Whole Curonian Lagoon in the Southeastern Baltic Sea during the period 1980-1992 (data set limits: 54 54 - 55 44N; 20 37 - 21 17E); Northern Curonian Lagoon in the Southeastern Baltic Sea since 1993 (data set limits: 55 16 - 55 44N; 21 01 - 21 17E)

Dissolved metal concentrations in the water column; Inorganic chemical composition of sediment or rocks

Atomic absorption spectrometers

The aim of the research of heavy metals is to determine the contamination of the Curonian Lagoon's water and bottom sediments with heavy metals and to evaluate long-term dynamic of their concentrations. From 1980 (Hg in water) and 1981 (Hg is sediment) to 1993 in accordance with the national monitoring programme the investigations of mercury were performed three times a year (spring, summer, autumn) in the whole Curonian Lagoon, since 1993 - every month (water sampling) and three times a year (sediment sampling) in the north part of the Lagoon that belongs to the Lithuania. Since 2003 the investigations of other heavy metals, such as cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), nickel (Ni) have been performed in water and sediments as well. Since 2003 in accordance with the national monitoring programme the investigations of heavy metals have been performed every season (water sampling) and three times per year (sediments sampling). For the determination of heavy matals concentrations in water samples are taken from surface and bottom water layers. The data are fully quality controlled. Systematic certification of laboratories, participation in international intercalibrations, internal control, introduced managing system for research' quality, use of high quality reagents determine quality of data. All data is stored in archive (written form) and saved on hard disk.

A. Jasinskaite, V. Jancauskiene, L. Kondratjeva (1998) The research of pollutants in the Kurshiu Marios Lagoon / The environmental status of the Baltic Sea and Kurshiu Marios Lagoon (Articles in Lithuanian with English summaries), Virginija Cizauskiene; 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