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Atmospheric Supply of Nitrogen, Lead, Cadmium, Mercury and Dioxins/Furans to the Baltic Sea in 2007
 

Authors:

Jerzy Bartnicki - MSC-W of EMEP e-mail: jerzy.bartnicki@met.no 
Alexey Gusev - MSC-E of EMEP e-mail: alexey.gusev@msceast.org 
Wenche Aas - CCC of EMEP e-mail: waa@nilu.no
Semeena Valiyaveetil - MSC-W of EMEP e-mai: semeenav@met.no

 

Summary

The results presented in this EMEP Centres Joint Report for HELCOM are based on the modelling and monitoring data presented to the 33th Session of the Steering Body of EMEP in Geneva in September 2009. It includes measurements, as well as emissions and depositions calculated by the EMEP models of nitrogen compounds, heavy metals and PCDD/F for the year 2007.

The measured monthly and annual 2007 concentrations in air and precipitation for nitrogen species and heavy metals are presented in the report. For all the components a significant south-east gradient can be noticed in the measured concentrations in 2007. The temporal patterns of monthly Cd and Pb concentrations in air show a strong winter maximum, and temporal pattern of Hg monthly concentrations weaker winter maximum. Reduced nitrogen in air has maximum both in spring and autumn, while oxidised nitrogen show a clear increase in spring. The different components show no seasonal variation in precipitation.

Annual emissions from the HELCOM Contractig Parties in 2007 are shown below for all pollutants considered in the report. The annual nitrogen oxides emission from the nternational ship traffic on the Baltic Sea in 2007 is107 kt N. 

 

Country/
Ship
                                            POLLUTANT
NO2
(kt N)
NH3
(kt N)
Cd
(tonnes)
Pb
(tonnes)
Hg
(tonnes)
PCDD/F
(g TEQ)
Denmark51620.761.128
Estonia1180.7400.75
Finland56291.1210.812
Germany3915142.51064.083
Latvia13130.6180.013
Lithuania21300.470.411
Poland26924039.657315.9442
Russia132775059.435514.0808
Sweden50410.6160.636
HELCOM218816871061142381438
Ship-Baltic107


Annual depositions of all considered pollutants in 2007 are shown in the Table below for 6 sub-basins of the Baltic Sea and for the entire Baltic Sea.

Basin                                                     POLLUTANT
Ox-N
(kt N)
Red-N
(kt N)
Cd
(tonnes)
Pb
(tonnes)
Hg
(tonnes)
PCDD/F
(g TEQ)
GUB16.610.40.9290.77
BAP7.24.44.31281.924
GUF5.53.80.5160.36
GUR61.050.10.4110.24
BES8.814.20.5160.210
KAT8.19.50.5170.24
BAS 107.192.472173.455

Oxidised nitrogen depositions in 2007 into the Baltic Sea were 3% lower in 2007 than in 2006, whereas reduced nitrogen depositions were 3% higher. Total nitrogen deposition remained on the same level in 2007 as in 2006.

Levels of cadmium and lead deposition to the entire Baltic Sea slightly decreased in 2007 comparing to 2006 by 6% and 9%, respectively. At the same time mercury deposition to the entire Baltic Sea for 2007 were 6% higher than that for 2006. In case of PCDD/Fs there is a decrease of deposition from 2006 to 2007 by 9%.

Anthropogenic emission sources of HELCOM countries contributed to the annual deposition over the Baltic Sea in 2007 about 20% for lead and mercury and about 40% for cadmium and PCDD/Fs. Essential contribution to total annual deposition belongs to other sources, in particular, natural emissions, re-suspension with dust, distant emissions, and re-emission.

The following sectors contributed most significantly to the annual anthropogenic emissions of HELCOM countries in 2007: Combustion in Power Plants and Industry (62 88 %), Commercial, Residential and other Stationary Combustion (5  22 %), and Industrial processes for Pb, Cd, And Hg (3 – 11 %), and Waste for PCDD/Fs (13%).

