Baltic Marine Environment
Protection Commission

 

Baltic Marine Environment
Protection Commission

Ongoing (26)
Finished (59)

PLC-7

​Seventh Baltic Sea Pollution Load Compilation (2017-2019)

In Article 3 and Article 16 of the Convention on the Protection of the Marine Environment of the Baltic Sea Area, 1992 (Helsinki Convention), the Contracting Parties agreed to undertake measures to prevent and eliminate pollution of the marine environment of the Baltic and to provide pollution load data, as far as available. Compilations of pollution load data (PLC) have been an integral part of HELCOM assessment system since 1987, focusing on annual and periodic assessments of inputs of nutrients and selected hazardous substances.

The PLC-7 project is based on annual water- and airborne data on nitrogen, phosphorus and selected heavy metals from 1995-2017, periodical data from 2017 supplied with periodical data reported in 2006 and 2014.

The project results will include such products as: an update of the pressure indicator report on progress towards fulfilment of Maximum Allowable Inputs of nutrients (MAI); an assessment of progress towards implementation of Country Allocated Reduction Targets (CART); thematic reports on sources of nutrients, effectiveness of measures to reduce nutrients inputs to the Baltic Sea and input of hazardous substances.

Tasks and deliverables

Project implementaion tasks are grouped in three major working packages:

1. ESTABLISHING DATASETS AND UPDATE OF MAI AND CART

  • Monitoring and reporting of national annual/periodical data
  • Updating PLC-Water database and data on atmospheric inputs (PLC-Air)
  • Establishing the periodic assessment data set

2. PERIODIC ASSESSMENT

  • Assessment of sources of nutrients
  • Assessment of the effectiveness of measures
  • Assessment of inputs of selected hazardous substances
  • Compilation of the executive summary including policy messages

3. METHODOLOGIES

  • Updating guidelines and a statistical methodology report
  • Intercalibration on heavy metals and nutrients

Expected results

  1. The PLC assessment data set based on annual and periodic reports of water- and airborne inputs of nutrients and selected hazardous substances from 1995 to 2017 (periodic for 2017).
  2. The updated HELCOM Core Pressure Indicator on nutrient inputs (update of MAI fulfilment follow-up) covering data from 1995 to 2017.
  3. Updated scientific report on follow up progress toward national reduction targets for nutrients, CART follow-up assessment, covering data from 1995 to 2017.
  4. A thematic report on sources of nutrients.
  5. A thematic report on effectiveness of measures to reduce nutrients inputs to the Baltic Sea.
  6. A thematic report on input of hazardous substances.
  7. Executive summary of Seventh Baltic Sea Pollution Load Compilation (PLC-7) including policy messages (also on CART).
  8. A report on intercalibration on heavy metals and nutrients between at least 1-2 laboratories from each Contracting Party conducting chemical analysis.
  9. Updated PLC guidelines on nutrients and selected heavy metals, including updated statistical methodologies used for PLC and MAI/CART assessments.

Reports

PLC-7 Assessment of sources of nutrient inputs to the Baltic Sea in 2017Download
Summary of the HELCOM seventh pollution load compilation PLC-7Download
Inputs of hazardous substances to the Baltic SeaDownload
Inputs of nutrients by the seven biggest rivers in the Baltic Sea region 1995-2017Download
Background information on the Baltic Sea catchment area for the Seventh Baltic Sea Pollution load compilation PLC-7 Download
Applied methodology for the PLC-7 assessmentDownload
Effectiveness of measures to reduce nutrients inputsDownload

For more information, please contact:

Lars Svendsen​
Project Manager

Chair of HELCOM Reduction Scheme Core Drafting Group
Danish Centre for Environment and Energy (DCE)
University of Aarhus
Vejlsoevej 25
DK-8600 Silkeborg, Denmark

lms@dce.au.dk
Tel: +45 4587158795