[ad_1]
S. Suzdalev, as he says, is a purebred resident of Vilna who has lived in Klaipeda for about ten years. After graduating with a bachelor’s degree in hydrology and meteorology in the capital and then a master’s degree in environmental policy and stewardship, he immersed himself in doctoral studies in the port city, focusing on the waters of the Baltic Sea. This area has accompanied him to this day.
When asked if there is anything on the Lithuanian coast, S. Suzdalev smiles and says no, nothing, just because it is too cold.
“I have to feel comfortable. I swam in the Mediterranean knowing that anything could be in the water. You just don’t need to drink it, “jokes the scientist, who is primarily interested in chemical contamination of water.
“If we talk about our sea and compare chemical pollution with other seas, I can reassure him. We enter the five most polluted seas along with the Mediterranean Sea, which is visually clean and loves Lithuanians. You feel like in a pool, not comparable to the Baltic Sea. When it comes to chemical pollution, we are in a similar situation, says the scientist. – We all know the characteristics of the Baltic Sea, which places us in the top five: the sea is a little closed, it is connected to the Ocean Atlantic by narrow straits and the sea itself is relatively shallow, natural clean-up is difficult. Whoever falls into the sea stays long, not clean. As a result, we register higher concentrations. It is estimated that it will take a cycle of about 20-30 years for all the water to cool. Imagine how long we have to not pollute for everything to clean itself. “
We enter the five most polluted seas along with the Mediterranean Sea, which is visually clean and loves Lithuanians.
When asked why the waters of the Baltic Sea are so dark, the scientist emphasizes that each body, sea, lake, stream has certain characteristics, is formed differently and also depends on what is at the bottom: sand, clay, etc. .
Personal arch photo / Sergei Suzdalev
“Of course, the Baltic countries look very small, but the water will look different, depending on whether it is in the sea near Palanga, near the port of Klaipeda, or on the Swedish coast near the rocks.” There are, of course, many factors on our shoreline that determine the color, and sometimes the extra odor, the increase in grass. Our proximity to the Curonian Lagoon, which is polluted with nitrogen and phosphorous compounds that promote flowering, the proximity of the Klaipeda port contributes to pollution. The discharged wastewater contributes to the formation of color, increases in concentrations and, consequently, we see that the water is not very beautiful. That doesn’t mean we can’t swim, bath results are favorable, we get blue flags, which says quality is good. Only visually it seems that the Mediterranean Sea is cleaner, “says S. Suzdalev.
Physical and chemical properties, such as salinity, are also affected. Here, the water in the Mediterranean is much saltier. According to the scientist, all the details, consisting of the characteristics naturally determined by the sea and the industrial, agricultural and other elements, form a common “cocktail” that creates differences.
Erik Ovcharenko / 15min photo / Baltic Sea
Interested in chemical contamination
According to the scientist, the word “contamination” in itself is a very broad concept, since it can refer to visual contamination when waste floats in water, as well as microbiological contamination when microorganisms are found in water or sand . There are also invisible contaminants in water, substances whose concentrations are only known from studies. S.Suzdalev is interested in chemical contamination.
European Union directives list around 50 recommended chemicals for monitoring in the seas of the Member States. Not everyone has the ability to be continuously monitored, as it is expensive to detect some substances.
“Among the most popular and mentioned – phthalates, phenols. These are the industries that are associated with the plastics industry. We use plastic articles in the home, toys. Even the use of such articles can contribute to contamination. If we throw such items in a container, contamination can enter the environment, “says the scientist.
“Ten years ago, we focused and studied known substances, heavy metals like cadmium, mercury, that are toxic. As equipment and science improve, so does the list of hazardous substances with the advent of directives. from the EU The chemical compounds found in water made by humans are the result of industry Man purchases products, toys, household chemicals, cosmetics and a new generation of pollutants.
Heavy metals exist naturally in nature, in natural concentrations, and these chemical compounds indicate an unplanned release to the environment. If the sources of certain substances are identified, we know that most of the substances released by the sewage from a particular industry, in terms of compounds, are used absolutely everywhere, both for washing and for washing, for applying cream, in cosmetics. Each of us contributes to the general contamination and unintentionally becomes a polluter, “said the researcher, urging us to take into account what is written on the product packaging, to encrypt the signs so that the least possible amount of harmful substances enter the environment.
According to an employee of the Marine Research Institute, it would be a mistake to say that pollution in the Baltic Sea is increasing, because some pollutants simply were not studied a decade ago. It is true that this does not mean that they did not exist, but I do not know how their concentration has changed. Scientists can now discover and study a much larger range of contaminants, and their changes will only be apparent in the future.
Members of our community can read 5 articles every month. FREE!
Become a member!
[ad_2]
