Analysis of Hazardous Substance Contamination of the Marine Ecosystem in the Romanian Black Sea Coast, Part of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (2008/56/EEC) Implementation

Abstract

The paper presents the contamination of the marine ecosystem with hazardous substances at the Romanian Black Sea coast. The assessment was done by analyzing the data obtained during 2006-2011, based on the indicators recommended by the Water Framework Directive (2000/60/EC), Marine Strategy Framework Directive (2008/56/EEC) and the parameters established by the Advisory Group on Monitoring and Assessment of Pollution of the Black Sea Commission. The distribution of contaminants (heavy metals, organochlorine pesticides, total petroleum hydrocarbons and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons) in the Black Sea marine ecosystem components show slightly increased concentrations in the water under the influence of the Danube and in the south, in certain areas subjected to different anthropogenic pressures (harbors, discharges of wastewater). Individual compounds concentrations show a decreasing trend in time, especially for organochlorine pesticides and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons.