Marinebase database on aggregated data for the coastline of the Mediterranean, Atlantic, North Sea, Skagerrak, Kattegat and Baltic.
Date: 2003-08-07
Institutions: European Environment Agency
Subjects: coastal region, dangerous substance, database, eutrophication, marine pollution

Technical report No 58 

Marinebase 
Database on aggregated data  
for the coastline of the Mediterranean, Atlantic,  
North Sea, Skagerrak, Kattegat and Baltic 

Kari Nygaard, Brage Rygg and Birger Bjerkeng 
Norwegian Institute for Water Research (NIVA) 

EEA Project Manager: 
Anita Künitzer 

ETC 
ETC 
MCE MCE 

European Topic Centre 
European Topic Centre 
on Marine and Coastal Environment 
on Marine and Coastal Environment 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Cover design: Rolf Kuchling, EEA 

Legal notice 

Neither the European Environment Agency nor any person or company acting on behalf of the Agency is 
responsible for the use that may be made of the information contained in this report. 

A great deal of additional information on the European Union is available on the Internet. 
It can be accessed through the Europa server (http://europa.eu.int). 

© EEA, Copenhagen, 2001 

Reproduction is authorised provided the source is acknowledged. 

Printed in Denmark 

European Environment Agency 
Kongens Nytorv 6 
DK-1050 Copenhagen K 
Tel. (45) 33 36 71 00 
Fax (45) 33 36 71 99 
E-mail: eea@eea.eu.int 
Internet: http://www.eea.eu.int

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Contents 

1. 

Summary ................................................................................................ 5 

2. 

Background............................................................................................ 6 

3.  Objectives .............................................................................................. 7 

4.  Data gathering....................................................................................... 8 

4.1.  Questionnaires ................................................................................................ 8 

4.2.  Choice of parameters ...................................................................................... 9 
4.2.1. Eutrophication parameters........................................................................................9 
4.2.2. Harmful substances ...................................................................................................9 

4.3.  Coastal zones and representative stations ..................................................... 10 

4.4.  Aggregation of data and expected output .................................................... 10 
4.4.1. Spatial aggregation .................................................................................................10 
4.4.2. Aggregation in time ................................................................................................10 

4.5.  Data storage.................................................................................................. 10 

5. 

Results ................................................................................................. 11 

5.1.  Results of the questionnaire — national response ......................................... 11 
5.1.1. Percentage of respondents .....................................................................................11 
5.1.2. Percentage of parameters reported .......................................................................12 
5.1.3. Sampling stations for which data is reported in the database ...............................12 
5.1.4. Overview on data presented by the countries........................................................17 
5.1.5. Coastal zones and reference stations......................................................................17 

5.2.  Abbreviations for countries — country codes and names .............................. 17 

5.3.  Data from the International Council for the Exploration of the Seas (ICES).... 17 
5.3.1. Conventions and countries covered........................................................................17 
5.3.2. Parameters and years covered ................................................................................18 
5.3.3. Assessment reports .................................................................................................21 

5.4.  Data from Mediterranean pollution monitoring  

and research programme (MEDPOL).............................................................. 22 
5.4.1. Countries covered ...................................................................................................22 
5.4.2. Parameter and years covered .................................................................................22 
5.4.3. Assessment reports covered for the area ...............................................................23 

5.5. 

Information on the data and the database..................................................... 24 

 3

 
 
  
6. 

Conclusions and recommendations ..................................................... 25 

6.1.  Databases ......................................................................................................25 
6.1.1. Location  ..................................................................................................................25 
6.1.2. Quality assurance.....................................................................................................25 
6.1.3. Existing data and need for supplementing data.....................................................25 

6.2.  Data flow .......................................................................................................25 
6.2.1. The marine conventions ..........................................................................................25 
6.2.2. EEA national reference centres ...............................................................................25 

6.3.  Purpose and future work................................................................................26 
6.3.1. Short term................................................................................................................26 
6.3.2. Long term ................................................................................................................26 

Appendix A:  References.............................................................................. 27 

Appendix B:  Questionnaire......................................................................... 31 

Appendix C:  The EEA Marinebase — User guide ....................................... 42 

Appendix D:  Data supplied from national reference centres...................... 70 

4 

 
 
1.  Summary 

As a part of the work programme of the European Environment Agency (EEA), the 
Norwegian Institute for Water Research (NIVA) has compiled a first version of a European 
marine database ‘Marinebase’. This database on water quality parameters covers 
aggregated data related to eutrophication (nutrients, chlorophyll and oxygen in bottom 
water) and harmful substances (mainly metals in sediments and biota). The database is 
available through the EEA in Copenhagen from where it will be made assessable via 
Internet as a part of the European Environmental Reference Centre. Copies of the 
database were provided to all relevant EEA national focal points in October 2000. 

In March 1999, a questionnaire on eutrophication and harmful substances was submitted 
to the national focal points in Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, 
Iceland, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden and the UK. 
Data was received up to late September 1999. 

Most of the data presented in this report has been made available through the Marine 
Conventions and supplied by ICES (International Council for the Exploration of the Sea) 
and MAP/MEDPOL (the Mediterranean action plan/Mediterranean pollution monitoring 
and research programme). The ICES data covers data reported to OSPAR (Commission of 
the Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment of the North-east Atlantic) 
and HELCOM (Helsinki Commission of the Convention for the Protection of the Marine 
Environment of the Baltic Sea). Additionally data was received from the national focal 
points or reference centres in Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, 
Italy, the Netherlands, Norway and Sweden. The database covers the following seas: 
Mediterranean, Atlantic (east), North Sea, Skagerrak, Kattegat and Baltic. 

Data was requested per coastal zone from individual or aggregated stations representing 
an area defined by the country. However, few countries in Europe have clearly defined 
coastal zones (Germany and France are two exceptions). A working group within EIONET 
will try to solve this consistency problem. In this report all data is therefore presented per 
station except for nutrients, which is presented as aggregated stations within 10 x 10 km 
grids. 

Experience in gathering data from the coasts of Europe shows that the availability of data 
varies considerably depending on whether or not monitoring programmes and central 
databases exist. The marine conventions have been of major importance in this gathering 
of data. It is important to have strong conventions both to gather data from the countries 
and for the quality assurance of the data. A close collaboration with the conventions has 
been very helpful and is essential for future work within the EEA work programme. 

EEA national reference centres for the marine and coastal environment have also been 
very helpful in supplying data. However, for many of these centres few resources are made 
available for this kind of work and a strengthening of these centres would be a great 
advantage to secure the supply of national data to the conventions and the EEA. 

 5

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
2.  Background 

Work by the European Topic Centre on the Marine and Coastal Environment 
(ETC/MCE) on the development of an European estuary/lagoons/fjord inventory as part 
of the work programme of the European Environment Agency (EEA) is focusing on 
developing a marine database covering aggregated data on eutrophication and harmful 
substances along the coasts of Europe. This is a demanding task and some priorities have 
been made mainly based on time available and data availability so that only part of 
Europe’s coastline is presented in this report. This report is complemented by reports (van 
Buuren et al. in press.; Baan & van Buuren, in press a, Baan & van Buuren, in press b), 
which cover testing of indicators using the database described in this report. 

In March 1999, a questionnaire on eutrophication and harmful substances was submitted 
to the EEA national focal points in Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, 
Iceland, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden and the UK. The 
ETC/MCE consortium including institutes/organisations in Italy, Greece, France, the 
Netherlands, Denmark and Norway developed this questionnaire in collaboration with 
specialists from research institutions in each country. 

The main objective for the collection of data is to establish a database with aggregated data 
covering European coasts and seas. The database is to be made assessable on the Internet 
to be used by policy-makers, management and researchers. Data has also been collected 
for estuaries, deltas and fjords, for which it was decided to start collecting data for a few 
areas in each country. In the following years this database can be developed and enable 
the definition of sensitive areas which can be used as a tool for policy implementation (e.g. 
waste water directive, 1991 or the new water framework directive, 2000). 

6 

 
 
 
 
3.  Objectives 

The main objectives of the work presented in this report are: 

• 

• 

to develop a database to be used in a first approach for the mapping of sensitive areas 
in Europe. 

This is a demanding task and to be able to solve it in a manageable way we chose to 
ask a selection of countries in Europe to select a minimum of two areas (fjords, 
estuaries, lagoons or deltas) for which a questionnaire could be filled in. 

to make the database available for all partners within the ETC/MCE for assessment 
and production of reports. 

 7

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
4.  Data gathering 

4.1.  Questionnaires 

A questionnaire was developed for data collection both from the conventions and from the 
countries through their reference centre(s). 

The questionnaire is presented in Appendix B and covers the following parameters. 

EUTROPHICATION 

State — water column: Total Phosphorous (year-round and winter (January and 
February)), Ortho-phosphate (winter). Total nitrogen (year-round and winter), Nitrate 
(winter), Nitrate+nitrite (winter), Ammonium (winter). Total N/total P ratio (year-
round), Nitrate+nitrite/phosphate ratio (year-round). Silicate. Dissolved oxygen or 
saturation (bottom water). 

Algal blooms: Toxic algae (4 species), Phaeocyctis sp., Diatom/flagellate ratio (spring — 
based on biovolume/l), Diatom/flagellate ratio (summer — based on biovolume/l). 
Chlorophyll a (summer). 

Sea grasses and macroalgae: Seagrasses (cover Zostera sp. or Posidonia sp.), (maximum 
depth of occurrence), Seaweed (cover), Seaweed (maximum depth occurrence). 

Benthos: Microphytobenthos (biomass), Soft bottom Macrozoobenthos (>1mm) biomass: 
Polychaeta, Mollusca, Echinodermata, Crustacea, others. 

Riverine input to the water column: Input of total phosphorous, total nitrogen and total 
carbon entering water systems. This data is part of another report covering indicators. 

HARMFUL SUBSTANCES 

Sediment: Cadmium, Chrome, Copper, Mercury, Lead, and Zinc. PCB, PAH, DDT (sum of 
DDT+DDE+DDD). Radiation. 

In suspended matter: PAH, PCB, TBT. 

In biota: Mussels (dry tissue), Fish (specified tissue): Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Pb, Zn. PCB, PAH, 
DDT (sum DDT+DDE+DDD). Radiation. Mammals (specified tissue): PCB, DDT (sum of 
DDT+DDE+DDD). 

Riverine input to marine waters: Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Pb, Zn. PCB, PAH, DDT (sum of 
DDT+DDE+DDD). Radiation. 

8 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
OIL POLLUTION 

State: Oil spills on surface. Coastline affected. Birds and mammals affected. 

Source and amount: Oil and gas industry (direct). Accidents. Ship discharges. Riverine 
input. 

4.2.  Choice of parameters 

The questionnaire contains a large number of parameters that were chosen based on 
recommendation from several experts on monitoring of environmental impact related to 
eutrophication and harmful substances. The questionnaire was then circulated to the members of 
the ETC consortium for comments and recommendations before it was distributed to the 15 
countries selected. 

Eutrophication parameters 

Dissolved nutrients were chosen to be reported for the winter months, since this is the 
period with the lowest algae production and therefore the best time of the year to look for 
concentrations higher than what would be expected to be reference values and thereby 
indicate eutrophication. 

Lack of oxygen in bottom waters is often a good indicator for eutrophication. The 
countries were asked to report oxygen values for the autumn period (September–October) 
to cover the oxygen consumption of the decomposition of the spring/summer algal 
blooms in coastal areas. 

Total nitrogen and total phosphorous were also requested to be tested as a possible 
indicator for nutrient limitations (concentrations). 

Harmful substances 

All values reported are from sediments and biota since data from the water column is rare 
due to low concentrations in most cases. 

Heavy metals requested were chosen based on the international conventions lists of 
prioritised metals to be monitored. 

PCBs cover the sum of: CB 28, CB 52, CB 101, CB 118, CB 138, CB 153 and CB 180. This 
follows the OSPAR Commission working group on concentrations, trends and effects of 
substances in the marine environment (SIME). If a sum of these seven components was 
not available, the countries were asked to state the PCB with highest concentration 
determined from a reasonable time series. 

PAHs cover sum of: anthracine, benzo(a)anthracine, benzo(ghi)perylene, 
benzo(a)pyrene, chrysene, fluoranthene, indeno(1,2,3-cd)pyrene, pyrene, phenanthrene. 
This follows the OSPAR Commission working group on concentrations, trends and effects 
of substances in the marine environment (SIME). If a sum of these nine components was 
not available, the countries were asked to state the PAH with highest concentration 
determined from a reasonable time series. 

 9

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
4.3.  Coastal zones and representative stations 

The countries were requested to supply data from coastal areas out to 20 km offshore. 
They were also asked to present data from defined major coastal areas and choose 
representative stations for each area. 

The countries were also asked to choose areas of major importance to present more 
detailed information from at least two estuaries, deltas or fjords. The estuaries should 
cover the major rivers, and the lagoons/fjords could be the major ones in terms of 
environmental significance. The countries were asked to choose areas that are 
representative for the nation and preferably, long-term time series should be reported. 

4.4.  Aggregation of data and expected output 

Spatial aggregation 

The width of the coastal zones reported are limited to 20 km (about 12 miles) from outer 
coastline. 

All data from ICES/OSPAR/HELCOM or MEDPOL is stored and presented as it was 
delivered to them. For nutrients in surface waters (ICES) all data was delivered aggregated 
within squares of 10 x 10 km (20 x 20 km for Iceland and parts of the Irish Sea). For 
harmful substances all data was delivered per station and is presented as such without 
further aggregation. 

For additional data presented by each country the following options were suggested for 
aggregation of data for the coastal water systems to be described. If there is only one 
sampling station in the water system, the coordinates for this water system should be used. 
If there are multiple sampling stations, one out of two methods should be used: (a) choose 
the sampling station which is the most representative; or (b) use averaged results of 
multiple sampling stations and present it a dummy station representative for the water 
system. 

Aggregation in time 

Data was requested for the period 1985 to 1998. However, some older data including data 
from the 1970s is available in the database. All data presented is aggregated and presented 
as median (some also including means) value for the period of time defined in the 
questionnaire (Appendix A) except for parameters that are only measured once per year, 
which often is the case for harmful substances in sediment and biota. 

4.5.  Data storage 

All data gathered from the conventions and countries is stored in a database at NIVA 
(Norwegian Institute for Water Research, Oslo). A detailed description of the database is 
presented in the results chapter, see also user manual in Appendix C. 

The whole database is copied and sent to the data centre at the EEA (Copenhagen). 
Further development and maintenance of the database will be defined annually. 

10 

 
 
 
 
5.  Results 

5.1.  Results of the questionnaire — national response 

Percentage of respondents 

Fifteen countries were asked to fill in the questionnaires. Nine of these countries returned 
the questionnaires with data from their coasts, which is a response of 67 %. Of the 
remaining five countries, three indicated that they did not have sufficient resources to 
prioritise the task, and two gave no reply (Table 1). Quite a few parameters were only 
reported by one or a few countries. This data exists in the database but is not presented 
here. 