Most significant contribution to deposition of HMs and PCDD/Fs to the Baltic Sea was made by Poland followed by Estonia for Pb, Russia for Cd, and Denmark for Hg and PCDD/Fs.

Model results in comparison with available measurements for 2007 made around the Baltic Sea are within an accuracy of 60% for Pb and Cd, and 30% for Hg. Computed concentrations of PCDD/Fs are lower than measurements by a factor 2-3.

Separate Chapters of the report, as well as, links to the Indicator Fact Sheets can be found below.

Separate Chapters of the report, as well as, links to the Indicator Fact Sheets can be found below

Title pages

Preface, Acknowledgments, Contents   

Introduction

Introductory remarks

Observed Pollutant Concentrations at HELCOM Stations in 2007

Map of HELCOM measurement stations. Nitrogen concentrations in air and precipitation. Heavy metals in air Lindane measurements. Remarks about intercalibration.

Atmospheric Supply of Nitrogen to the Baltic Sea in 2007

Nitrogen emissions. Annual and monthly depositions. Source allocation budget.  

Atmospheric Supply of Lead to the Baltic Sea in 2007

Lead emissions. Annual and monthly depositions. Source allocation budget. Comparison of model results and measurements.

Atmospheric Supply of Cadmium to the Baltic Sea in 2007

Cadmium emissions. Annual and monthly depositions. Source allocation budget. Comparison of model results and measurements.   

Atmospheric Supply of Mercury to the Baltic Sea in 2007

Mercury emissions. Annual and monthly depositions. Source allocation budget. Comparison of model results and measurements.   

Atmospheric Supply of PCDD/F to the Baltic Sea in 2007

PCDDF emissions. Annual and monthly depositions. Source allocation budget. Comparison of model results and measurements.   

References

References quoted in the report.   

Appendix A

Tables with complete results of measurements at all available HELCOM stations in 2007.   

Appendix B

Updated for 2007 information on monitoring methods, accuracy, detection limits and precision.  
Appendix CLinks to HELCOM Indicator Fact Sheets
HELCOM Indicator Fact Sheet on nitrogen emissions
HELCOM Indicator Fact Sheet on nitrogen depositions
HELCOM Indicator Fact Sheet on heavy metal emissions
HELCOM Indicator Fact Sheet on heavy metal depositions
HELCOM Indicator Fact Sheet on PCDD/Fs emissions
HELCOM Indicator Fact Sheet on PCDDFs depositions

Click here for a 1 PDF file version of report (7,76 MB)


The Co-operative Program for Monitoring and Evaluation of the Long-Range Transmission of Air Pollutants in Europe (EMEP) and the Baltic Marine Environment Protection Commission (HELCOM) are both conducting work on air monitoring, modelling and compilation of emission inventories. In 1995, HELCOM decided to rationalize its current programs by avoiding duplication of efforts with specialised international organizations. At the request of HELCOM, the steering Body of EMEP at its nineteenth session agreed to assume the management of atmospheric monitoring data, the preparation of air emission inventories and the modelling of air pollution in the Baltic region.

Following the coordination meeting held in Potsdam in Germany and the Pollution Load Input meeting held in Klajpeda-Joudkrante in Lithuania, both 1996, it was agreed that EMEP Centres should be responsible for regular evaluation of the state of the atmosphere in the Baltic Sea region and should produce an annual joint summary report which includes updated emissions of selected air pollution, modelled deposition fields, allocation budgets and measurement data.

This report was prepared for the HELCOM, based on model estimates and monitoring results presented to the thirtieth session of the Steering Body of EMEP. Following decision of the HELCOM /MONAS-11 Meeting, it presents the results for the year 2007.
 

Acknowledgements

The authors are indebted to the scientific teams at MSC-E, MSC-W and CCC for providing the results included in this.

We are most grateful to Marina Varygina, Ilia Ilyin and Victor Shatalov from MSC-E, and to Per Helmer Skaali from MSC-W for their help in preparation of this report.


 

Last updated 14 January 2010