HELCOM releases three new reports and a newsletter

Helsinki, 25 May (HELCOM) – The Helsinki Commission today released three new scientific reports with evaluation of pollution loads to the Baltic Sea and a special electronic Newsletter addressing navigational safety and the accident response capacity in the region.  

Evaluation of transboundary pollution loads This publication contains available information on waterborne pollution loads coming from Belarus, the Czech Republic and Ukraine into the Baltic Sea. It shows that the inputs from these countries to the Baltic Sea are significant for nutrients and selected heavy metals. For this reason HELCOM has decided to strengthen its cooperation with Belarus, the Czech Republic and Ukraine

Airborne nitrogen loads to the Baltic Sea This report presents an overview of the different sources contributing to the deposition of airborne nitrogen to the Baltic Sea. It reviews the existing pollution reduction measures, their status of implementation and sets out proposals for further developments for the most significant emission sources such as agriculture and shipping.

Atmospheric supply of nitrogen, lead, cadmium, mercury and lindane to the Baltic Sea over the period 1996 – 2000  This report presents the emission levels of nitrogen, lead, cadmium, mercury and lindane in the HELCOM countries and the deposition to the Baltic Sea, during the five-year period 1996-2000. The information is based on monitoring results and modelling estimates. Figures on emissions of nitrogen and heavy metals as well as lindane show a decrease during the period. The depositions on the Baltic Sea, however, do not always correlate with reductions of emissions, one of the reasons being meteorological conditions as well as the impact of distant sources.

HELCOM News (2/2005 Newsletter) The newsletter contains the outcome of the HELCOM Conference on maritime safety and response issues, including an overview of the Baltic Sea traffic situation, measures adopted to date to prevent pollution from shipping, ensure maritime safety and response to maritime incidents. It also includes presentations by the conference speakers as well as an outline of further measures identified during to Conference on how to deal with the risks caused by the growing maritime transportation in the Baltic Sea.

To order your print copy, please call the HELCOM Secretariat: + 358 (0)9 6220 220 or send an e-mail to info@helcom.fi. More details of HELCOM’s activities, publications and projects are available at http://www.helcom.fi.

Contacts

HELCOM Secretariat

Mr Nikolay Vlasov
Information Secretary
Tel: +358 9 6220 2235
Fax: +358 9 6220 2239