Table 1: 

Number of respondent countries and number of parameters reported 

Numbers of parameters reported for: 
Eutrophication (9 (1)) 
MED 
ICES 
NRC 
(4)  
POL 

ICES +  
MEDPOL 

 Countries asked for data 

Reply 
1.8.99 

 Belgium 
 Denmark 
 Finland 
 France 
 Germany 
 Greece 
 Ireland (3) 
 Iceland 
 Italy 
 Norway 
 Netherlands 
 Portugal 
 Spain 
 Sweden 
 UK 

 Total of 15 

(2) 

7 
8 
2 
9 
9 
- 
- 
7 
9 
9 
- 
- 
9 
- 

8 
9 
9 
7 
9 
na 
4 
4 
na 
9 
9 
5 
7 
9 
9 

na 
na 
na 
- 
na 
- 
na 
na 
- 
na 
na 
na 
- 
na 
na 

1 
1 
1 
1 
1 
1 
- 
- 
1 
1 
1 
- 
- 
1 
- 

10 

Harmful substances (38 (1)) 
NRC ICES (4)  MED 
POL 
1985– 
na 
na 
na 
0 
na 
8 
na 
na 
3 
na 
na 
na 
1 
na 
na 

- 
0 
0 
12 
12 
25 
- 
- 
0 
10 
21 
- 
- 
20 
- 

15 
13 
7 
10 
12 
na 
6 
11 
na 
15 
16 
6 
14 
15 
15 

15 
13 
7 
10 
12 
8 
6 
11 
3 
15 
16 
6 
15 
15 
15 

ICES +
MEDP
OL 
8 
9 
9 
7 
9 
0 
4 
4 
0 
9 
9 
5 
7 
9 
9 

0 

7.5 

7.7 

 Average number of 
 parameters 
 % reply 
(1)  Numbers in brackets: Total number of single parameters asked. 
(2)  Data already reported to ICES. 
(3)  Data received after 1 August, integrated in the database but not discussed in the report. 
(4) 
na  Not applicable, country not part of members reporting to the convention. 

ICES (HELCOM and OSPAR). 

6.5 

85 

11 

83 

72 

29 

12 

67 

31 

0 

3 

8 

11 

29 

 11

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Percentage of parameters reported 

Eutrophication 

Chemical parameters: Out of 9 parameters asked for in the questionnaires, an average of 
7.7 (85 %) were reported (Table 1). 

Algal blooms and macro algae: Several questions relating to algal blooms, toxic algae, 
occurrence of macro algae and their maximum growth depth were asked. Three countries 
have replied to these questions, which is a response of 20 %. 

Harmful substances 

Out of 38 parameters asked for in the questionnaires, an average of 11 (30 %) were 
reported (Table 1). The most reported parameters are heavy metals, mainly mercury, 
cadmium, lead and zinc. For the organic pollution indicators most data is reported as PCB 
and PAH (both total). A few countries have also reported DDT (Tables 5, 6 and 8). 

Sampling stations for which data is reported in the database 

Below is presented an overview of all stations, which is stored in the database. This is a 
combination of stations reported from both the conventions and from the national 
reference centres (Figure 1). The stations do also represent water stations (Figure 2), biota 
(Figure 3) and sediments (Figure 4). The amount of data available from each station varies 
from a few values from one year, to long data series with many parameters for more than 
10 years. 

12 

 
 
 
 
 
 
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Figure 1: Overview of complete set of stations within the 20 km coastal zone, for 
which data was reported (water, biota and sediment) and stored in the 
database 

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Figure 4:  Distribution of stations for harmful substances in sediments along the 

coast of Europe 

16 

 
Overview on data presented by the countries 

Nine national reference centres reported data to the EEA (Tables 17–24, Appendix D). 
This data is presented in Appendix D. Some of the countries have already reported most of 
their monitoring data to different conventions, the results therefore have to be combined 
with the data from the conventions (Chapter 4.2 and 4.3). Input (riverine and discharge) 
data is merged in one table (Table 25, Appendix D). 

Coastal zones and reference stations 

Data was requested per coastal zone from individual or aggregated station representing an 
area for the country to define. However, few countries in Europe have clearly defined 
coastal zones (Germany and France are two exceptions). A working group within EIONET 
will try to solve this consistency problem in 2000. In this report all data is therefore 
presented per station except for nutrients (ICES), which is presented as aggregated 
stations (10 x 10 km grids). 

5.2.  Abbreviations for countries — country codes and names 

ICES use partly a two-letter letter code (as file extension) and the IOC alphanumeric 
country codes. In the MEDPOL data 3-letter country codes are used. In many cases the 
codes follow the international ISO 3166 standard, but there are some differences, and 
some of the codes that are used are in conflict with the ISO standard for other countries. 

The database refers to countries by the 3-letter codes in the ISO 3166-1 standard 
(Appendix C). These codes are used both for to indicate geographic location of stations, 
and as information about ‘owner’ of data that comes directly from the countries involved. 
Data that come from ICES or MEDPOL has the organisation or convention acronym as 
owner and a relevant country code as geographic information (Appendix C). 

A complete and ISO-authorised list of country names and the corresponding ISO 3166-1 
Alpha-2 code elements — the ISO country code used in the Internet — is found on their 
page: 
http://www.din.de/gremien/nas/nabd/iso3166ma/index.html. 

A list of country names, alpha-3 and numeric country codes is published with permission of 
the ISO-3166-1 Maintenance Agency by the United Nations Statistics Division at URL: 
http://www.un.org/Depts/unsd/methods/m49alpha.html. 

5.3.  Data from the International Council for the Exploration of the Seas 

(ICES) 

Conventions and countries covered 

The data from ICES is supplied through the conventions: OSPAR and HELCOM. The data 
presented in this report was initially supplied from ICES and cover the following countries: 
Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France (west coast), Germany, Ireland, Iceland, Norway, the 
Netherlands, Portugal, Spain (exclusive Mediterranean coast), Sweden and the UK. 
Figures 2, 3 and 4 show distribution of stations covering water, sediments and biota along 
the coasts of Europe. 

 17

 
 
 
 
 
Parameters and years covered 

Eutrophication 

Chemical parameters: Out of 9 parameters requested, ICES could supply 8 parameters 
(89 %) for the 13 countries in question (Tables 2 and 3). 

Algal blooms and macro algae: ICES do not yet supply data on species and biomass. 

Table 2: 

Overview of the years for which eutrophication related data was made 
available by ICES for OSPAR regions 

ICES water eutrophication data — OSPAR 

Component  BEL 

DNK 

ESP 

FRA  DEU 

ISL 

IRL 

NLD  NOR  PRT 

SWE (1)  GBR 

Total-P 

85–88  85–98  92–97 

85–97 

85–97  88;90–

85–98  95–96

PO4-P 

Total-N 

NO3-N 

NO2-N 

NH4-N 

SiO3-Si 

O2 

85–88; 
90–97 

85–98  92–97  88–92;
96–97 

85–97  87–88;

92 

85–97  85–98  85;90  85–98  85–98

91 

85–98  92–97 

85–97 

86–97  88; 

85–98  86;97 

94 

85–97  85–98  92–97  85–86;
89–92;
96–97 

85–97  87–88;

92 

85–97  85–98  90 

85–98  85–98

91 

90–94 

85–97 

85–97 

85–98  92–97  89; 

85–86; 
91–92;
88; 
96–97 
92–97 
85–97  85–98  92–97  85–86;
89–92;
96–97 
85–98  92–97  88–92;
96–97 
86; 
88–89;
93–97 
88–90  85–97  87;91 

90;95  85–98  94; 

85–88; 
90–97 

85–97  87–88;

85–97 

91 

85–97  85–98  90 

85–98  85–89;
91–97

85–97  85–94  85;90  85–98  86–87;
89–97

92 

85–97  86–98  90 

85–98  85–98

94–96  88–89;
93–97 

85–98 

85–98  85–90;
92–97

85–87; 
89–98 

86; 
88–92;
95–96 

85–97  88–89

Chlorophyll a  93–97  85–98  92 

96–97 

(1) 

West coast. 

18 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Table 3: 

Overview of the years for which eutrophication related data was made  
available by ICES for HELCOM regions 

ICES water eutrophication data — HELCOM 

 Component 

ESP 

FIN 

LVA  POL 

RUS 

DEU 

DNK (1)  SWE (1)

 Total-P 

85–88;92–97 

 PO4-P 

93–96  85–88;92–97 

 Total-N 

85–88;92–97 

 NO3-N 

93–96  85–88;92–97 

 NO2-N 

93–94  85–88;92–97 

 NH4-N 

93–94  85–88;92–97 

 SiO3-Si 

94–95  85–88;92–97 

94 

94 

94 

94 

94 

94 

94 

96 

92–93;95–96 

85–97  85–98  85–98 

85;87–93;96 

92–93;95–96 

85–97  85–98  85–98 

96 

92–93;95–96 

85–97  85–98  85–98 

90–93;96 

93–94;96–97 

85–97  85–98  85–98 

90–93;96 

92–93;95–96 

85–97  85–98  85–98 

92–93;96 

92–93;95–96 

85–97  85–98  85–98 

90–91;93;96 

92–93;95–96 

85–97  85–98  85–98 

Chlorophyll a  93 

85–87;90–97 

93–94;97 

90–92;94 

85–97  85–98  85–98 

 O2 

94–95  87–89;91–92; 
94–96 

(1) 

East coast. 

Harmful substances 

96 

87–97 

89–90;92;94–95 

85–97  85–98  85–97 

Out of 38 parameters requested in the questionnaires, ICES (HELCOM+OSPAR) could 
supply 12 (32 %). 

The most reported parameters are heavy metals, mainly mercury, cadmium, lead and zinc. 
For the organic pollution indicators most data is reported as PCB and PAH (both total). A 
few countries report data on DDT and TBT (Tables 4 and 5). 

 19

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Table 4: 

Overview of the years for which data on harmful substances in 
sediments was made available by ICES 

ICES sediment toxic-substances data 

Component  BEL  DNK  FRA  DEU 

ISL 

IRL  NLD 

NOR 

ESP 

SWE  GBR 

Cd 

Cr 

Cu 

Hg 

Pb 

PCB 

Sum DDT 

Tributyltin 
TBT 
Zn 

88; 
90–94 

88; 
90–91 

91–95  88; 

90–91 
88; 
90–91 

88; 
90–95 

88; 
90–95 

88; 
90–91 

87–88  87–88; 

90 

90 

90 

87–88; 
90 
87–88; 
90 

87–88; 
90 

90 

90 

90 

90 

90 

85;87–88; 
90–94 

85;87–88; 
90–95 
85;87–88; 
90–95 

85;87–88; 
90–95 

88; 
90–95 

88; 
90–91 

87–
88;91 

87–88; 
90 

90 

90 

85;87–88; 
90–95 

90 

90 

90 

86–87, 
90; 
92;94 
94 

86–
87,90; 
92;94 
86–
87,90; 
92;94 
86–87, 
90;92;94 

90 

90–91  86–88; 
90–91 

85 

90–91  87; 

85;90 

90–91 
90–91  86–88; 
90–91 

85;90 

90–91  86–88; 
90–91 

85;90 

85 

85 

90–91  86–88; 
90–91 
90–91 

90–91 

90 

88; 
90–95 

88; 
90–91 

87–
88;91 

87–88; 
90 

90 

90 

85;87–88; 
90–95 

86–
87,90; 
92;94 

85;90 

90–91  86–88; 
90–91 

Note: 

The table presents data from both OSPAR and HELCOM. 

20 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Table 5: 

Overview of the years for which data on harmful substances in biota  
was made available by ICES 

ICES biota toxic-substances data 

Component  BEL  DNK 

FIN 

FRA  DEU 

ISL 

NLD  NOR  POL 

PRT 

ESP 

SWE  GBR 

Cd 

Cr 

Cu 

Hg 

Pb 

Zn 

PAH 

PCB 

SDDT 

85–96  85–97  85–93  85–93 85–96 85; 

85–90  85 

86–88;
89–96
90–96 
85–96 94–95 86–88;
90–96 
86–88;
90–96 

89–96

85–97 84-86  85;90  85–96  85–96 85–87;
90–91 
86–87 

89;92 

85; 
95–96
85–96  85–96 85–87;
90–93;
95 

85–96  85–97  85–93  85–93 85–96 85; 

86–97 84-86  90 

85–96  85–91; 
93–97 

85–96  85–91; 
93–97 

85–93  85–93 85–96 85; 

89–96

85–93  85–93 85–96 85; 

89–96

85–96  85–97  85–93  85–93 85–96 85; 

89–96

86–88;
90–96 

86–88;
90–96 
86–88;
90–96 

85–97 84-86  85;90  85–96  85–96 85–87;
89–93;
95 

85–97 84-86  85;90  85–96  85–96 85–87;
90–91 
85–96  85–96 85–87;
90–93;
95 

86–97 84-86  90 

85 

87 

85–89   

85–87  85–93  

85–91 84-85 

85–89 86; 

90–95 

TBT 

90 

Radioactivity   

85 

85–88; 
90–93 

86;88; 
90–91 

86;88;
90–91 

93;95 

85 

85 

85–96  

Note:  Years with strike-through are data older than 1985, which is the oldest data requested in the  

questionnaires. The table presents data from both HELCOM and OSPAR. 

Assessment reports 

OSPAR — The Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment of the North-
east Atlantic 

Status reports for the OSPAR areas are available through the web site: www.ospar.org/. The 
OSPAR Commission has finalised five regional quality status reports on the greater North Sea, the 
Celtic Seas, the Bay of Biscay and the Iberian coast, and the wider Atlantic and, as a summary, 
one holistic convention-wide quality status report (QSR 2000). 

HELCOM — Helsinki Commission, Baltic Marine Environment Protection Commission 

Status reports and recommendations for the HELCOM area are available through the web 
site: www.HELCOM.fi/ec.html. 

The first draft of the fourth periodic assessment of the state of the marine environment of 
the Baltic Sea, 1994–98 (4PA) is scheduled for publication in April 2001. The progress 
report is addressed to members of the project group for the assessment, environment 
committee, and the convener groups responsible for drafting of the 4PA. A copy of the 
progress report will be available also at the HELCOM EC Internet site on the 4PA. 

 21

 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
Reports from the working groups ‘Nature conservation and biodiversity’ and ‘Monitoring 
and assessment’ are available to download from the web. 

