Grażyna Pazikowska-Sapota

The current research paper presents the results of the first regional assessment of sediment contamination by dioxins (polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs), dibenzofurans (PCDFs) and dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls (dl-PCBs)) in the south-eastern part of the Baltic Sea (Lithuanian and Polish marine areas) during the periods of 2014 and 2019–2020. In total, 143 surface and core sediment samples were taken of existing offshore dredged-soil-disposal sites in the area of the former shipyard in the Port of Gdynia (Poland), as well as in a profile from the nearshore to the deeps of the Gdansk basin, following the natural pattern of sediment migration in the region. The obtained results indicated wide variation in both the total content of the investigated compounds as well as the profiles of congeners, indicating the likely sources of their origin. Based on the obtained concentration characteristic profiles of the congeners, we determined the amount of dioxins and the likely sources of their origin in the Gdansk Basin. The profiles showed elevated contents of octa- and hepta-chlorodibenzodioxins (OCDD and HpCDD) in the sediments, while the fractions of most other toxic congeners were considerably lower. The domination of OCDF in the spectrum of the studied PCDFs suggests the possible contribution of industrial processes. The obtained results have filled the gaps in our knowledge while providing a perfect background for more detailed discussions concerning the accumulation of dioxins in surface sediments from the south-eastern part of the Baltic Sea.

Dredged material dumping is an activity that causes some of the greatest changes in coastal waters. It results in the need to regularly monitor the properties of seawater related to water quality. In this study, we present the first wide-ranging attempt to correlate seawater turbidity and suspended particulate matter (SPM) concentrations within dumping sites and adjacent waters on the basis of in situ measurements. In the years 2019–2020, we examined four dumping sites, namely Darłowo, Gdynia, Gdańsk, and DCT, located in Polish coastal waters of the Baltic Sea, in the course of four measurement campaigns conducted in the spring, summer, autumn, and winter. The measurements were conducted using a turbidity sensor to determine the turbidity, in formazin turbidity units (FTU), a spectrophotometer to determine the concentrations of nutrients (total phosphorus (P-tot), phosphate phosphorus (P-PO₄⁻³), total nitrogen (N-tot), ammonium nitrogen (N-NH₄⁺), and nitrate nitrogen (N-NO₃⁻)), as well as glass microfiber filters to determine the concentrations of SPM. The analysis of the relationship between the turbidity and SPM within the dumping sites in comparison to reference points showed that the dumping sites are very complex waters and that the issue must be approached locally. The highest turbidity values were registered in the spring, and they correlated linearly with the SPM concentrations (R² = 0.69). Moreover, we performed a statistical cluster analysis to illustrate the similarities between sampling points in the four dumpsites based on nutrient concentrations. We conclude that the influence of the dumping sites on the local bio-optical and chemical properties significantly exceeds their borders and spreads to the adjacent waters. Nutrient concentrations in many cases exceeded the legal policy limits.

Background: The Puck commune is one of the largest agricultural regions in the Pomeranian Voivodship that due to the pollution of the coastal zone negatively affects the functioning of the Puck Bay, including health of its inhabitants, and causes decrease in tourism as well as in overall economic value of the region. The objective of the undertaken study was to assess the extent of risk to the environment posed by the pesticides used in agricultural production in the coastal area of the Puck commune.Methods: The study focused on organochlorine insecticides (DDT and its metabolites: α, β, ϒ, δ-HCH, aldrin, dieldrin, endrin, isodrine), glyphosate and its metabolite AMPA, and 309 active substances used as pesticides. Analyses were carried out using GC-MS, GC-MS/MS and LC-MS/MS techniques. The undertaken novel approach included “tracking” of a large number of substances in multiple environmental matrices (surface water, groundwater, seawater, soil, sediment and fish), along with examination of their transport routes from the pesticides application locality to the Puck Bay.Results: Glyphosate and its metabolite AMPA, anthraquinone, boscalid, chlorpyrifos-ethyl, dimethachlor, diflufenican, difenoconazole, epoxiconazole, fluopicolide and metazachlor were found in soil samples and surface water samples collected from drainage ditches surrounding the studied agricultural plots. In the samples of seawater and fish taken from the Puck Bay no studied pesticides were found.

