Helcom : More Updates on Compiled Baltic Pollution Data

More Updates on Compiled Baltic Pollution Data

HELCOM PLC-5.5 project started on the way ahead for the Ministerial Meeting on 2013

Best available and complete data is needed from all HELCOM countries, for the updated Pollution Load Compilation report. Photo: Seppo Knuuttila

The new HELCOM project “Review of Fifth Baltic Sea Pollution Load Compilation for the 2013 HELCOM Ministerial Meeting (HELCOM PLC-5.5)” was kick-started with a project group meeting in early May 2012. The overall task of the PLC-5.5 project is to update the latest periodic Pollution Load Compilation (PLC-5) which consists of waterborne pollution load data (primarily nitrogen and phosphorus) from all Baltic coastal countries from 1994-2008 and a source apportionment on 2006 data. The new PLC-5.5 will cover, not only data on waterborne inputs, but also airborne inputs to the Baltic Sea, and will include data up to the year 2010.

Latest available pollution load data from the HELCOM Contracting Parties is needed for the review and revision of the provision nutrient reduction allocation scheme which was adopted in the HELCOM Baltic Sea Action Plan in 2007 and assessing whether there have been significant reductions in nutrient inputs to the Baltic Sea. “In order to

Lars M. Svendsen

be able to fairly allocate country-wise nutrient reduction targets, it is of utmost importance to compile the best available and complete data including filling in data gaps in the HELCOM pollution load database,” emphasizes Danish Project Manager, Mr. Lars M. Svendsen.

“Estimating the missing and incomplete pollution load data will be one of the greatest challenges of the project, which has a very ambitious schedule,” he says.

The objectives of such periodic pollution load compilations regarding pollution of the Baltic Sea from land-based sources are to compile the latest available information on the water and airborne inputs of important pollutants entering the Baltic Sea. Furthermore, such compilations address different sources of pollution in the Baltic Sea catchment area and allow for follow up of the long-term changes in the waterborne and airborne pollution load to the Baltic Sea.

The report will also determine the priority order of different sources of pollutants for the pollution of the Baltic Sea and overall assess the effect of the main measures taken to reduce the pollution load in the Baltic Sea catchment area including evaluation of any trends since 1994 in nutrient inputs to the Baltic Sea. The results of the report will be made use of by the HELCOM Ministerial Meeting in 2013.