5.4.  Data from Mediterranean pollution monitoring and research programme 

(MEDPOL) 

Countries covered 

The Mediterranean pollution monitoring and research programme covers the countries 
around the Mediterranean. In this round we asked for data covering France, Greece, Italy 
and Spain, since local data was requested from these countries. However, some data from 
Albania, Malta, Turkey, and former Yugoslavia were supplied and is also stored in the 
database. 

Parameter and years covered 

Eutrophication 

MEDPOL does not collect data on nutrients or other eutrophication indicators. 

Harmful substances 

Out of 38 parameters requested in the questionnaires, MEDPOL have available an average 
of 3 (8 %) of the parameters in question (data between 1985–98) for the four countries in 
question (Table 1). Data older than 1985 is excluded from the table as this was not 
requested in the questionnaires. However, all data received (Table 6, all years included) is 
stored in the database. 

Most of the data made available from MEDPOL is covering heavy metals. For the organic 
pollution indicators the data available is halogenated hydrocarbons in biota (Table 7). 

22 

 
 
 
 
 
 
Table 6: 

Overview of the years for which data on harmful substances in biota  
was made available by MEDPOL  

Heavy metals in biota 

Component  ALB  FRA  GRC 

ITA 

MLT 

ESP 

TUR 

YUG 

Ag 
As 
Cd 

Co 
Cr 

Cs 
Cu 

Fe 

HgO 
HgT 

Mn 
Ni 

Pb 

Rb 
Sb 
Se 
Zn 

75–78 
75–79 
75–80; 
85–89 
75–79 
75–79; 
85–89 
75–79 
75–80; 
85–89 
75–80; 
85–87 

76–80; 
87–89 

76–79; 
85–90 

88–91 
78–85;88–
91 

82–85 

77–79;84 

77–78 
77–79;83–
91 

77–78 
77–79 

79 

76–80 

76–79; 
85–90 

79–80 

77–79 

80 

77–79 

77–79;83–
89 

77–79;84–
85 

90 
77–79;83–
91 

78–79 
75–80; 
87–89 

76–79; 
85–90 

76–80 

76–79 

90–91 
79–80; 
82–85; 
88–91 
80 
82 

76–80 

77–79;85–
90 

78–85;88–
89 

77–78 
77–79 

77–79 

92 

77–
79 

92 

92 

92 

77–
79 

75–80; 
85–86 

92 

76 

92 

77–
79 

92 

78–80 
79–80; 
85–89 
75–80 

79 
75–77;79 
75–79 
75–80; 
85–89 

78–79 
76–80 

76–79;85–
90 

80 

77–79 

88 
79 

77–79;83–
91 

77–78 
77 
77–79;83–
89 

Note:  Years with strike-through are data older than 1985, which is the oldest data requested in the  

questionnaires. 

Table 7: 

Overview of the years for which data on harmful substances in biota  
was made available by MEDPOL 

MEDPOL data — halogenated hydrocarbons in biota 

 Component  ALB 

FRA 

GRC 

ITA 

MLT 

ESP 

TUR 

YUG 

 HHBI 

92 

77–79  75–79; 
86–89 

75–79; 
87–89 

84–90  79–86; 
88–91 

75–79; 
84–85 

76–80; 
83–90 

Note:  Years with strike-through are data older than 1985, which is the oldest data requested in the  

questionnaires. 

Assessment reports covered for the area 

A new assessment report covering the identification of priority pollution hot spots and sensitive 
areas in the Mediterranean is available. The report has been prepared in the framework of a 
strategic action programme (SAP) for the Mediterranean, as a follow-up to the signing of 
the protocol for the protection of the Mediterranean Sea against pollution from land-

 23

 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
based sources and activities. It summarises the results of consolidating and analysing 
country reports prepared by the national teams headed by the government-designated 
national coordinators for the strategic action programme in the country, and has been 
funded by a grant of the global environment facility (GEF). The report can be downloaded 
from the web site: www.unepmap.gr/. 

5.5.  Information on the data and the database 

A Microsoft Access 97 database is used for storage and retrieval of data. The data tables 
supplied from ICES and MEDPOL were in formats suitable for direct import into Access 
tables, where further sorting, selecting, coding and linking procedures were performed. 
The data returned from the separate countries by ETC Questionnaires were handled by 
spreadsheet shuffling procedures (Microsoft Excel 97) before import to Access. 

Only the data from positions within 20 km distance from the coastline (islands included) 
were selected for inclusion in the ETC database. The identification of positions falling 
within the 20 km coastal zone was performed using a functionality in the Arcview GIS 
application. 

A detailed description/manual for the database is given in Appendix C. 

24 

 
 
 
6.  Conclusions and recommendations 

6.1.  Databases 

Location 

The database described in this report is available through the EEA, and will be maintained 
within the Topic Centre for Water in the future. 

Quality assurance 

The database will be maintained and quality assured according to the EEA data 
management strategy. 

Existing data and need for supplementing data 

This is the first version of a marine water database covering data for all of Europe’s coasts. 
To establish such a database more work is yet to be done. At the moment the database 
covers 15 countries in Europe and a variable number of parameters per country. However, 
the structure is established and a first overview of data availability in Europe has been 
achieved. 

For some of the data already established in the database supplementary data is needed, e.g. 
sediment-fraction data for many of the metal data reported from the conventions and 
salinity data for nutrients in estuary and deltas. These are data that are needed to be able 
to compare values from different areas and are in many cases yet to be filled in before the 
database can be used for assessment. 

6.2.  Data flow 

The marine conventions 

The conventions are of major importance for establishing monitoring programmes 
especially related to harmonisation of sampling and analysis, collection of data from 
countries, and updating and maintenance of large databases. It is therefore essential that 
they receive sufficient resources to be able to manage new data and quality assure the 
existing databases. This would also ensure a better data availability on an international 
level and facilitate the work of the EEA. 

EEA national reference centres 

It is also essential and critical that the national reference centres are assured sufficient 
basic funding to be able to report to the conventions. In most cases the reference centres 
do both monitoring and reporting for some of the national areas and depend upon 
collecting data from other national research institutions. Our experience with the 
questionnaires is that the persons responsible for reporting to the conventions and others 
are overloaded with work. The consequence of this may be that existing information is not 
available either to the conventions or to the EEA. 

 25

 
 
 
6.3.  Purpose and future work 

EEA requested the European Topic Centre for Marine and Coastal Environment 
(ETC/MCE) to develop indicators for the marine and coastal environment. The main 
objective of the questionnaire and the database is the gathering of data relevant at the 
European level for the characterisation of environmental state and pressure for coastal 
ecosystem quality in order to produce information to be used for the following specific 
purposes: 

Short term 

―  EEA reporting (indicator based reports and state and outlook reports); 
―  ecosystem quality (eutrophication, harmful substances, oil pollution), Biodiversity, 

ICZM, spatial development; 

―  further develop national databases as the gaps in knowledge and information become 

visible; 

―  apart from gathering monitoring data, the questionnaire is used to obtain an overview 

of as much (grey) literature, scientific publications, reports and other information as 
possible on the subjects covered. 

Long term 

―  develop a structured database for aggregated data on status for water, sediments and 

biota based on the indicators relevant in EU policy; 

―  produce information easily accessible to the public via Internet; 
―  make the information accessible at all relevant levels. 

26 

 
 
 
Appendix A: References 

Buuren, van, J.T; T. Smit, G.J.M. Poot, A. Van Elteren, B. Opdenkamp, in press. Testing of 
indicators for the marine and coastal environment in Europe. Part 1. Eutrophication and Integrated 
Coastal Zone Management. EEA Technical report. 

Baàn, P.J.A. and G.J.J. Groeneveld , in press a. Testing of indicators for the marine and coastal 
environment in Europe. Part 2. Hazardous substances. EEA Technical report. 

Baàn, P.J.A. and J.T. Buuren, in press b. Testing of indicators for the marine and coastal 
environment in Europe. Part 3. Present state and development on eutrophication, hazardous 
substances, oil and ecological quality. EEA Technical report. 

Molvær, J., Knutzen, J., Magnusson, J., Rygg, B., Skei, J. and Sørensen, J. (1997), 
Classification of environmental quality in fjords and coastal water. A guide (in Norwegian), ISBN: 
82-7655-367-2, English version in preparation. 

SIME (1997), OSPAR — Working group on concentrations, trends and effects of 
substances in the marine environment, Oslo and Paris Commissions, SIME 97/7/1-E. 

Waste water directive (1991), Council directive of 21 May 1991 concerning urban 
wastewater treatment, Official Journal of the European Communities, 30.5.1991, OJ L 135, p. 
40. 

References from grey literature (obtained from the questionnaires): 

Annual reports on environmental radioactivity in Italy. 

Arbeitsgemeinschaft für die Reinhaltung der Elbe (1990), Teil 1& 2, Selfpublishing, Hamburg, 
Germany. 

Arbeitsgemeinschaft für die Reinhaltung der Elbe (1999), Herkunft und Verteilung von 
Organozinnverbindungen in der Elbe und Elbenebenflüssen, Selfpublishing, Hamburg, Germany. 

Averbeck, C., Korsch, M., Vauk, G. & Wilke, J. (1993), ‘Seevögel als Ölopfer — Umweltbundesamt’, 
Wasser Forschungsbericht 102 04 414, Norddeutsche Naturschutzakademie, 58 pp. 

Camphuysen, C. J. & Franeker J. A. (1992), ‘The value of beached bird surveys in monitoring 
marine oil pollution’, Technisch rapport Vogelbeschirmning, No 10, Nederland, Zeist. 

Fleet, D. M. (1994), ‘Ölpest an der Westküste Schleswig-Holsteins in Januar und Februar 1994’ 
Unveröffentlichter Bericht des Nationalparkamts, Tönning. 

Fleet, D. M., Gaus, S., Hartwig, E., Potel, P. & Schulze Dieckhoff M. (1995), ‘Ölopfer in der 
Deutschen Bucht im Zeitraum 1’, Oktober 1992 bis 31. Dezember 1994, Seevögel 16/4:87-92. 

Reineking, B. & Vauk, G. (1982), ‘Seevögel — Opfer der Ölpest’, Jordsand Buch, Nr. 2, Niederelbe-
Verlag Otterndorf, 143 pp. 

 27

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Directie Noordzee afdeling Operationele zaken en waterbeheer (1995), Verontreinigingen 
Nederlands Continentaal Plat 1992–94, Overzicht waargenomen en gemelde verontreinigingen. 

Directie Noordzee (1990), Verontreinigingsrapportage 1990, Notitie Noordzee NZ-N-91.06 
Olieverontreinigingen waargenomen op de noordzee. 

Directie Noordzee afdeling Operationele zaken en waterbeheer (1995), Verontreinigingen 
Nederlands Continentaal Plat 1992–94, Overzicht waargenomen en gemelde verontreinigingen. 

Directie Noordzee. (1990), Verontreinigingsrapportage 1990, Olieverontreinigingen waargenomen 
op de noordzee, Notitie Noordzee NZ-N-91.06. 

Evers, E. et al. (1997), Oil and oil constituents. An analysis of problems associated with oil in the aquatic 
environment, RIKZ 97.032 ISBN 90-369-3451-6. 

Evers, E. et al. (1997), Oil and oil constituents. An analysis of problems associated with oil in the aquatic 
environment. RIKZ 97.032 ISBN90-369-3451-6. 

Hektoen, H., Helland, A., Næs, K. and Rygg, B. (1992), ‘Overvåking av Hvaler — Singlefjorden og 
munningen av Iddefjorden. Sedimenterende materiale, bunnsedimenter, bløtbunnsfauna og 
diagnostisk undersøkelse av skrubbe’, 95 pp., ISBN 82-577-2168-9 (NIVA report in Norwegian). 

Helland, A. (1996) ‘Overvåking av Hvaler — Singlefjorden og munningen av Iddefjorden 
1990–94. Sedimenterende materiale og bunnsedimenter 1994’ (Monitoring of the Hvaler-
Singlefjord and the outer part of the Iddefjord. Settling matter and sediments), 83 pp., 
ISBN 82-577-2976-0 (NIVA report in Norwegian). 

Helland, A. (1997), ‘Miljøgifter i sedimenter i Glommaestuariet etter flommen i 1995’, 52 pp., 
ISBN 82-577-3272-9 (NIVA report in Norwegian). 

Konieczny, R. M. (1991), ‘Undersøkelse av tungmetall — og PAH-forurensede bunnsedimenter fra 
Bispevika, Indre Oslofjord, i forbindelse med snøtipping fra Bispekaia’, 19 pp., 
ISBN 82-577-2004-6 (NIVA report in Norwegian). 

Konieczny, R. M. (1992), ‘Kartlegging og vurdering av forurensningssituasjonen i bunnsediment fra 
Oslo havneområde’, 52 pp., ISBN 82-577-2054-2 (NIVA report in Norwegian). 

Konieczny, R. M. (1992), ‘Kartlegging og vurdering av forurensningssituasjonen i området Bjørvika 
— Bispevika, Oslo Havn’, 87 pp., ISBN 82-577-2076-3 (NIVA report in Norwegian). 

Konieczny R. M. (1994), ‘Miljøgiftundersøkelse i Indre Oslofjord’, Delrapport 4, Miljøgifter i 
sedimenter, 134 pp., ISBN 82-577-2564-1 (NIVA report in Norwegian). 

Konieczny, R. M. (1994), ‘Undersøkelser av forurensninger i Grønlibukta, Oslo havn’, 43 pp., 
ISBN 82-577-2637-0 (NIVA report in Norwegian). 

Konieczny, R. M. (1995), ‘Undersøkelse av mudringsmasser i kommunale småbåthavner i 
Bestumkilen, Ormsundet og Paddehavet, Indre Oslofjord’, 1995, 23 pp., ISBN 82-577-2796-2 (NIVA 
report in Norwegian). 

Magnusson J. and Sørensen, K. (1993), ‘Overvåking av Hvaler, Singlefjorden og Ringdalsfjorden 
1990-91. Hydrografi, hydrokjemi, tungmetaller i vann og fjernanalyse’, 59 pp., 
ISBN 82-577-2339-8 (NIVA report in Norwegian). 

28 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Magnusson, J. and Sørensen, K. (1996), ‘Overvåking av Hvaler-Singlefjorden og munningen av 
Iddefjorden 1990-94. Overflatevannets vannkvalitet og oksygenforholdene i dypvannet’, 82 pp.,  
82-577-3085-8 (NIVA report in Norwegian). 

Magnusson, J., Gjøsæther, J. (HFF), Knutzen, J., Lømsland, E. R., Johnsen, T., Schram, T. (UiO) 
and Sollie, A. (HFF) (1998), ‘Overvåking av forurensningssituasjonen i indre Oslofjord 1997’, ISBN 
82-577-3467-5 (NIVA report in Norwegian). 

Magnusson, J., Johnsen, T. M., Lømsland, E. R., Beyer F. (UiO) and Røysted, U. E. (OVA), (1997), 
‘Overvåking av forurensningssituasjonen i indre Oslofjord 1996’, 43 pp., ISBN 82-577-3251-6 (NIVA 
report in Norwegian). 

