Ott Roots

Halogenated environmental contaminants in fish from Estonian coastal areas

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), DDT-related substances and hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH) isomers were analysed in fish from Estonian coastal waters. The content of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in fish (perch (Perca fluviatilis) and flounder (Platichtys flesus)) from the coastal waters of Estonia is not a danger to human health. Even the maximum concentrations that we have determined are lower than the standards set by the World Health Organization (WHO). The results do not exclude the need to monitor toxicants in fish also in the future, because the use of hazardous chemicals in the Baltic Sea region will probably continue.

Polychlorinated biphenyls and organochlorine pesticides in Baltic herring and sprat

This report is a part of studies on toxic substances in the Baltic fish. A study of persistent chlorinated hydrocarbons in the Baltic herring and sprat muscle tissue was carried out in the Eastern Baltic in 1975–1977, 1986 and 1991. In 1991 organochlorine compounds (such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB), DDT and its metabolites DDE and DDD, hexachlorocyclohexane isomers (HCH), hexachlorobenze (HCB) and others) were determined by high‐resolution capillary gas chromatography with electron capture detection.

Structure and objectives of the Estonian Environmental Monitoring Program

The transition of Estonia from the fragmented character of environmental protection activities of the former Estonian SSR to a centralised national environmental monitoring program is underway. Estonian Environment Information Centre (EEIC) performed as a main developer of the Estonian Monitoring Program (EMP) structure, coordinates the operation of about 60 subprogrammes of EMP.

Did natural changes save the grey seal of the Baltic Sea? Hypothesis or reality

The concentrations for two most important PCB isomers IUPAC 138 and 153 in the blubber of 2–6 year old grey seals (Halichoerus grypus) varied from 2.3–4.1 mg/kg (extractable fat) and from 2.9–5.2 mg/kg (extractable fat) respectively. Compared to the end of 1970s and the beginning of 1980s, at least the PCB concentrations obtained by food in grey seals in West‐Estonian Archipelago Reserve must have decreased. This is probably the result of natural changes in last twenty years (decrease in salinity and oxygen concentration in the Gotland Deep). Comparing the food chain of grey seal in the coastal waters of Estonia at the beginning of 1970s and species content during experimental catches in spring 1994, we can assume that nowadays the grey seals do not eat so much cod, salmon and sea trout as in the end of 1970s and in the beginning and in the middle of 1980s.

Soil Water Sample Collector

1. IntroductionTheauthorsrecommend(our recommendationtorevisionofIntegratedMonitoring(IM) Manual 1993–1996) to use for soil water sample collection in IM stations thenewly constructed plate-form free drainage lysimeter, that is worked out in Estonia(Voll and Roots, 1996) and now successfully worked in Estonian IM stations inVilsandi and Saarej¨arve (Estonian Monitoring, 1995; Roots and Saare, 1996).The content of substances and ions in a soil solution reflects the atmosphericinput and the main transformation processes in the soil. Information about thecontent of substances in soil water is therefore of great inportance in assessmentof the soil chemical and biological status of the separate soil layers, the conditionsfor plant growth and the potential for leaching of substances from the soil to thegroundwater.Toestimatethechangestakingplaceinthesoillayerstherepresentativesamplesreflecting adequately the changes in quality and quantity of water are needed.Isolation of soil water without changing its composition is difficult. The value ofsoil water samples used in ecological studies is highly dependent on the quality ofthe samplers. Applied method must not change the content of the soil water duringsampling.Assessment and validation of vacuum and free-drainage lysimeters under fieldconditions have shown they sampled soil water differently. Vacuum-samplers rep-resented inadequately the soil water in field soils for the following reasons:1. Duetoconsiderableheterogenetyinafieldsoil,theporouscupsamplerwithitssmall cross-sectional area may not adequately integrate for spatial variability.2. Instructuredsoilsthewatermaybepartlycircumventedbytherapidlyleachingwater.3. Applying even small amounts of suction to extract a soil water sample maycause significantly higher seepage rates, compared with the rate under free-drainage conditions. The radius of influence may be noticeable within a fewmeters and may distort the seepage process that occurs in an undisturbedsoil. The volume of soil from which porous cups extract samples cannot bedetermined.

Bioaccumulation of Toxic Organic Compounds and Their Isomers into the Organism of Seals in West-Estonian Archipelago Biosphere Reserve

The Estonian coastal waters serve as the south-eastern boundary of the regular distribution of the grey (Halichoerus grypus and ringed Phoca hispida) seal in the Baltic Sea. During the annual molt period in May–June (in the Estonian coastal waters), the stock size is estimated to be 1200–1500 grey seal individuals – that is, roughly 25% of the whole Baltic population. If we compare the chlororganic contents of seals in different areas the Baltic Sea, we can see that the northern part of the Gulf of Riga and Väinameri Sea is the reference area of the Baltic Sea.

Halogenated contaminants in female perch from the Matsalu Bay (Baltic Sea)

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). DDT-related substances, hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH) and hexachlorobenzene (HCB) were analysed in female perch ( Perca fluviatilis ) collected in August and September 1999 in Matsalu Bay (Baltic Sea). Concentrations of all halogenated compounds were very low and notably lower than threshold values reported by FAO/WHO guidelines.

Air Pollution Effects on Terrestrial Ecosystems in Estonia

A number of positive changes have taken place since Estonia regained its independence in 1991. Air pollution from stationary sources has decreased over 2.5 times during 1990-1999, emissions of solid particles and SO2 have declined 74% and 60%, respectively. The content of heavy metals in Estonian mosses has decreased in comparison with the early 1990s. Last five years occurrence of different kind of damages on decidious trees has not been frequent.Those facts indicate that air pollution with heavy metals and other pollutants has diminished during the last few years. As the pH of precipitation fluctuates in different parts of Estonia, it is very important to study the effect of precipitation on ecosystems on the basis of critical loads. Results indicate that, as for eutrophicating nitrogen, the actual nitrogen deposition in North-East Estonia and West-Estonian islands roughly coincides with the limits for pollution endurance. This pattern also applies to the total deposition of sulphur and nitrogen in South, North and North-East Estonia, although in some Northern and North-Eastern areas pollution endurance limits have been exceeded.

New equipment for the collection of water percolating through the soil and bulk materials

A new equipment for the collection of water percolating through the soil and bulk material constructed in 2008 was an essentially improved variant [1]. Constructed equipment/sampler is cheap to construct on the spot, their installation does not damage the soil layer and no vacuum was necessary for taking of water samples. From the beginning of 1994 our so called, “old equipment” [2, 3] is still in operation in the international integrated monitoring stations of the Estonian national programme of environmental monitoring. The new one can be used for the collection of samples of water percolating through the soil as well as heaps of bulk materials (such as grain, fuels, construction materials) of all kinds of corner. They are necessary for monitoring the condition of natural soil, as well as for the research of the changes in the physical state of soil during construction activities and redesign of relief related to the establishment of ditches, ponds, artificial hills and other objects.

Report of A Survey of the State of the Environment in the Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania

Abstract In connection with the change in economic principles and disintegration of big industrial enterprises, the environmental pollution in Baltic States decreased considerably in 1991-1996. Although there are still many things waiting to be done, the improvement of the Baltic environmental situation during the years of independence gives us a cause to be optimistic.