Background: In order to counteract the eutrophication of waterways and reservoirs, a basic risk assessment of phosphorus (P) losses in the surface runoff from agricultural land should be included in water management plans. A new method has been developed to assess the risk of P losses by estimating the degree of P saturation (DPS) based on the P concentration of the water extract water-soluble P. Methods: The risk of P losses in surface runoff from agricultural land in the Puck Commune on the Baltic Sea Coast was assessed with the DPS method. The results were compared to an agronomic interpretation of the soil test P concentration (STP). Research was conducted on mineral and organic soils from 50 and 11 separate agricultural plots with a total area of 133.82 and 37.23 ha, respectively. Phosphorus was extracted from the collected samples using distilled water on all soil samples, acid ammonium lactate on mineral soils, and an extract of 0.5 mol HCl·dm⁻³ on organic soils. The organic matter content and pH values were also determined. The results of the P content in the water extracted from the soils were converted into DPS values, which were then classified by appropriate limit intervals. Results and discussion: There was a high risk of P losses from the soil via surface runoff in 96.7% of the agricultural parcels tested (96% of plots with mineral soils and 100% of plots with organic soils). Simultaneously, a large deficiency of plant-available P was found in soils from 62% of agricultural plots. These data indicate that the assessment of P concentration in soils made on the basis of an environmental soil P test conflicts with the assessment made based on STP and create a cognitive dissonance. The risk level of P losses through surface runoff from the analyzed plots as determined by the DPS indicator is uncertain. This uncertainty is increased as the DPS index is not correlated with other significant factors in P runoff losses, such as the type of crop and area inclination.

Background. Risk assessment of Phosphorus (P) losses in surface runoff from agricultural land is the basic measure that should be used as a part of actions taken to counteract the water eutrophication in watercourses and water reservoirs. To assess this risk, a new method has been recently developed based on the determination of degree of P saturation (DPS) which depends on P content in soil determined with the use of distilled water (water-soluble P – WSP). Methods. Based on DPS method, the risk of P losses in surface runoff from agricultural land in Puck Commune (Baltic Sea Coast) was assessed and a critical analysis of assessment results was carried out. The research was conducted on mineral and organic soils from 50 and 11 separate agricultural plots with a total area of 133.82 and 37.23 ha, respectively. In collected soil samples, P content was determined using distilled water (all soil samples), Egner-Riehm method (mineral soils) and extract of 0.5 mol HCl ∙ dm^-3 (organic soils). The results of determinations P content in water extract from soils were converted to DPS values, which were classified by appropriate limit intervals. Results & Discussion. It was found that on 96.7% of tested agricultural parcels (96% plots with mineral soils and 100% plots with organic soils) there was a potentially high risk of P losses from soil by surface runoff. At the same time, it was ascertained that in soils from 62% of agricultural plots, there was a large deficiency of plant available P. Due to the above, as well as due to the lack of connection with other factors affecting the P losses in surface runoff such as type of crop and area inclination, it was considered that the assessment based on the DPS index may be unreliable.

Background. Risk assessment of Phosphorus (P) losses in surface runoff from agricultural land is the basic measure that should be used as a part of actions taken to counteract the water eutrophication in watercourses and water reservoirs. To assess this risk, a new method has been recently developed based on the determination of degree of P saturation (DPS) which depends on P content in soil determined with the use of distilled water (water-soluble P – WSP). Methods. Based on DPS method, the risk of P losses in surface runoff from agricultural land in Puck Commune (Baltic Sea Coast) was assessed and a critical analysis of assessment results was carried out. The research was conducted on mineral and organic soils from 50 and 11 separate agricultural plots with a total area of 133.82 and 37.23 ha, respectively. In collected soil samples, P content was determined using distilled water (all soil samples), Egner-Riehm method (mineral soils) and extract of 0.5 mol HCl ∙ dm^-3 (organic soils). The results of determinations P content in water extract from soils were converted to DPS values, which were classified by appropriate limit intervals. Results & Discussion. It was found that on 96.7% of tested agricultural parcels (96% plots with mineral soils and 100% plots with organic soils) there was a potentially high risk of P losses from soil by surface runoff. At the same time, it was ascertained that in soils from 62% of agricultural plots, there was a large deficiency of plant available P. Due to the above, as well as due to the lack of connection with other factors affecting the P losses in surface runoff such as type of crop and area inclination, it was considered that the assessment based on the DPS index may be unreliable.

Knowledge related to land-use management impacts on the Baltic Sea ecosystem is limited. The constant release of pollutants into water bodies has resulted in water quality degradation. Therefore, only the innovative approaches integrated with research will provide accurate solutions and methods for proper environment management and will enable understanding and prediction of the impacts of land-use in the Baltic Sea region. Modelling approaches have become essential to address water issues and to evaluate ecosystem management. There are many water quality models, but only a few work in the operational mode and only some of them can be used as an interactive tool for environmental management to assess the impact of pollution on water quality. This study presents a new approach for investigating the influence of pesticides and nutrient fluxes from agricultural holdings and land-use structures on coastal waters of the Baltic Sea. Called WaterPUCK, this method will enable calculation of the sufficient amount of fertilizers, investigation nutrients, and pesticide sources and model: the fate and distribution of nutrients and pesticides in the surface water and groundwater; loads of pollution to surface water and groundwater; fluxes of nutrients via submarine groundwater discharge (SGD) to the Baltic Sea coastal environment; the processes and mechanisms influencing the persistence of nutrients in the environment; and predict the changes in land use and climate change influence on the Bay of Puck ecosystem.