HCHs in solid matter from the River Elbe, its tributaries and the North Sea

The River Elbe (Czech: Labe ) is one of the major rivers of Central Europe. It originates in the Krkonoše Mountains of northwestern Czech Republic before traversing Bohemia (Czech Republic), then Germany and flowing into the North Sea at Cuxhaven, 110 km northwest of Hamburg. Its total length is 1,094 km. The Elbe’s major tributaries are the Vltava (German: Moldau), Saale, Havel, Mulde, SchwarzeElster, and Ohre rivers. The Elbe River basin, comprising the Elbe and its tributaries, has a catchment area of 148,268 km2, the fourth largest in Europe. The basin spans four countries, with its largest parts in Germany (65.5%) and the Czech Republic (33.7%). Much smaller parts lie in Austria (0.6%) and Poland (0.2%). The basin is inhabited by 24.5 million people (1). Organochlorine pesticides are man-made organics chemicals. Hexachlorocyclohexanes (HCHs) have been extensively used and are therefore found widely distributed in the environment. HCHs are listed under the Stockholm Convention on POPs (persistent organic compound) and are included into the priority list of Water Frame Directive. Here we show the results of HCHs in solids matter of 35 different sites along the River Elbe, selected tributaries, and the North Sea

MARIANI Giulio;  SKEJO Helle;  MUELLER Anne;  STACHEL B;  UMLAUF Gunther; 

2012-06-28

International Advisory Board of the International Symposium on Halogenated Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs)

JRC65153