Molvær, J. (1999), ‘Grenlandsfjordene 1994–97. Undersøkelser av vannkjemiske forhold og 
vannutskiftning’, 47 pp., ISBN 82-577-3541-8 (NIVA report in Norwegian). 

Molvær, J. and Stigebrandt, A. (1991), ‘Undersøkelse av Eutrofiering i Grenlandsfjordene’, 
Delrapport 3, Vannutskifting i fjordene, 43 pp., ISBN 82-577-1922-6 (NIVA report in Norwegian). 

Molvær, J. ‘Undersøkelse av eutrofiering i Grenlandsfjordene 1988–89’, Delrapport 9, Konklusjoner, 
46 pp., ISBN 82-577-2044-5 (NIVA report in Norwegian). 

Næs, K. (1999), ‘Overvåking av miljøgifter i sedimentene i Grenlandsfjordene 1997’, 146 pp., ISBN 
82-577-3671-6 (NIVA report in Norwegian). 

Offringa, H & Meire, P. (1997), Rapportage contract zeevogel tellingen, Brussels. 

OSPAR/JAMP (1995), Guidelines on standard methodology for the use of (oiled) beached birds as indicators of 
marine oil pollution. 

Rygg, B. and Magnusson, J. (1997), ‘Enkel resipientundersøkelse i Oslofjorden ved Alnas munning 
for å belyse eventuelle skader forårsaket av utslipp av akrylamid fra Romeriksporten’, 27 pp., ISBN 
82-577-3317-2 (NIVA report in Norwegian). 

Rygg, B., Green, N., Molvær, J. and Næs, K. (1987), ‘Grenlandsfjordene og Skienselva 1986’, 91 pp. 
ISBN 82-577-1293-0 (NIVA report in Norwegian). 

Reuter, M. (1997), ‘Großes Sterben von Zugvögeln Anfang 1996 an der ostfriesischen Küste’, 
Seevögel 18, 2:60–64. 

Schallier, R. (1998), ‘De problematiek van dierverontreiniging door schepen in de BBZ — 
bevindingen na 5 jaar luchttoezicht’, Water, 98, 17–20. 

Schallier, R., Lahoussel, L. and Jacques, T. (1996), ‘Surveillance aérienne: Pollutions marines 
causées par les navires dans ZIB en Mer du Nord — Rapport d’activité 1991–95’, MUMM Brussels. 

Simboura, N., Reizopoulou, S., Zenetos, A. and Pancucci, M. A. (1996), ‘Structure and synthesis of 
benthic biocoenoses’, in Study of the marine ecosystem in Thermaikos Gulf. Final technical report, NCMR, 
July 1996, 431 pp. (in Greek). 

Tijink, J. (RIKZ) and van Urk, W. (DGSM) (1997), Doelgroepstudie en beleidsanalyse zeescheepvaart 
Noordzee, RIKZ 97.008, ISBN 90-369-0435-8. 

 29

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Tijink, J. (1998), ‘Microverontreinigingen in de zoute wateren tot en met 1996; Concentraties en 
belastingen Achtergronddocument voor de Milieubalans 1998’, Werkdocument, RIKZ/AB-98.119x. 

Tijink, J. (RIKZ) and van Urk, W. (DGSM) (1997), Doelgroepstudie en beleidsanalyse zeescheepvaart 
Noordzee, RIKZ 97.008, ISBN 90-369-0435-8. 

Tijink, J. (1998), ‘Microverontreinigingen in de zoute wateren tot en met 1996; concentraties en 
belastingen. Achtergronddocument voor de Milieubalans 1998’, Werkdocument, RIKZ/AB-98.119x. 

Vauk, G., Dahlmann, G., Hartwig, E., Ranger, J. C., Reineking, B., Schrey, E. and Vauk-Henzelt, E. 
(1987), ‘Ölopfererfassung an der deutschen Nordseeküste und Ergebnisse der Ölanalysen sowie 
Untersuchungen zur Belastung der Deutschen Bucht durch Schiffsmüll’, Umweltbundesamt, Berlin. 

Vauk, G., Hartwig, E., Schrey, E., Vauk-Henzelt, E. and Korsch, M. (1989), ‘Seevögelverluste durch 
Öl und Müll an der deutschen Nordseeküste von August 1983 bis April 1988’, Umweltbundesamt, 
Wasser Forschungsbericht 102 04 370, 164 pp. 

Zarkanellas, A. (1979), ‘The effects of pollution induced oxygen deficiency on the benthos in Elefsis 
Bay, Greece’, Marine Environ. Res., Vol. 2, pp. 191–207. 

Zenetos, A. and Bogdanos, C. (1986), ‘Assessment of degree of pollution on the basis of 
macrozoobenthos in Elefsis Bay’, Rapp. Comm. int. Mer Medit., 30(2):22. 

Zenetos, A. and Bogdanos, C. (1987), Benthic community structure as a tool in evaluating effects of 
pollution in Elefsis Bay, Thalassographica, 10(1):7–21. 

Zenetos, A., Catsiki, V. A. and Bogdanos, C. (1980), ‘Ecological study of the macrozoobenthos in 
Thermaikos Gulf’, Ph.D. thesis, Univ. of Thessaloniki, 146 pp. ( in Greek). 

Zenetos, A., Pancucci, M. A., Simboura, N. and Panayiotides, P.(1994), ‘Macrobenthos’, in 
Oceanographic Study of Thermaikos Gulf, NCMR technical report, February 1994, 191 pp. (in Greek). 

30 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Appendix B: Questionnaire 

ETCETC
MCEMCE

European Topic Centre

on Marine and Coastal Environment

(ETC/MCE)

 INDICATOR QUESTIONNAIRE

On behalf of ETC/MCE: Thank you for your support!

The ETC/MCE partners are:

UNDER CONTRACT TO
THE EUROPEAN ENVIRONMENT AGENCY

ENEA (Team leader)

Italy

Marcello

Peronaci

(39) 630 48 47 02 peronaci@casaccia.enea.it

NIVA

RIKZ

NERI

IFREMER

NCMR

Norway

Kari

Nygaard

(47) 22 18 52 95

kari.nygaard@niva.no

Netherlands

Jannette

van Buuren

(31-70) 311 43 57 j.t.vbuuren@rikz.rws.minvenw.nl

Denmark

France

Greece

Gunni

Michel

Aertebjerg

Joanny

(45) 46 30 12 00
(33-2) 98 22 43 58 mjoanny@ifremer.fr

gea@dmu.dk

Efthimia

Cotou

(30-1) 982 02 12

ecotou@posidon.ncmr.gr

Objectives of the questionnaire 

The European Environment Agency (EEA), based in Copenhagen, has requested the 
European Topic Centre for Marine and Coastal Environment (ETC/MCE) to develop 
indicators for the marine and coastal environment. In order to facilitate the exchange of 
data/information ETC/MCE partners are willing to visit the countries, if needed, to help 
with the completion of the questionnaire. 

The main objective of this questionnaire is to gather data at the European level relevant 
for the characterisation of environmental state and pressure for coastal ecosystem quality 
in order to produce information to be used for the following specific purposes: 

―  to use the information for EEA reporting; 
―  to develop a structured database on coastal typology and the indicators for the themes 

relevant in EU policy; 

―  ecosystem quality (eutrophication, harmful substances, oil pollution), biodiversity, 

ICZM, spatial development; 

―  to produce information easy accessible to the public via the world wide web 

(Internet). 

―  to make the information accessible at all levels; 

 31

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
―  to develop further on national databases as the gaps in knowledge and information 

will become visible. 

Apart from gathering monitoring data, the questionnaire is used to obtain an overview of 
as much (grey) literature, scientific publications, reports and other information as possible 
on the subjects covered. 

Based on the information obtained, the following products are foreseen: 

―  the database containing the data and indicators for the theme ecosystem quality; 
―  GIS maps on indicators for the subjects eutrophication, harmful substances, oil 

pollution; 

―  GIS map on the sensitivity of the water system based on the assessment of the GIS 

information with additional data (reports, GISCO database); 

―  fact sheets of coastal zones and estuaries, with the main indicators for the respective 

themes, additional information and sensitivity. 

Indicators 

The importance of a common set of indicators was stressed at the European Conference of 
Ministers of the Environment in Aarhus in June 1998. Indicators can play a vital part in 
focusing and illuminating the significance of environmental change and the progress of 
sustainability. Providing the data and information to support widely agreed key indicator 
sets in a consistent and timely way should be one main objective of the improvement of 
monitoring and data gathering. Indicators are quantified information, which help to 
explain how things are changing over time or vary spatially. 

In the longer term there is a link with the development of the indicator report produced 
by the ETC/MCE while in the short term there is a definite link with annual indicator 
reports. 
The indicators will be updated at regular intervals. 

The number of indicators depends on the availability of data, proposed use and 
possibilities for aggregating the information to a level, which still has relevance to indicate 
change. 
It is envisaged to end up with a hierarchy of some 30 indicators. 

Methodology 

The testing of the indicators will be based on: 
―  multi-criteria analysis using the set of criteria for indicators available within the TC; 
―  aggregation within a theme after classification related to the reference value; 
―  the experience gained from ‘Europe’s environment: the second assessment’, ‘EU98’ 

and other report and activities. 

Classification of the indicators will be related to the water framework directive while the 
statistical trend analysis will be carried out using the Trend-Y-Detector. 

32 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
DIRECTIONS FOR USE OF THIS QUESTIONNAIRE 

The following directions are explanatory notes on the questionnaire, and how to fill it in. 
Please do not hesitate to contact the persons listed below for any question you might have. 
Thank you. 

Selection of areas to cover 

This request for data concerns coastal areas of major importance, as considered adequate 
by the countries. Two scale levels should be described: 
(1)  scale 1:8.000.000 — major coastal zones; 
(2)  scale 1:250.000 — individual estuaries, deltas or fjords. 

We therefore ask you to fill in the questionnaire separately for each of the major coastal 
zones in your country. Furthermore, please choose at least two estuaries, deltas or fjords 
per country and fill up the following spreadsheets for each of them. The estuaries should 
cover the major rivers, and the lagoons/fjords could be the major ones in terms of 
environmental significance. 

The areas chosen should be representative for the nation. Preferably, long-term time series 
should be available. 

The coastal zones could be defined as the larger sea areas with rather uniform physical, 
chemical and biological characteristics. It is suggested to discuss with the ETC/MCE the 
proposed coastal zone delimitation. For larger river basin catchment areas, specific coastal 
zones may be defined, following the draft EU framework directive on water policy. 

The width of the coastal zone to be covered is set to 20 km (about 12 miles). For each 
coastal water system to be described, a number of options exist with respect to the 
aggregation of data. 

(1)  If there is only one sampling station in the water system, the coordinates for this water 

system can be used. 

(2)  If there are multiple sampling stations, one out of two methods may be used: 2.a — 

use one of the sampling stations as representative. Use coordinates for this station 2.b 
— use averaged results of multiple sampling stations. A fictive point in the water 
system can be defined for coordinates. 

Please indicate which of the three systems is used for the water system. If multiple stations 
are used, please indicate coordinates of contributing sampling stations separately. 

With future updates of the data, the same system should be used for each water system. 
If for certain coastal zones no monitoring data are available, it would still be appreciated to 
have these zones identified and characterised by the general information sheet and 
geographical representation. 

For the estuaries, lagoons and fjords, more than one representative station may be 
necessary to cover gradient situations. For each station, a separate sheet should be filled in. 
We suggest not more than five stations per estuary/lagoon/fjord. 

 33

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Please supply a map showing the chosen areas. If possible, submit as digital file suitable for 
a GIS (polygon). 

Please note that information already provided through ICES/OSPAR, HELCOM or 
MEDPOL are not requested from the countries again. 

Before you start 

Before starting to fill up the sheets, please make a separate copy of this electronic file for 
each separate large coastal zone/estuary, lagoon, or fjord of your coastal area. 
Note that this original q-blank file is read-only. Please name each file starting with the 
abbreviation for your country, followed by the (abbreviated) name of the water system. 

Submission deadline 

Please return the completed questionnaire as digital file by e-mail to the ETC/MCE by the 
end of April 1999. 

Lay out of the file 

Within this questionnaire Excel file, there are four sheets to be filled in for each coastal 
zone/estuary/lagoon/fjord: 
―  general — these are the general characteristics for the water system; 
―  eutrophication — theme-specific information; 
―  harmful substances — theme-specific information; 
―  oil pollution — theme specific information. 

Specific directions on the separate sheets are given below. A complete overview of all 
parameters requested is given at the end of this direction sheet. Each sheet ends with an 
overview of relevant literature, reports, etc. We would welcome a summary of the reports in 
English, if possible on digital file. 

Sheet: General 

In header: Country, water system name and date filled in on first line of ‘General’ page will 
be copied to all other pages. 

Description of coordinate. Please indicate type chosen. 1: Single sampling point. 
2: Representative sampling point. 3: Fictional point. 

Please indicate mean and maximum depth of sampling stations. Geographical coordinate 
system: x and y to be given in decimal degrees. 

Table 1: Transparency/vertical attenuation coefficient (Kd): choose one of two methods. 

Table 1: Water turnover time: general turnover time characteristics are available per 
regional sea: however we want it specified only for the specific coastal zone, lagoon, etc. 

34 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Table 2: Biological characteristics: for large-scale coastal zones, please use a non-detailed 
description/classification. For estuaries, lagoons and fjords, a more detailed description 
may be provided. 

Sheets: Eutrophication/harmful substances/oil pollution 

For most parameters, please fill in for the year indicated: 
―  Maximum value (MAX); 
―  Median value (MEDIAN); if no median values can be given, please provide the mean 

values; 

―  Minimum value (MIN); 
―  Number of observations (NUMBER); 
―  Reference value (REFERENCE). 

For a number of parameters however, instead of MAX/MEDIAN/MIN, the actual annual 
VALUE is to be filled in. 

The pages on the right hand side of the tables provide space for remarks. When printed, 
two pages cover four tables; first the four tables to fill in, and secondly the remarks section 
for those four tables. Under remarks: a short specification of the measurement methods 
and detection limits is requested in order to obtain an indication of the comparability of 
the data. We would appreciate, under remarks, a specification of the methods of analysis, 
and the detection limit. If standard methodologies for the regional conventions are used, 
you may simply refer to these. Please indicate under ‘Remarks’ when a change in 
measurement methodology has taken place for the parameter during the sample period. 

Type of data aggregation to be used: Average of surface water layers 0–10 m. 
Horizontal averaging: average all stations within a ‘homogeneous area’. 
Temporal averaging: define most appropriate period (for instance, for certain nutrients, 
three possibilities for one parameter are given: year-round/summer/winter. Please choose 
average period as used in your country). 

