North Sea

Concentration of other organic contaminants in sediment samples; Metal concentrations in biota; Concentration of other organic contaminants in biota; Concentration of other organic contaminants in the water column; Inorganic chemical composition of sediment or rocks

The multidisciplinary research programme of the Federal Office for Scientific, Technical and Cultural Affairs (OSTC) aimed at deepening the knowledge of the marine environment.

            
            Results are available for following research themes:
            - Dynamics of the marine ecosystem:
           
 * heavy metals and organic micropollutants:
            - origin, formation, distribution and biological consequences (including on fish) in the estuaries, coastal zones and soil sediments;
            - estimation of the pollutant flows, taking into consideration the physical and biogeochemical processes which regulate them; 
           
 * eutrophication: evaluation and forecast of phytoplankton growth; bacterial plankton cycle; zooplankton grazing; benthos;
            
            The different projects are :
            - MS/A1/01: Molecular dynamics of the absorption, accumulation and elimination of metals in marine organisms from the North Sea
            - MS/A1/02: Marine ecotoxicology: distribution, flows and biological effects of metal pollutants in the Asterias rubens, a key species of the coastal biotopes of the North Sea 
            - MS/A1/03: Pathological and ecotoxicological study of sea birds and sea mammals in the North Sea and adjoining areas
            - MS/A1/04: Intercompartmental distribution of monoaromatic hydrocarbons (MAH's) and C1-C2 organochlorinated compounds in the North Sea environment- MS/A1/05: Study of the geochemical cycles of particulate heavy metals and organic micropollutants in the North Sea environment 
            - MS/A1/06: Transfer and behaviour of trace metals in the estuary of the Scheldt 
            - MS/A2/07: Dynamic of eutrophicated coastal systems 
            - MS/A2/08: Structure and function of the benthos in estuarine and coastal ecosystems in relation to current and future anthropogenic influences 
            - MS/A2/09: Modelling and simulation of the grazing pressure of zooplankton in the ecosystem of the North Sea. Practical and theoretical approach 
            - MS/A2/10: Effects of pollution on macrozoobenthos communities in the Scheldt estuary 
            - MS/B/11: Definition and application of ecological criteria and economic indicators for the impact study and cost determination of various types of pollution in the North Sea 
            - MS/B/12: Towards a future Belgian policy for protecting the North Sea. Social and economic consequences.

Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences, Operational Directorate Natural Environment, Belgian Marine Data Centre
Vautierstraat 29
Brussels

1000
Belgium