Baltic Proper, Gdansk Basin and Gotland Basin during the period 1993 - 1999 (data set limits: 54 54 - 57 22; 18 24 - 21 05E); Lithuanian territorial and exclusive economic zone since 2000 (data set limits: 55 19 - 56 02N; 19 14 - 21 05E).

Concentration of other organic contaminants in sediment samples; Concentration of other organic contaminants in the water column

Discrete water samplers; sediment grabs; gas chromatographs

The aim of the researches is to determine amounts of chlorinated pesticides in water and bottom sediments in the Baltic Sea and to evaluate year-to-year dynamic of these amounts. These investigations are important as DDT and its metabolites (DDD, DDE), HCH isomers remain for a long time in the environment (water, sediment). Since 2005 other pesticides, such as endosulfan, aldrin, dieldrin, endrin, hexachlorobenzene (HCB) have been evaluated in the water and bottom sediments as well. In accordance with the national and international Baltic Sea monitoring (HELCOM) programme monitoring cruises have been fulfilled with Lithuanian research vessel 'Vejas'. Since 1995 seasonal investigations have been carried out in national (Lithuanian territorial and economic zones) and international (Baltic Proper) waters (data set limits: 54 54 - 57 22; 18 24 - 21 05), later the net of stations became more narrow and since 2000 researches in the Baltic Sea have been carried out only in the territorial and exclusive economic zone of Lithuania. Investigations had been carried out every season (water sampling) and three times per year (sediments sampling). Since 2005 investigations of chlorinated pesticides in water and sediments have been performed once per year (in summer). Water samples are taken from surface water layer. The data are fully quality controlled. Systematic certification of laboratories, participation in an international intercalibrations, internal control, introduced managing system for researches' quality, use of high quality reagents determine quality of data. All data is stored in archive (in table forms on paper) and is saved on hard disk.

G.Garnaga, V.Jancauskiene, L.Kondratjeva, K.Mickuviene (2008) Pollutants in water and sediments of the Baltic Sea and the Curonian Lagoon // Monograph: The Baltic Sea and its problems (Articles in Lithuanian with English summaries, N.Remeikaite, R.Nikzentaitiene

Department of Marine Research of the Environmental Protection Agency
Taikos Av. 26
Klaipeda

LT-91149
Lithuania