The Reference value in the REFERENCE line: For each of the parameters asked, the 
(national) policy values used as evaluation criteria are to be filled in here. (So, these may 
be values of a certain reference station, or the evaluation values set by relevant 
authorities/determined by institutions.) Please fill in the value for 1985, the rest of the row 
will be copied automatically. For reference values, there are different types in use. Options 
may be background reference concentration (BRC)/target value (TAV)/threshold value 
(TRV). 

This is the preferred order of choice, so please provide background reference values 
whenever available. Otherwise: TAV or TRV. If not then use EAC’s: ecological assessment 
criteria may be given. These ranges have been formulated by OSPAR to identify potential 
areas of concern. Please indicate the type of reference provided in the right hand corner 
of each table. 

As for input data: atmospheric data is not asked for. If considered relevant, they will be 
retrieved via the other Topic Centers or via CAMP databases (comprehensive atmospheric 
monitoring programme). 

 35

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
On all three sheets, the final table requests for an overview of relevant (grey) literature, 
scientific publications, reports and other information relevant to the subject. Sheet 
numbers are E-31, HS-49 and OP-9. 

Especially of value would be the information where national data or parts of this, which is 
entered in this questionnaire, has been described and assessed/evaluated. The 
information will be used to support the data evaluation, for instance detection of trends in 
the development of eutrophication, and the causes for the state of the environment. 

Sheet: Eutrophication 

General remark: please indicate in the relevant tables which periods are considered 
‘spring’ and ‘summer’ for those parameters. For winter, please use the January–February 
two month period. For summer and spring, please use the two or three months with least 
production. 

Tables E-6/E-7/E-8: Nitrate/Nitrite/Nitrate + Nitrite. Please fill in either E-6 and E-7, or E-
8 only. If you fill in E-6 and E-7, a total will be calculated in E-8. If you have summed values 
only, you may overwrite the sum formula in E-8. 

Table E-10: Ratio Total N/Total P: automatically calculated from Tables E-1 and E-4. Error 
message will disappear when Tables 1 and 4 have values. 

Table E-11: Ratio Nitrate + Nitrite/Phosphate: automatically calculated from Tables E-6 
and E-7, or E8. Error message will disappear when Tables 6 and 7, or 8 have values. 

Table E-12: Oxygen. Please give values at bottom layer. Please indicate measuring depth. 
The period to cover here is September to October. Please specify depth of measurement. 

Table E-14: Algal blooms. Algal blooms occur when algae grow very fast and one or a few 
species accumulate in high numbers into dense patches in the euphotic zone. For algal 
blooms, a number of possibilities exist to describe these. In the table this is reflected in 
three lines: the surface cover, the frequency of algal blooms, and the maximum number of 
cells/l measured in a given year. Please select appropriate line(s), depending on the way 
this is measured. Type of monitoring determines the units. Suggestions for further 
differentiation using remote sensing data and data assimilation techniques are 
appreciated. 

Tables E-15/E-16/E-17: Toxic algae. Please use a separate table for each of three dominant 
species, and specify species names under remarks. It is acknowledged that from year to 
year, the species composition may vary. However, it is requested to fill in the questionnaire 
for those three species that have been observed regularly, and for which long time series 
are available. Under remarks it could be mentioned when in certain years other species 
were prevalent. Furthermore, exceptional events may be listed in the last worksheet of this 
excel file. 

Tables E-19/E-20: Diatom/Flagellate ratio. The calculation should be based on 
biovolume/l for each group. Please specify the two months of spring, for summer use May 
to September (five months). 

36 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Table E-21: Chlorophyll a. For summer, please use the five month period from May to 
September. 

E-22/E-23/E-24/E-25: Sea grasses and seaweeds. These plants can both be measured in two 
ways: surface cover, and depth of occurrence. Please indicate appropriate method of 
measurement. 

Tables E-26/E-27: Microphytobenthos/Soft bottom macrozoobethos. As for dominant 
species, please select those species which have been found dominant over the period 
specified, and then fill in the values over the period for those three species. It is not the 
intention to get separate values for each year based on the three dominant species for each 
individual year. 

Tables E-28/E-29/E-30: Loads entering water system. Please state source apportionment 
under remarks. 

Table E-30: Load Total C entering water system. Please specify organic/inorganic 
fractions. 

Table E-31: References. Please provide an overview of literature and further information 
relevant for eutrophication here. 

Sheet: Harmful substances 

Tables HS-7, 8, 11, 12, 22, 23, 33, 34, 38, 46, 47: PAH and PCB 
PAHs cover sum of: anthracine, benzo(a)anthracine, benzo(ghi)perylene, 
benzo(a)pyrene, chrysene, fluoranthene, indeno(1,2,3-cd)pyrene, pyrene, phenanthrene. 
This follows the OSPAR Commission working group on concentrations, trends and effects 
of substances in the marine environment (SIME). If a sum of these nine is not available, 
please state the PAH with highest concentration covering a reasonable time series. PCBs 
cover sum of: CB 28, CB 52, CB 101, CB 118, CB 138, CB 153, and CB 180. This follows the 
OSPAR Commission working group on concentrations, trends and effects of substances in 
the marine environment (SIME). If a sum of these seven is not available, please state the 
PCB with highest concentration covering a reasonable time series. Essential is that each 
water system can show their trends. 

Table HS-14: Radiation/Table 25: Radiation in mussel/Table 36: radiation in fish. 
Please specify type of radiation measured (alpha, beta or gamma). 

Tables HS-39 to HS-48: Inputs. Direct inputs are point sources or diffuse pollution in 
countries with large coastlines. Following OSPAR definitions, the tidal limit is the border 
between river and coastal area. Riverine input is the load conveyed by a river to the 
maritime area. Load calculations are derived from river flows and concentrations. 
Processes which take place in the subsequent estuarine environment, are not taken into 
account although they can seriously affect the actual amount. When concentration is lower 
then detection limit, no load estimates should be given: an upper (detection limit) and a 
lower value (equal to zero). 

 37

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Others: The dumping of dredged material (only when large quantities are involved). 

Table HS-49: References. Please provide an overview of literature and further information 
relevant for harmful substances here. 

Sheet: Oil pollution 

Table OP-3: Birds affected. Please indicate whether specific guidelines for measurement 
were followed, for instance OSPAR/JAMP guidelines 

Table OP-4: Mammals affected. For mammals affected, please indicate way of 
measurement, for instance whether mammals are killed and beached, or that food supply 
is affected negatively. 

Table OP-9: References. Please provide an overview of literature and further information 
relevant for oil pollution here. 

Full list of parameters 

Sheet: General 
TABLE 1: General characteristics 
TABLE 2: Biological characteristics 

Sheet: Eutrophication 
TABLE E-1: TOTAL P (year-round) 
TABLE E-2: TOTAL P (winter) 
TABLE E-3: ORTHO-PHOSPHATE (winter) 
TABLE E-4: TOTAL N (year-round) 
TABLE E-5: TOTAL N (winter)   
TABLE E-6: NITRATE (winter) 
TABLE E-7: NITRITE (winter) 
TABLE E-8: NITRATE + NITRITE (winter) 
TABLE E-9: AMMONIUM (winter) 
TABLE E-10: TOTAL N/TOTAL P RATIO (year-round) 
TABLE E-11: NITRATE + NITRITE/PHOSPHATE RATIO 
TABLE E-12: DISSOLVED OXYGEN or SATURATION 
TABLE E-13: SILICATE   
TABLE E-14: ALGAL BLOOMS (choose appropriate units) 
TABLE E-15: TOXIC ALGAE (species 1)   
TABLE E-16: TOXIC ALGAE (species 2)   
TABLE E-17: TOXIC ALGAE (species 3)   
TABLE E-18: PHAEOCYSTIS SP.  
TABLE E-19: DIATOM/FLAGELLATE RATIO (spring — based on biovolume/l)   
TABLE E-20: DIATOM/FLAGELLATE RATIO (summer — based on biovolume/l) 
TABLE E-21: CHLOROPHYLL A (summer) 
TABLE E-22: SEA GRASSES (cover Zostera sp. or Posidonia sp.) 
TABLE E-23: SEA GRASSES (maximum depth of occurrence) 
TABLE E-24: SEA WEEDS (cover) 
TABLE E-25: SEA WEEDS (maximum depth occurrence)  
TABLE E-26: MICROPHYTOBENTHOS (biomass) 
TABLE E-27: SOFT BOTTOM MACROZOOBENTHOS (>1 mm) biomass   
TABLE E-28: INPUT TOTAL P entering water system 
TABLE E-29: INPUT TOTAL N entering water system 

38 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
TABLE E-30: INPUT TOTAL C entering water system 
TABLE E-31: Relevant literature/reports/other information on eutrophication 

Sheet: Harmful substances 
TABLE HS-1: Cd in sediment 
TABLE HS-2: Cr in sediment 
TABLE HS-3: Cu in sediment 
TABLE HS-4: Hg in sediment 
TABLE HS-5: Pb in sediment 
TABLE HS-6: Zn in sediment 
TABLE HS-7: PAH in sediment 
TABLE HS-8: PCB in sediment 
TABLE HS-9: TBT in sediment 
TABLE HS-10: DDT in sediment (sum DDT+DDE+DDD) 
TABLE HS-11: PAH in suspended matter 
TABLE HS-12: PCB in suspended matter 
TABLE HS-13: TBT in suspended matter 
TABLE HS-14: RADIATION 
TABLE HS-15: Cd IN MUSSEL dry tissue 
TABLE HS-16: Cr IN MUSSEL dry tissue 
TABLE HS-17: Cu IN MUSSEL dry tissue 
TABLE HS-18: Hg IN MUSSEL dry tissue 
TABLE HS-19: Pb IN MUSSEL dry tissue 
TABLE HS-20: Zn IN MUSSEL dry tissue 
TABLE HS-21: DDT IN MUSSEL dry tissue (sum DDT+DDE+DDD) 
TABLE HS-22: PAH IN MUSSEL dry tissue 
TABLE HS-23: PCB IN MUSSEL dry tissue 
TABLE HS-24: TBT IN MUSSEL dry tissue 
TABLE HS-25: RADIONUCLIDES IN MUSSEL dry tissue 
TABLE HS-26: Cd IN FISH (please specify tissue) 
TABLE HS-27: Cr IN FISH (please specify tissue) 
TABLE HS-28: Cu IN FISH (please specify tissue) 
TABLE HS-29: Hg IN FISH (please specify tissue) 
TABLE HS-30: Pb IN FISH (please specify tissue) 
TABLE HS-31: Zn IN FISH (please specify tissue) 
TABLE HS-32: DDT IN FISH (please specify tissue) (sum DDT+DDE+DDD) 
TABLE HS-33: PAH IN FISH (please specify tissue) 
TABLE HS-34: PCB IN FISH (please specify tissue) 
TABLE HS-35: TBT IN FISH (please specify tissue) 
TABLE HS-36: RADIONUCLIDES IN FISH (please specify tissue) 
TABLE HS-37: DDT IN MAMMAL (sum DDT+DDE+DDD) 
TABLE HS-38: PCB IN MAMMAL 
TABLE HS-39: INPUT Cd entering water system 
TABLE HS-40: INPUT Cr entering water system 
TABLE HS-41: INPUT Cu entering water system 
TABLE HS-42: INPUT Hg entering water system 
TABLE HS-43: INPUT Pb entering water system 
TABLE HS-44: INPUT Zn entering water system 
TABLE HS-45: INPUT DDT entering water system (sum DDT+DDE+DDD) 
TABLE HS-46: INPUT PAH entering water system 
TABLE HS-47: INPUT PCB entering water system 
TABLE HS-48: INPUT TBT entering water system 
TABLE HS-49: Relevant literature/reports/other information on harmful substances 

 39

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Sheet: Oil pollution 
TABLE OP-1: OIL SPILLS on surface 
TABLE OP-2: COASTLINE AFFECTED 
TABLE OP-3: BIRDS AFFECTED  
TABLE OP-4: MAMMALS AFFECTED 
TABLE OP-5: INPUT: OIL AND GAS INDUSTRY (direct)  
TABLE OP-6: INPUT: ACCIDENTS 
TABLE OP-7: INPUT: SHIP DISCHARGES 
TABLE OP-8: INPUT: RIVERINE INPUT  
TABLE OP-9: Relevant literature/reports/other information on oil pollution 

For further information: contact your contact person with the appropriate ETC/MCE 
partner, or: 
Jannette van Buuren/RIKZ 
Anton van Elteren/RIKZ 
Kari Nygaard/NIVA 

On behalf of ETC/MCE: thank you for your cooperation! 

ABBREVIATIONS USED 

BRC 
DDD 
DDE 
DDT 
dw 
EAC 
EU 
HELCOM 
ICES 
MAP 
MEDPOL 

OSPAR  
PAH 
PCB 
PSU 
RIKZ 

TAV 
TBT 
TRV 
ww 

background reference concentration 
dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene 
dichlorodiphenyldichloroethane 
dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane 
dry weight 
OSPAR ecological assessment criteria 
European Union 
Helsinki Commission (Baltic Regional Convention) 
International Council for Exploration of the Sea 
Mediterranean action plan 
Programme for the assessment and control of pollution in the 
Mediterranean region, part of MAP 
Oslo and Paris Convention (Atlantic Regional Convention) 
polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons 
polychlorinated bifenyl 
Practical Salinity Unit 
National Institute for Coastal and Marine Management/RIKZ 
(Netherlands) 
target value 
tributyltin 
threshold value 
wet weight

40 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
COUNTRY :

[country name]

DATA SUPPLIER:
CONTACT PERSON:

[name of institute]

TABLE 1: General characteristics

Average temperature, summer
Average temperature, winter
Salinity
In river mouths : Cl-content
Transparency (summer)
Vertical attenuation coefficient (Kd)
Total suspended matter (summer)
Total river flow contributing to water system (average)

Watershed area:
Geological characteristics:
Water body width :
Water body length:
Water body volume:
Water body depth (mean):
Water body depth (max):
Freshwater input (summer and winter, or annually):
Water exchange turnover time:

WATER SYSTEM:
COORDINATES:
Min depth of sampling stations:
Max depth of sampling stations:

[water system name]
[coordinates]

m
m

DATE:
[date]
(decimal degrees)

Months:
Months:

practical salinity unit

secchi disk depth

o C
o C
psu
µmol/l
m
(unitless)
mg/l
m3/day

km2

km
km
m3
m
m
m3
month

TABLE 2: Biological characteristics

[add more lines if necessary]

Most important habitat types in area:

-………………
-………………
-………………

Examples from the questionnaires about eutrophication: 
COUNTRY: 

WATER SYSTEM: 

(country name) 

(water system name) 

  DATE: 

(date) 

THEME: 
EUTROPHICATION 

TABLE E-1: TOTAL P 
(year-round) 

COORDINATES: 

(coordinates) 

UNIT: 

µmol/l 

 REFERENCE TYPE: 

BRC/ 
TAV/ 
TRV 

1985 

1986  1987 

1988 

1989 

1990 

1991 

1992 

1993  1994 

1995 

1996 

1997 

YEAR 

MAX 

MEDIAN 

MIN 

NUMBER 

REFERENCE 

REFERENCE 

TABLE E-31: Relevant literature/reports/other 
information on eutrophication 
Year 

author(s) 

 title 

  Pub-
lisher 

subtitle

 41

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Appendix C:  The EEA Marinebase —  
User guide 

1. 

