’ and PAmoderate, PApoor and PAbad are recognised as ‘problem areas’.
CHASE classification in seawater, excluding metals Results of classification of Chemical Status using the CHASE+ tool. Chemical status is evaluated in five classes, where NPAhigh and NPAgood are recognised as ‘non-problem areas’ and PAmoderate, PApoor and PAbad are recognised as ‘problem areas’ .
CHASE classification of biological effects of contaminant status Results of classification of Chemical Status using the CHASE+ tool. Chemical status is evaluated in five classes, where NPAhigh and NPAgood are recognised as ‘non-problem areas’ and PAmoderate, PApoor and PAbad are recognised as ‘problem areas’.
CHASE classification excluding Hg and PBDEs Results of classification of Chemical Status using the CHASE+ tool. Chemical status is evaluated in five classes, where NPAhigh and NPAgood are recognised as ‘non-problem areas’ and PAmoderate, PApoor and PAbad are recognised as ‘problem areas’.
CHASE classification excluding metals Results of classification of Chemical Status using the CHASE+ tool. Chemical status is evaluated in five classes, where NPAhigh and NPAgood are recognised as ‘non-problem areas’ and PAmoderate, PApoor and PAbad are recognised as ‘problem areas’.
Regional seas surrounding Europe

News and articles

Ensuring clean waters for people and nature Water covers more than 70 % of the Earth’s surface and is essential to all life on our planet. Of all the Earth’s water, 96.5 % is contained within the oceans as salt water, whereas the remaining 3.5 % is freshwater — lakes, rivers, groundwater and ice. Good management of this limited and precious resource is indispensable for the well-being of people and nature.
Europe’s seas face uncertain future if urgent, coherent action not taken Faced with the increased threats posed by overexploitation of marine resources, pollution and climate change, urgent action is needed to bring Europe’s seas back to good condition. According to the European Environment Agency’s report on Europe’s marine ecosystems, published today, we are running out of time to reverse decades of neglect and misuse.
Contamination of European seas continues despite some positive progress There is a shared vision to achieve clean, non toxic seas but their contamination with synthetic substances as well as heavy metals continues to be a large-scale problem in Europe. According to a new European Environment Agency (EEA) report, published today, between 75 and 96 % of the assessed area of Europe’s regional seas have a contamination problem.

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