Ukrainian Scientific Centre of Ecology of the Sea has started sampling rivers, estuaries and the coast to assess the pollution of the Black Sea.
The Ukrainian Scientific Centre of Ecology of the Sea (UkrSCES) has successfully conducted its first field campaign for water and sediment sampling:
– Rivers: Danube, Dniester, Southern Bug;
– in estuaries: Tiligul and Khadzhibey estuaries;
– and in the marine environment at Cape Maly Fontan
as part of the international Black Sea SIERRA project.
The expedition is part of Work Package 2 – «Assessment of pollution levels in the Black Sea region (coastal zone, tributary rivers, and lagoons), generated by civil and military activities».
Research Relevance
The Black Sea is affected by multiple pollution sources: on one hand, through river runoff that collects pollutants on a continental scale, and on the other hand, from regional pollution represented by the contribution of each Black Sea coastal country. Of particular importance is the study of additional pollution associated with military activities in the northern Black Sea, which may lead to increased levels of known pollutants or the emergence of new previously unknown categories.
Expedition Purpose
The main goal of the field campaign is to identify and quantify critically important marine pollutants in the northern Black Sea, with special emphasis on emerging pollutants. The research results will help adapt the capacity of decision-makers to effectively respond to current/emerging marine pollution through coordinated cross-border response.
Research Methodology
Sampling stations were selected to qualitatively assess anthropogenic impacts on the Black Sea and water bodies of southern Ukraine, considering ongoing military activities. The selection of stations was guided by safety criteria for conducting research and accessibility for sampling. A total of 144 samples were collected from 12 sampling stations for comprehensive analysis. Water and sediment samples were sent for analysis to a partner laboratory in Romania.
The obtained data will be integrated into the project’s regional database and used to identify relevant pollution indicators for the northern, western, and southern regions of the Black Sea.
