ORIGINAL RESEARCH
Identification of Chemical Pollution Problems
and Causes in the Baltic Sea in Relation
to Socio-Economic Drivers
K. Skowrońska1, W. Chrzanowski2, J. Namieśnik1
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1Department of Analytical Chemistry, 2Department of Physical Chemistry,
2Chemical Faculty, Gdańsk University of Technology, Narutowicza 11/12, 80-952 Gdańsk, Poland
Pol. J. Environ. Stud. 2009;18(4):701-707
KEYWORDS
ABSTRACT
Drivers, pressures, state changes, impacts and responses (DPSIR) is a general framework for organising
information about the state of the environment. The idea of the framework derives originally from the field of
social studies. Now it is being applied on a much wider scale, in particular for organizing systems of indicators
in the context of environmental studies and also sustainable development.
Many datasets on Baltic pollution, the state of its environment, infrastructure, emissions and monitoring
networks are available. Yet without suitable tools they cannot be used properly and effectively. This paper contains
a review of the current state of the Baltic region and the most useful sources of relevant information. A
partial analysis – including only drivers, pressures and state changes – was carried out. To this purpose two
tools were utilized: an experts' poll and reports of organizations – providers of the datasets. The former resulted
in the following top three Ds, Ps and Ss: D – urban waste (1), transport, shipping (2), agriculture (3); P –
rivers (1), direct discharges (2), atmospheric deposition (3); and S – decrease in population density (1), individual
effects (scope for growth, imposex, endocrine disruption) (2), tissue pathology (3). Moreover, both
methods produced similar results, which brings us to the conclusion that instead of providing new analytical/
experimental programs, the existing databases could be better utilized. The significance of rivers should
also be stressed.
Limitations in access to the data were specified. These were, first of all, lack or gaps in the datasets both
in spatial and temporal scale. Differences in the data formats and the principle of data presentation – tables are
preferred over graphs and maps – should also be mentioned.