Nutrient and metal pollution of the eastern Gulf of Finland coastline: Sediments, macroalgae, microbiota.

The anthropogenic pollution along the coastline of the eastern Gulf of Finland was studied through a range of methods, including analyses of metal contamination in water, surface sediments, accumulated algal biomass and its correlation with resistant microbiota. According to concentrations, the main pollutants in water were copper and manganese. Influence of Nuclear Power Plant was remarkable in adjacent areas and was expressed in high concentrations of molybdenum, nickel, copper and other elements in the water. Relatively high concentrations of copper, lead and zinc were found in sediments. Microbial tolerance appeared to be correlated with the concentration of the metals in sediments. Higher tolerance levels were found in sediment samples from more polluted stations. Macroalgae, which were massively developed in the coastal zone, had shown high level of metal bioaccumulation. Analyses of carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus content of algal tissues allowed the estimation of additional nutrient loading from accumulated decaying algal biomass on the coastal zone of the eastern Gulf of Finland. Mass development of algae in coastal area may contribute to accumulation of organic matter and associated metals. In our study the highest metal concentrations in sediments were found at the sites with dense and continuous layer of fresh and decaying macroalgal biomass, accompanied by hypoxic conditions. Also our study has shown that accumulated biomass may be a significant source of nutrients in the coastal ecosystem.

[Perfluorinated chemicals in the environment, food and human body]. / Zwiazki perfluorowane w srodowisku przyrodniczym, zywnosci i organizmie czlowieka.

Some data on production, toxicity, properties, uses, analytics as well as an environmental occurrence of PFCs in Poland are reviewed. In total 16 fluorochemicals were detected in surface water (Radunia River and Gulf of Gdansk), beaver's liver (Warmia and Mazury region), cod and eider duck blood (Gulf of Gdansk), young cattle blood (County of Stezyca) and human blood (Gdansk Coast; donors which declared elevated Baltic fish intake) in Poland. In blood of the Gdansk Coast inhabitants PFHxS, PFOS, PFOSA, PFHxA, PFHpA, PFOA, PFNA, PFDA, PFUnDA and PFDo-DA were found. In surface water for the first time were found fluorochemicals such as PFBuS, PFOcDA, PFBA and PFPeA, while in beavers' liver also PFTeA and N-Ethyl FOSA.