Introduction 

The EEA Marinebase is implemented in Microsoft Access 97. It is a pilot version, 
representing a first step in collecting and combining data from various sources into a 
common framework for presentation of data environmental conditions. Emphasis has 
been on harmonising and combining data that come in different formats and have 
different aggregate levels and different sets of supplemental detailed information. The 
result is mainly a data structure, that is, a set of data tables, partly linked to code tables. 
The user interface in terms of queries and forms is only fragmentary, and no reports have 
been defined. More work will be needed to make it into a fully functional database. 
However, some elements are included that can be seen as a starting point. Chapter 2 
describes the basic database structure, with tables and their relationships. Chapter 3 
describes the few elements of the user interface that are currently included. Chapter 4 
describes the data contents of the various sources that have been incorporated into the 
database, and how they have been prepared and transformed for inclusion into common 
tables. Chapter 5 shows examples of excerpt from the database. 

2.  Database structure 

The database consists of the following tables. 
•  Tables with general information and data on input from land: 

t_General_Info  General data on natural conditions (topography, 

freshwater run-off, hyrdographic conditions) 

t_Land_Input  Data on input of pollutants and nutrients from land 

•  Three main data tables, each with data for one medium collected from various data 
sources. These tables have been structured to include the different date sources in a 
common format, and are linked to code tables for components, units, species, tissues, 
and countries. Together these tables contain the bulk of the data. These tables, which 
are described in more detail below in Chapter 0, are: 

tDATA_Biota 
tDATA_Seawater 
tDATA_Sediment 

Data on contaminants in biota 
Data on nutrients and oxygen in seawater 
Data on contaminants in sediment 

•  Code tables for species, tissues, components, units, laboratories and countries. These 

tables are indexed and linked to the main data tables wherever relevant (see 
Tools|Relationships to see which links are implemented). The links preserve 
referential integrity, and makes easy implementation of list-box lookup on data input. 
At least some of the links has cascade updates (e.g. change in a species code in the 
species code table will propagate to all biota records for that species), but cascade 
delete is not implemented. The code tables are: 

tCODE_Country 
tCODE_Convention 

List of country codes and names 
List of international conventions (ICES, MEDPOL) 

42 

  
 
tCODE_Laboratories 

tCODE_Component 

tCODE_Unit 
tCODE_Species 
tCODE_Tissue 

List of laboratories (initial contents from ICES), 
linked to biota table. 
List of elements and chemical compounds 
occurring in the main data tables. 
List of measurement units 
List of species codes used in biota table 
List of tissue codes used in biota data table 

•  A number of ‘external’ data tables, with smaller data sets of various kinds that have not 
been edited to the same extent, and are not linked to other tables. They require more 
work to be built into a more general framework and linked to code tables. The tables 
all have names beginning with txDATA. The tables are described briefly in 0, p. 47. 
•  A table with supplemental information about objects in the database. The table name 

is: 

t_Info_Database_Items 

The following sections describe the most important tables in more detail, and give some 
information about their use in the database. 

2.1.  Main data tables for biota, seawater and sediment 

The database has three main data tables, each of them containing data for one medium 
(biota, seawater, sediment), collected from the various sources. 

2.1.1. Biota (tDATA_Biota) 

This table contains data on contaminants in biota. It has about 700 records from individual 
countries, most of which are aggregates based on values from 2 to 100 samples. The data 
from ICES and MEDPOL, which makes up most of the data volume, were submitted as 
single-analysis data, and have not been aggregated at this stage, since criteria for 
aggregation has not been clarified (size groups, sex, etc.). The submitted data set from 
ICES lacks information about these parameters. 

The biota table consists of the fields listed in the table below. Most of them should be 
described sufficiently in the table (taken from the database). The coordinate format is 
described more extensively in a later section. 

Field# 
0 
1 
2 

Name 
RecordTag 
OwnerCode 
CountryCode 

3 
4 
5 
6 
7 
8 
9 
10 

11 
12 
13 
14 

Area 
Station 
StationAttribute 
LonDir 
LonDeg 
LonMin 
LonSec100 
LonFormat 

LatDir 
LatDeg 
LatMin 
LatSec100 

Type 
Long 
Text 
Text 

Description 
Unique record identification tag — created by database system 
Six-letter code to country or convention providing data 
Three-letter ISO country code: specifies which country the location 
belongs to 
Text 
Area description or code 
Station description or code 
Text 
Additional or alternative description of station or area (Greek data only)  Text 
Text 
Longitude direction (W: West, E: East) 
Byte 
Longitude degrees — integral number (0–180) 
Byte 
Longitude minutes — integral number (0–59) 
Integer 
Longitude hundredths of seconds — integral number (0–5 999) 
Byte 
Digits mn, describes longitude format (m = 0: deg, = 1: deg, min., = 2: 
deg, min., sec) n=num of decimals 
Latitude direction (S: South, N: North) 
Latitude degrees — integral number (0–90) 
Latitude minutes — integral number (0–59) 
Latitude hundredths of seconds — integral number (0–5 999) 

Text 
Byte 
Byte 
Integer 

 43

 
 
 
 
 
Field# 
15 

Name 
LatFormat 

16 
17 
18 
19 

20 

21 
22 
23 

24 
25 
26 
27 

28 
29 

30 

31 

32 

33 

34 

35 

36 

37 
38 
39 
40 
41 
42 
43 

44 
45 

46 
47 
48 
49 
50 

Year 
Month 
Day 
SpeciesCode 

TissueCode 

Component 
Unit 
NumV 

MinV 
MaxV 
MedianV 
DetLimFlag 

ReportingLab 
SampleNumber 

SampleDepth 

NumSpecimens 

LengthAvg 

LengthStd 

WeightAvg 

WeightStd 

Sex 

Age 
OrgMatter 
DryFreshFraction 
SamplingLab 
SamplingFlag 
SamplingValidCheck 
NumAnalyses 

STDAnalyses 
FreshDryFlag 

AnalysisMethod 
Analysisdate 
AnalysingLab 
AnalysisFlag 
AnalysisValidCheck 

Integer 
Byte 
Byte 
Text 

Single 
Single 
Single 
Text 

Text 

Type 
Byte 

Text 
Byte 

Text 
Text 
Byte 

Description 
Digits mn, describes latitude format (m = 0: deg, = 1: deg, min., = 2: 
deg, min., sec) n = num of decimals 
Calendar year when sample was taken — four digits 
Month when sample was taken (1–12) 
Day of month when sample was taken 
Species code — RUBIN code (genus + species) or ‘(mp) XX’, with  
XX = MEDPOL code 
Tissue code — ICES and/or MEDPOL code (obsolete codes references in 
table ’tCODE_Tissue’) 
Component analysed — name of element or chemical component 
Measurement unit 
Number of values ( = samples) in statistical aggregate, = 1 for single 
values 
Minimum value of statistical aggregate 
Maximum value of statistical aggregate 
Median value of statistical aggregate — or single value for numV = 1 
Detection limit flag: = BL if below detection limit (found in medianValue) 
(MEDPOL: Inexact) 
Reporting laboratory — only for ICES data (ICES: rlabo) 
Sample sequence number within station and year/date (MEDPOL 
SamplNo). 
Depth where sample was taken (m) — only for a few Yugoslavian data 
(MEDPOL: SampDepth) 
Number of specimens, if the sample is composite — for one-sample 
records (MEDPOL: NS) 
Average length of specimens (cm) — for one-sample records (MEDPOL: 
LengthAvg) 
Standard deviation of specimen lengths (cm) — for one-sample records 
(MEDPOL:LengtStd) 
Average weight of specimens (g) — for one-sample records 
(MEDPOL:WeightAvg) 
Standard deviation of specimen weights (g) — for one-sample records 
(MEDPOL:WeightStd) 
Sex of specimens in sample:(I = indeterminate, M = male, F = female) 
(MEDPOL: Sex) 
Age (years) (MEDPOL:Age) 
% extractable organic matter (MEDPOL: EOM 
Ratio of dry weight to fresh weight in percentage (MEDPOL: DWFW) 
Sampling institution code — unique within country (MEDPOL:_INSNOS)  Byte 
Text 
Sampling flag put by the data processing (MEDPOL: DPS) 
Text 
Sampling validity check (MEDPOL: ValidityS) 
Byte 
Number of parameter analyses behind reported value — for MEDPOL 
single values (MEDPOL: NA) 
Standard deviation if more than one analysis is made (MEDPOL: Std) 
if fresh/dry weight result (code F = fresh weight, D = dry weight only) 
(MEDPOL: FW) 
Analysis method — only in MEDPOL data (MEDPOL: AnaMethod) 
Analysis date — only in MEDPOL data (MEDPOL: AnalyDate1) 
Analysing institution — unique within country (MEDPOL:_INSNOD) 
Data analysis flag put by the data processing (MEDPOL: DPD) 
Data analysis validity check (MEDPOL: ValidityD) 

Text 
Date 
Byte 
Text 
Text 

Byte 

Text 

Single 

Single 

Single 

Single 

Single 
Single 
Single 

Single 
Text 

Single 

2.1.2. Seawater (tDATA_Seawater) 

The table contains data from ICES, aggregated by ICES on a year/location basis, and data 
from countries, also aggregated where there is a basis for it. In many cases only single 
values are available within year and location, so there are also quite a few records with only 
single values. 

44 

 
The seawater table consists of the fields listed in the table below. Most of them should be 
described sufficiently in the table (taken from the database). The coordinate format is 
described more extensively in a later section. 

Field# 
0 
1 
2 

Name 
RecordTag 
OwnerCode 
CountryCode 

3 
4 
5 
6 
7 
8 
9 
10 
11 
12 
13 
14 

15 
16 
17 
18 
19 

20 
21 

22 
23 
24 
25 
26 
27 
28 

29 
30 
31 
32 
33 

Area 
Station 
StationAttribute 
Sea 
Coastal Area 
Zone_nr 
CoastDistance 
LonDir 
LonDeg 
LonMin 
LonSec100 
LonFormat 

LatDir 
LatDeg 
LatMin 
LatSec100 
LatFormat 

Year 
Season 

Months 
MinDepth 
Depth 
MaxDepth 
Component 
Unit 
NumV 

MinV 
MaxV 
MedianV 
MeanV 
Stdev 

Type 
Integer 
Text 
Text 

Description 
Unique record identification tag — created by database system 
Six-letter code to country or convention providing data 
Three-letter ISO country code: specifies which country the location 
belongs to 
Text 
Area description or code 
Station description or code 
Text 
Additional or alternative description of station or area (Greek data only)  Text 
Text 
Name of sea or ocean (given for Italian data only) 
Text 
Name of coastal area (given for Italian data only) 
Byte 
Zone nr (given for Italian data only) 
Integer 
Distance from coast (m) (given for Italian data only) 
Text 
Longitude direction (W: West, E: East) 
Byte 
Longitude degrees — integral number (0–180) 
Byte 
Longitude minutes — integral number (0–59) 
Integer 
Longitude hundredths of seconds — integral number (0–5 999) 
Byte 
Digits mn, describes longitude format (m = 0: deg, = 1: deg, min., = 2: 
deg, min., sec) n=num of decimals 
Latitude direction (S: South, N: North) 
Latitude degrees — integral number (0–90) 
Latitude minutes — integral number (0–59) 
Latitude hundredths of seconds — integral number (0–5 999) 
Digits MN, describes latitude format (M = 0: deg, = 1: deg, min., = 2: 
deg, min., sec) N = num. of decimals 
Calendar year of sampling 
Season as text: ‘spring’, ‘summer’, ‘autumn’, ‘winter’, ‘unknown’, 
‘year’,‘quarter_n’ 
Month interval as text: ‘mmm_mmm’ 
Minimum sampling depth (m) of statistical aggregate (oxygen only) 
Sampling depth (m) — average for statistical aggregates 
Maximum sampling depth (m) of statistical aggregate (oxygen only) 
Component analysed — name of element or chemical component 
Measurement unit 
Number of values (= samples) in statistical aggregate, = 1 for single 
values 
Minimum value of statistical aggregate 
Maximum value of statistical aggregate 
Median value of statistical aggregate — or single value for numV = 1 
Mean value of statistical aggregate — or single value for numV = 1 
Standard deviation of statistical aggregate — or single value for numV = 
1 

Text 
Integer 
Single 
Integer 
Text 
Text 
Integer 

Text 
Byte 
Byte 
Integer 
Byte 

Single 
Single 
Single 
Single 
Single 

Integer 
Text 

2.1.3. Sediment (tDATA_Sediment) 

This table collects all the information on contaminants in sediment. The data are in 
principle aggregated on date and location, but a lot of the records have only one sample 
behind it. For those records only the median and/or the mean has a value. 

Data from ICES have been aggregated on a date/location/parameter basis (most locations 
have data only for one year, and for one date within year). When doing aggregation, 
standard deviation has been calculated only if there are at least three values behind the 

 45

 
 
 
 
 
 
aggregate, and if less than a third of the smallest values are equal or given as less than 
detection limit. 

Median is equal to value no. k+1 if n = 2k+1, or mean of value k and k+1 if n = 2k, in a 
sorted sequence of valid values, including below-detection limit values. 

The sediment table consists of the fields listed in the table below. Most of them should be 
described sufficiently in the table (taken from the database). The coordinate format is 
described more extensively in a later section. 

