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Project for preparation of the Fifth Baltic Sea Pollution Load Compilation (PLC-5) (2005-2010)

Background:

HELCOM regularly produces a Pollution Load Compilation which assesses the data collected by the Contracting Parties on total waterborne loads of nutrients and some hazardous substances to the Baltic Sea.  The next compilation, PLC-5, will be based on data collected in the year 2006 and be published in a consistent and easily readable form which attracts scientists, administrators and the general public. Also a popular version summarizing the air and water borne loads to the Baltic Sea shall be produced based on the results of the project combined with the airborne pollution data.

Aims:

This main objective of the PLC-5 report is to:

  • quantify and describe the waterborne discharges from point sources and losses from non-point pollution sources as well as the quantified natural background losses  into inland surface waters (source oriented approach) within the catchment area of the Baltic Sea;

  • quantify and describe the loads (from rivers, unmonitored and coastal areas as well as point sources) discharging directly to the Baltic Sea (load oriented approach);

  • evaluate changes in the pollution load since 1994;

  • explain to which extent changes are caused by human activi­ties or natural variations; and

  • overall evaluate the significance of various water protection measures applied in the Baltic Sea catchment area to reduce the pollution load from land-based sources.

Actions:

The overall task of the Project is to draft a comprehensive assessment of the waterborne inputs to the Baltic Sea by updating the Fourth Pollution Load Compilation.  

The Fifth Pollution Load Compilation (PLC-5) project will be carried out in three consecutive stages:

  1. Finalization of the PLC-water Guidelines

  2. Data collection, submission and compilation

  3. Preparation of PLC-5 Report

Contact:

Project Manager: Mr. Seppo Knuuttila
Finnish Environment Institute
P.O. Box 140
FI-00251 Helsinki
Tel: +358 9 4030 0232
E-mail: seppo.knuuttila@ymparisto.fi