The comprehensive study conducted during the RV Belgica cruise from Zeebrugge to Odesa, supported by EU/UNDP EU4EMBLAS project, provided a rare opportunity to assess chemical pollution across the North Sea, Atlantic Ocean, Mediterranean Sea, and Black Sea. Utilising the Large Volume Transect Sampling (LV-TS) system, previously developed by JRC in 2020 and applied here at unprecedented scale, the study identified and quantified 121 chemicals out of 333 searched in seawater, with pesticides being the most prevalent category, followed by industrial chemicals and combustion products. Key findings include the detection of 61 pesticides, with fungicides, insecticides, and herbicides as the primary categories, and the prevalence of brominated flame retardants among industrial contaminants. Notably, Heptachlor-exo-epoxide was detected at levels exceeding the AA-EQS for inland surface water in all transects, highlighting significant environmental concerns. This large-scale survey underscores the importance of ongoing monitoring and assessment of chemical pollutants in marine ecosystems to safeguard marine life and human health. The results contribute to the evidence base necessary for informed regulatory decision-making and the development of effective pollution management strategies, emphasising the importance of international collaboration for achieving high-quality, comparable data across marine basins.
MARIANI Giulio;
CARRAVIERI Alice;
CACCIATORI Caterina;
COMERO Sara;
TAVAZZI Simona;
GAWLIK Bernd Manfred;
OSWALD Peter;
SLOBODNIK Jaroslav;
OLEYNIK Yurii;
KOMORIN Viktor;
HANKE Georg;
2025-08-12
Publications Office of the European Union
JRC142890
978-92-68-31038-0 (online),
978-92-68-31039-7 (print),
1831-9424 (online),
1018-5593 (print),
EUR 40410,
EUR 40410 (print),
OP KJ-01-25-407-EN-N (online),
OP KJ-01-25-407-EN-C (print),
https://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/handle/JRC142890,
10.2760/0507448 (online),
10.2760/0760096 (print),