Field# 
0 
1 
2 

Name 
RecordTag 
OwnerCode 
CountryCode 

3 
4 
5 
6 
7 
8 
9 
10 

11 
12 
13 
14 
15 

16 
17 
18 
19 
20 
21 

22 
23 
24 
25 
26 

27 

28 

29 

30 
31 
32 

33 

34 
35 

Area 
Station 
StationAttribute 
LonDir 
LonDeg 
LonMin 
LonSec100 
LonFormat 

LatDir 
LatDeg 
LatMin 
LatSec100 
LatFormat 

Year 
Month 
Day 
Component 
Unit 
NumV 

MinV 
MaxV 
MedianV 
MeanV 
Stdev 

DetLimFlag 

 % belowLimit 

SampleNumber 

BottomDepth 
Sampler 
SedDepthFrom 

SedDepthTo 

GrainsizeAvg 
Fraction 

Type 
Integer 
Text 
Text 

Text 
Byte 
Byte 
Integer 
Byte 

Description 
Unique record identification tag — created by database system 
Six-letter code to country or convention providing data 
Three-letter ISO country code: specifies which country the location 
belongs to 
Text 
Area description or code 
Station description or code 
Text 
Additional or alternative description of station or area (Greek data only)  Text 
Text 
Longitude direction (W: West, E: East) 
Byte 
Longitude degrees — integral number (0–180) 
Byte 
Longitude minutes — integral number (0–59) 
Integer 
Longitude hundredths of seconds — integral number (0–5 999) 
Byte 
Digits mn, describes longitude format (m = 0: deg, = 1: deg, min., = 2: 
deg, min., sec) n = num of decimals 
Latitude direction (S: South, N: North) 
Latitude degrees — integral number (0–90) 
Latitude minutes — integral number (0–59) 
Latitude hundredths of seconds — integral number (0–5 999) 
Digits mn, describes latitude format (m = 0: deg, = 1: deg, min., = 2: 
deg, min., sec) n = num of decimals 
Calendar year when sample was taken — four digits 
Month when sample was taken (1–12) 
Day of month when sample was taken 
Component analysed — name of element or chemical component 
Measurement unit 
Number of values (= samples) in statistical aggregate, = 1 for single 
values 
Minimum value of statistical aggregate 
Maximum value of statistical aggregate 
Median value of statistical aggregate — or single value for numV = 1 
Mean value of statistical aggregate — or single value for numV = 1 
Standard deviation of statistical aggregate — or single value for numV = 
1 
Detection limit flag: =‘BL’ if below detection limit (found in medianValue) 
(MEDPOL: Inexact) 
% of values in statistical aggregate that is flagged as ’below detection 
limit’ 
Sample sequence number within station and year/date (MEDPOL 
SamplNo). 
Bottom depth at sampled site (m) (MEDPOL: SampDepth) 
Sampling equipment used 
Top of analysed sediment layer — depth below sediment surface (cm) 
(MEDPOL: InterFrom) 
Bottom of analysed sediment layer — depth below sediment surface 
(cm) (MEDPOL: InterTo) 
Average grain size (MEDPOL: GrainsAvg) 
Size fraction analysed 

Integer 
Byte 
Byte 
Text 
Text 
Byte 

Single 
Single 
Single 
Single 
Single 

Single 
Text 
Byte 

Single 
Integer 

Single 

Byte 

Byte 

Text 

46 

 
 
 
Field# 
36 

Name 
FractionInexact 

37 
38 
39 
40 
41 

42 
43 
44 
45 
46 
47 
48 

DryWet_Ratio 
SamplingLab 
SamplingFlag 
SamplingValidCheck 
NumAnalyses 

STDAnalyses 
DryWetFlag 
AnalysisMethod 
Analysisdate 
AnalysingLab 
AnalysisFlag 
AnalysisValidCheck 

Single 

Type 
Text 

Description 
If fraction is inexact, GT = greater or LT = less should be entered 
(MEDPOL: FrInexact) 
Ratio of dry weight to wet weight in percentage (MEDPOL: DWWW) 
Sampling institution code — unique within country (MEDPOL:_INSNOS)  Byte 
Text 
Sampling flag put by the data processing (MEDPOL: DPS) 
Byte 
Sampling validity check (MEDPOL: ValidityS) 
Byte 
Number of parameter analyses behind reported value — for MEDPOL 
single values (MEDPOL: NA) 
Standard deviation if more than one analysis is made (MEDPOL: STD) 
if wet/dry weight result (code W = wet weight, D = dry weight only) 
Analysis method — only in MEDPOL data (MEDPOL: AnaMethod) 
Analysis date — only in MEDPOL data (MEDPOL: AnalyDate1) 
Analysing institution — unique within country (MEDPOL:_INSNOD) 
Data analysis flag put by the data processing (MEDPOL: DPD) 
Data analysis validity check (MEDPOL: ValidityD) 

Single 
Text 
Text 
Date 
Byte 
Text 
Text 

2.2. 

‘External’ data tables 

The database contains a number of ‘external’ data tables, with smaller datasets of various 
kinds that have not been edited to the same extent, and are not linked to other tables. 
They require more work to be built into a more general framework with links to code 
tables. The tables all have names beginning with txDATA, and with data source (Countries, 
MEDPOL) and data content indicated in the final part of the name. The tables are: 
txDATA_COUNTRIES_Algae 

220 records of data from various countries on algal blooms and toxic 
algae, with cell counts, Diatom/Flagellate ratios and area/intensity 
data. 
txDATA_COUNTRIES_Seaweed&Seagrass 

41 records on seaweed (maxdepth) and seagrass (area coverage) from 
Denmark and the Netherlands 

txDATA_COUNTRIES_OiledBirds 

txDATA_COUNTRIES_Miscellaneous 

42 records from Germany on % oiled of stranded birds. 

273 records of various types of observations from water: Transparency 
and Secchi depth (104 records), Oil spills and accidents, oil layer and 
tar residue (54 records), radiation (108 records), ship discharges (7 
records). 

txDATA_COUNTRIES_SuspendedMatter 

42 records, mainly from the Netherlands, of PCB and PAH content in 
suspended matter. 
txDATA_MEDPOL_SuspendedMatter 

1 048 records of contaminant levels in suspended matter from ex-
Yugoslavia for the years 1983–90. 

txDATA_MEDPOL_Plankton 

410 records of contaminant levels in plankton, from ex-Yugoslavia, 
Greece and France 

 47

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
2.3.  Geographical information in data tables 

2.3.1. Geographical coordinate format 

The main data tables share a common format for geographical longitude and latitude. The 
various data sources have different formats for coordinates (described in more detail in 
Chapter 4): 
―  degrees with decimal fraction of up to 4 to 5 decimals; 
― 

integral number of degrees and minutes, often with decimal fraction as 
hundredths of minutes; 

―  degrees, minutes and seconds (in some cases with decimal fraction of 

seconds). 

Although the coordinates may not be significant to the given resolution, it can still be 
important to store accurate representations of the coordinate positions listed in the data 
sources. Both to discriminate clearly between locations, and to make them as recognisable 
as possible in relation to original tables and reports. 

To achieve this a format has been chosen that can represent the different forms accurately. 
Coordinates are stored with texts and integer numbers only, to achieve safe record 
relations through index keys, avoiding floating point keys that could be susceptible to 
undetected rounding errors (e.g. dependent on floating point format chosen in forms and 
queries, or how formulas are written). 

The coordinates format stored in the records of data tables tDATA_Biota, tDATA_Seawater and 
tDATA_Sediment is: 

Name 

Access Type 

Range of values 

Size 
(bytes) 
1 
1 
1 
2 
1 

XxxDir 
XxxDeg 
XxxMin 
XxxSec100 
XxxFormat 

Text 
Byte 
Byte 
Integer 
Byte 
m: specifies number of items in coordinate specification, 
n:  number of decimals: 

N or S for latitude, E or W for longitude 
(0–90) or (0–180): degrees 
0–59: minutes 
0–5 999 (= 100*seconds or 60*hundredths of minutes) 
mn: two-digit numeric code for coordinate precision 

0: degrees, entered with n decimals (0,…,5) 
1: degrees, minutes, n = number of decimals in minutes (0,…,4) 
2: degrees, minutes, seconds, n=number of decimals in seconds 
(0,…,2) 

There are two such sets of fields, with xxx = lon for longitude and xxx = lat for latitude. 
The format requires 6 bytes for each direction, and can represent decimal fractions down 
to either 100ths of seconds (<0.3 m), three-digit fraction of minutes (<2 m), or, within 
truncating error, five-digit decimal fraction of minutes (<1 m). The xxxFormat field can 
store information about the precise string format of entered coordinates, and regenerate it 
in output. Suitable editing forms can easily be supplied, with automatic transforms to and 
from the stored format. 

48 

 
 
 
 
 
 
Fields xxxMin, xxxSec100 should be set to zero if they carry no information (e.g.: Format 
mn = 10 will have sec100 = 0 and not blank). This makes it easy to derive numerical 
representation as degrees with decimal fraction for use in geographical maps, by the 
formula: 

xxx = DirSign(xxxDir)*(xxxDeg + (xxxMin+xxxSec100/6000)/60) 

where DirSign is a function in the module CoordinateFunctions which is included in the 
database, with values: 

+1 for xxxDir=’N’ or ‘E’ 
—1 for xxxDir=’S’ or ‘W’. 

The complete formula is available as a Double Function in the same module: 

DecimalDegrees(xxxDir, xxxDeg, xxxMin, xxxSec100) 

The xxxFormat fields could probably be replaced by a common field for longitude and 
latitude, but separate fields may be easier to handle in a user interface. 
The coordinates could be more efficiently stored in the database as one long integer (4 
bytes) with unique value Coordinate = 
DirSign*((((Deg*60+Min)*60)*100+Sec100)*30+mn (Extremal values: ± 1 944 000 022, 
just within the range of long integers). The selected storage form is, however, closer to the 
primary representation for most coordinates, and less dependent on complex 
transformation algorithms. 

The tables are indexed on the coordinates, using two index fields longitude and latitude, 
each composed of the 

2.3.2. Area and station description 

In addition to the coordinate positions given for most data, most of the data sources 
contain fields describing stations and locations by text items, with codes or geographical 
description. For a lot of locations no additional information is given. The contents and 
structure of text items is quite heterogeneous. Different data sets have different subsets of 
the following text items: 
Area, Station, Attrib (= Station Attribute), Sea, Coastal Area, CoastalZone. 

The use of the different text items also varies between data sets, some when the data sets 
are merged, each field will contain a mix of long general text descriptions and short 
specific codes. It has not been considered proper to force the descriptions into a common 
set of items without more knowledge about what lies behind the codes and texts as a basis 
for framework-working all the data into one standard. 

2.4.  General features 

2.4.1. Sort order 

The database has been set to General Sort Order. To change do the following: 

1.  Select Tools|Options from the main menu 
2.  On the ‘General’ tab; go to the combo box ‘New Database Order’ 

and select wanted language 

3.  Close the dialog box and select from the main menu: 

Tool|Database Utilities|Compact Database 

 49

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
2.4.2. Record Auto-numbering 

All tables tCODE... and tDATA... are assigned a unique record tag, using the autonumber 
feature in Access. New records will be assigned unique numbers automatically by 
incrementing by 1 the maximum number previously used within the table. The record tags 
serve only as a persistent identification of the records within the table, and have no 
function in linking records in different tables. The purpose is to make bulk corrections to 
imported data sets easier and safer, in particular if several institutions are involved. For 
instance, if a need to revise a certain subset of the records is discovered, that subset can be 
exported by a make-table query with the record tags numbers intact. The revisions can be 
then done outside the database, possibly by another institution. The revised information 
can later be entered into the database by update queries, using the record number as link 
field. It should still be checked that other keys (coordinates, year, component, etc.) 
matches as well. Although it is still necessary to proceed with caution when doing such 
bulk updates, the record auto-numbers may provide a safeguard mechanism for linking 
correctly. 

2.5.  Code tables 

The database contains a number of code and reference tables for species, tissues, 
components, units, laboratories and countries. These tables are indexed and linked to the 
main data tables wherever relevant (See Tools|Relationships to see which links are 
implemented). The links preserve referential integrity, and makes easy implementation of 
list-box lookup on data input. 

2.5.1. Components and units 

The component and unit text strings used in the main data tables have been harmonised 
and collected in code tables tCODE_Component and tCODE_Unit. The main data tables 
for biota, seawater and sediment are all linked to the component table with referential 
integrity and cascade update. Changes made to component codes in the component list 
will therefore be propagated to the data records. 

The unit list is merely a collection of codes used in the three tables. It is linked to the three 
main data tables. It may be the basis for implementing a system for recalculation of values 
to common units in queries for reports, in cases where units vary through the data table 
(e.g. oxygen, which is found as µmol, mg/l and ml/l). 

2.5.2. Species codes (tCODE_Species) 

Species codes are used both in the ICES and the MEDPOL data sets on contaminants in biota. 
ICES uses the RUBIN code, an eight-letter code which is an abbreviation of the systematic 
name, normally with four letters from the genus part and three letters from the species 
part of the name. The ICES species list also lists English and French names and references 
to RUBIN List and Taxon (Fish/Invertebrates). 

MEDPOL uses a code with two or three letters, normally the first letter of genus and 
species part of the systematic name. 

The EEA coastal database uses the ICES codes all species where they are defined. For 
species only referred to in the MEDPOL data, the species code has been set to ‘(mp) 

50 

 
 
 
XXX’, where XXX is the original MEDPOL two or three-letter code. The species code list 
is found in the table 

tCODE_Species 

This table lists the species code used in the database, together with Latin systematic name, 
English and/or French name. The list has been constructed by merging and harmonising 
the two species lists from ICES and MEDPOL. The table also contains fields that document 
all the codes and names used in the two sources. For a few species the English names used 
by ICES and MEDPOL differ, in those cases the MEDPOL name are listed in the field 
EnglishName, and the ICES name is listed in the field ICES_Special_Name. There is also a 
field with MEDPOL size limit specifications wherever they occur, with information 
extracted from the MEDPOL English description field. 

An Access form f_Species is available for inspecting and editing the species list. 
The species code table links to the data table on contaminants in biota (tData_Biota) 
through the field SpeciesCode. The link is defined with enforced referential integrity and 
cascade update. 

Referential integrity means that all data records must be linked to a record in the species 
code table. Before a species code can be used in data records, it must be present in species 
code table. If not, an error message appears (use the Escape key to get out of the error 
sitation). 

For most of the biota data reported directly from countries (owner = country code), 
species is not listed. Instead the data are merely classified broadly into ‘Fish’ or ‘Mussel’. 
These records contain preliminary general codes *fish* or *mussel* in the species code 
field of the data table. These codes are also listed in the tCOD_Species table to provide 
linking to the species code table. If correct codes are later established for such data 
records, and the codes are already in the code tables, the data records can be edited, and 
will then change their link to the relevant record in the species code table. if not, the 
codes must first be entered into new records in the species code table. 

Cascade update means that changing a species code in the table tCODE_Species 
automatically will make corresponding changes in data records linked to that 
tCODE_Species record, thus preserving relations between records. This can be used for 
species with the preliminary species code of the form ’(mp) XXX’ where XX is the 2-letter 
MEDPOL code. By replacing them with the RUBIN code (genus+species) in the 
tCODE_Species table, the data records in tDATA_Biota will be automatically updated with 
the new codes. 

2.5.3. Tissue codes (tCODE_Tissue) 

Two-letter tissue codes are used by both ICES and MEDPOL in data on contaminants in 
biota. The two tissue code lists have been compared and merged into a common list. 
Tissue codes are for the most part used as given in the data sources, but some 
harmonisation was necessary to differences between the two code systems. For data coming 
directly from the different countries tissue was described directly as ‘muscle’, ‘liver’ or 
‘flesh’. The assumedly correct tissue codes have been used for these data. The following 
points should be noted: 

 51

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
―  In data on fish tissue, ICES data distinguish between MU (muscle) and TM (tail 

muscle), while MEDPOL has the classification FI (fillet), BM (brown muscle) and WM 
(white muscle). The original classification from both sources has been preserved, as 
there is no conflicting use of codes. Extraction of all muscle data together can be 
achieved by applying the search criterion ‘MU’ or ’?M’ on tissue code. 

―  The MEDPOL tissue code WH (whole body) has been identified with the ICES code 

WO (whole organism) and the ICES terminology and code chosen. 
―  For kidney the ICES code (KI) has been chosen (MEDPOL uses KD). 
―  The Greek data for tissue ‘flesh’ has been identified with the ICES code MU 

(‘muscle’). 

―  The MEDPOL code SO (soft part...) has been identified with ICES code SB (whole 
soft-body). In the database, the ICES code is used, together with the English and 
French names from MEDPOL. 

―  The Dutch mussel data, with tissue given as ‘Dry tissue’ have been stored with tissue 
code SB (Soft Body), the unit is explicitly given as concentration per dry weight. 

―  For GI (Gill) and OV (Ovaries) the codes are the same, but the names slightly 

different; the ICES English name has been chosen. 

―  MEDPOL French names are used for all tissues defined in the MEDPOL data, even if 

the ICES English names have been chosen. 

The tissue codes used in the EEA coastal database are defined in the table tCODE_Tissue. 
The table contains fields that describe the tissue, and documents all differences and 
changes listed above. The tissue code table links to the data table on contaminants in biota 
(tData_Biota) through the field TissueCode. The link is defined with enforced referential 
integrity and cascade update. 
Referential integrity means that all data records must be linked to a record in the tissue 
code table. Before a tissue code can be used in data records, it must be present in the 
relevant code table. If not, an error message appears (use the escape key to get out of the 
error situation). 

For some records in the biota data table, tissue is not currently given. These data records 
contain a preliminary code ‘—’ for ‘tissue unspecified’. If correct codes are established for 
such records, and the codes are already in the tissue code table, the data records can be 
edited, and will then change their relations to the code tables. If not, the codes must first 
be entered into new records in the tissue code tables. 

Cascade update means that changing a code in the tissue code table automatically will 
make corresponding changes in data records linked to that tCODE_Tissue record, 
preserving relations between records. 

2.5.4. Country codes and names (tCODE_Country) 

Country codes are used in the database both as geographic information about stations and 
coordinate positions (Field: CountryCode in data tables), and as information on the how 
data sets have been submitted to the database (Field: Owner = convention or country 
name). 

52 

 
 
 
The different conventions (ICES, MEDPOL) use different sets of country codes. ICES uses 
a two-letter letter code (as file extension) and the IOC (1) alphanumeric country codes. 
The MEDPOL database refers to countries by three-letter country codes. There is also an 
international standard — ISO 3166. The codes used by ICES and MEDPOL partly follow 
the ISO 3166 standard, but there are some differences, and some of the codes used by 
ICES and MEDPOL may be in conflict with the ISO standard for other countries. 

In the EEA coastal database it has been chosen to refer to countries by the 3-letter codes in 
the ISO 3166-1 standard. These codes are used both to indicate geographic location of 
stations, and as information about ‘owner’ of data that comes directly from the countries 
involved. Data that come from ICES or MEDPOL has the organisation or convention 
acronym as owner and a relevant country code as geographic information. 

A table tCODE_Country lists codes with full country names, and also with fields containing 
codes used by ICES or MEDPOL. The ICES and MEDPOL codes are not used elsewhere in 
the database, but are only included in the country list table as a reference to original data 
sources and possibly for use in extracts and reports. Preferably, the full name should be 
used in reports in addition to codes, and if the ICES/MEDPOL codes are used, they 
should be qualified in report headings. The table below shows the content of the table 
tCODE_Country in the database. Field names are given in brackets. 

Country name 

Albania 
Belgium 
Cyprus 
Germany 
Denmark 
Algeria 
Egypt 
Spain 
Estonia 
Finland 
France 
United Kingdom 
Greece 
Ireland 
Iceland 
Israel 
Italy 
Lebanon 
Lithuania 
Latvia 
Morocco 
Malta 
Netherlands 
Norway 
Poland 
Portugal 
Russia 
Sweden 

ISO 3166-1 
Three-letter 
codes 
(ISO code) 
ALB 
BEL 
CYP 
DEU 
DNK 
DZA 
EGY 
ESP 
EST 
FIN 
FRA 
GBR 
GRC 
IRL 
ISL 
ISR 
ITA 
LBN 
LTU 
LVA 
MAR 
MLT 
NLD 
NOR 
POL 
PRT 
RUS 
SWE 

ISO 3166-1  
Two-letter 
codes 
(ISOA2) 
AL 
BE 
CY 
DE 
DK 
DZ 
EG 
ES 
EE 
FI 
FR 
GB 
GR 
IE 
IS 
IL 
IT 
LB 
LT 
LV 
MA 
MT 
NL 
NO 
PL 
PT 
RU 
SE 

ISO 3166-1 
Country 
number 
(ISONum) 
8 
56 
196 
276 
208 
12 
818 
724 
233 
246 
250 
826 
300 
372 
352 
376 
380 
422 
440 
428 
504 
470 
528 
578 
616 
620 
643 
752 

ICES file 
extension 
(ICESExtn) 

IOC code 

MEDPOL code

(IOC) 

(MEDPOL) 

BE 

GE 
DK 

SP 
ES 
FI 
FR 
UK 

IR 
IC 

LT 
LA 

NE 
NO 
PL 
PR 
RU 
SW 

ALB 

CYP 

ALG 
EGY 
SPA 

FRA 

GRE 

ISR 
ITA 
LEB 

MOR 
MAT 

11 

07 
26 

29 
ES 
34 
35 
74 

45 
46 

LT 
LA 

64 
58 
67 
68 
RU 
77 

(1) 

Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (Unesco). List according to ICES. 

 53

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                                                   
Country name 

Syria 
Tunisia 
Turkey 
Ex-Yugoslavia 

ISO 3166-1 
Three-letter 
codes 
(ISO code) 
SYR 
TUN 
TUR 
YUG 

ISO 3166-1  
Two-letter 
codes 
(ISOA2) 
SY 
TN 
TR 
YU 

ISO 3166-1 
Country 
number 
(ISONum) 
760 
788 
792 
891 

ICES file 
extension 
(ICESExtn) 

IOC code 

MEDPOL code

(IOC) 

(MEDPOL) 

SYR 
TUN 
TUR 
EX-YUG 

2.5.5. Data owner (data source) 

(tCODE_Convention, qCODE_DataOwner) 
Records in the three main data tables are linked to data owner in the fields OwnerCode, 
which can be either a country code or the acronym of a convention (ICES, MEDPOL). 
The two categories of data owners are kept in separate tables tCODE_Country (described 
above) and tCODE_Convention. They are combined by a union query 
qCODE_DataOwner into an owner list for linking with the data tables. The owner list 
could be linked to the Laboratory list for more detailed information, contact persons, 
addresses, etc. of the institutions that represent the various data owners, but this remains 
to be done. 

2.5.6. Laboratories (tCODE_Laboratories) 

The ICES biota and sediment data contained a field rlabo with reporting laboratory. This 
information has been used to assign country code to these data, through the ICES 
laboratory list that is available on the ICES web site. The field rlabo has been kept in the 
biota data table (Field name ReportingLab) where individual records have not been 
aggregated. 

The list of laboratories from ICES, with names, addresses, etc. have been edited and is 
included in the database as table tCODE_Laboratories. Previously used codes are kept in 
this list in separate records, with reference to currently valid records. 

The MEDPOL data have fields with numeric institution codes for analysing and sampling 
institution. The codes are not unique across countries, and there is no detail information 
about laboratories. The MEDPOL institution codes have been preserved in the biota and 
sediment data tables, and could in the future be linked to information in the laboratory 
list. 

The data from separate countries have no laboratory or institution information, but 
institutions responsible for submitting data could be included in a list with reference to the 
data. 

54 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
2.6.  Supplemental information tables 

2.6.1. ISO country list 

A table tREF_ISO_Country_Codes contains the complete list of countries in the ISO 
standard, with two and three-letter codes. This is included only as background 
information, and not referred to from other objects in the database. 

More information about the International Standard ISO 3166-1 ‘Codes for the 
representation of names of countries and their subdivisions — Part 1: Country codes’ is 
available at the web site of the responsible Maintenance Agency in Berlin (2) at URL: 

http://www.din.de/gremien/nas/ 

A complete and ISO-authorised list of country names and the corresponding ISO 3166-1 
Alpha-2 code elements — the ISO country code used in the Internet — is found on their 
page: 

http://www.din.de/gremien/nas/nabd/iso3166ma/index.html. 

A list of country names, alpha-3 and numeric country codes is published with permission of 
the ISO-3166-1 Maintenance Agency by the United Nations Statistics Division at URL: 

http://www.un.org/Depts/unsd/methods/m49alpha.html. 

3.  Elements of the user interface 

The database contains a few queries and forms: 
Queries: 

qCODE_DataOwner 

qCODE_Laboratories 

Forms: 

f_Species 
f_Country 

f_Laboratories 

Database Information 

f_Aggregate_From_Table 

This combines the two tables tCODE_Convention 
and tCODE_Country into a common list linked to the 
OwnerCODE field in the data tables. 
This is the basis for report Laboratories 

A form for inspecting and editing the species code list 
A form for inspecting and editing the country list 
tCODE_Country 
A form for inspecting of editing in the laboratories 
list. 
A form for viewing and editing the table 
t_Info_Database_Items with comments to database 
objects. 
A form that is not linked to data, but which contains a 
mechanism for aggregating to specified level for a 
selected table with aggregates being written to a new 
table. The form could be used to aggregate biota data 
that are not already aggregates. (Build a query that 
selects single values as basis for aggregating, and 
select field MedianV as statistics field. Be sure to 
include location, time at some level + component and 
unit as group fields.) 

(2)  DIN Deutsches Institut für Normung e. V., ISO 3166/MA, D-10772 BERLIN. 

 55

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                                                   
 
fSub_CoordinateFormat 

A demo of a small form that can be used as a subform 
in a form for editing and inspecting geographical 
coordinates in a user-controlled format. The code in 
the class module is not quite complete for making it 
fully functional versus actual data operated on by a 
form. It is included only to show how an adaptable 
coordinate interface can be designed. 

Reports: 

r_Laboratories 

Produces a table of laboratories 

Modules: 

CoordinateFunctions 

4.  Data sources 

Implements functions for handling the described 
coordinate format. Details will be given in the code of 
the module. 

Data have been collected and incorporated in the database from various sources as shown 
in the table below: 

Nutr.  Contaminants 
Water   Sed.   Biota 

Susp. 
matter 
X 

MEDPOL 

ICES 
Denmark 

Finland 
France 

Germany 

Greece 

Italy 
Ireland 
Netherlands 

Norway 
Sweden 

X 

X 
X 

X 
X 

X 

X 

X  
X 

X 
X 

X 

X 

X 

X 

X 

X 
X 

X 

X 

mussels 

fish liver, 
mussels 
fish, 
mussels 

fish muscle 
and liver 

X 

fish, mussel  X 

Comments: 

plankton in separate tables: Greece and Yugoslavia, 
contains conc. of halogeners and metals 

+ seaweeds_maxdepth, seagrass_maxdepth (medium = 
blank) 

in water: algal blooms unit: (km2/yr/number/number 106/l) 
Toxic algae counts, Phaeocystis sp. counts 
diatom/flagellate ratio 

algal bloom cell counts (unspecified) 

oil layer, tar residue, algae, water transport (m) 

Seagrasses (ha), suspended matter as medium, in water: 
Phaeocystis sp. cell count, toxic algae with species, 
radiation 

The various data are described briefly in the following pages. 

4.1. 

ICES data 

4.1.1. Biota 

The submitted data table contains 62 246 single analysis contaminant records. 
Date is specified for all data, with two-digit year, month and day in separate columns, and 
with the same information also in Access date/time format. Year is also given as four-digit 

56 

 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
year in separate column. For 131 records with date 31 December 1984 or 1994, the four-
digit year is the calendar year, while the two-digit year = next year. 

There are 11 760 different combinations of date, coordinates, genus+species+tissue, and 
parameter. Of these 6 592 occur with multiple records (replicate samples), and the rest 
consist of a single sample. Among the 2 626 of the combinations with 5 or more replicates, 
there are 127 where more than 50 % of the records show identical values, and in 37 of 
these cases all records (5–25) give identical values. For such cases it is obviously the 
detection limit that is being reported for most of the records, with the true mean well 
below detection limit. Since only values are given, and no flags or qualifications are 
specified, the calculated statistics mean and median will tend to be upper limits (3). 

There are 8 228 different combinations of year, coordinates, genus+species+tissue and 
parameter. 10 more if separated by reporting laboratory. Primary data are not identified by 
sample or specimen number in the data file. 

4.1.2. Sediments 

The data file contains 6 470 records, with 2 856 different combinations of year, location 
and parameter. They cover 458 different locations, most of them for only a single year 
(date). There are 528 combinations of locations and year, and only 15 of these have data 
from more than one date within a year. A total of 34 different combinations of year, 
location and parameter, listed in the submitted data tables with 121 records, have no 
observation values — all records have blank concentration value. These are not included 
in the final ETC database. 

Only parameter name is specified, unit is not stated. The values are assumed to be weight 
fraction, and multiplied by 106 to get unit ppm. Dry weight or wet weight basis is not 
specified 

The data are aggregated to date/location/parameter before inclusion in the database. 
Standard deviation is listed only if there are at least three values behind the aggregate, and 
if the minimum value occurs in at most a third of the records. 

4.1.3. SeaWater 

The ICES data within the 20 km zone consists of 19 710 records. The records are given as 
aggregate statistics on a yearly basis, with n (= number of values), mean, st.dev., min., 
median, max. There are 7 439 real aggregates with n>1 (from 2 to 49). The other records 
have n = 1, and are thus based on only one value — for these records stdev is given as 0, 
will be corrected to missing. One large group of records have only median specified, and 
number of values are not given. 

Year (=Calendar year?) is specified for all data. Month (from_to as text ‘n_m’) and/or 
Quarter (1,…,4) are given for some records as additional information, but there are no 
cases of multiple records per year, location and parameter. Year is unique key — month 

(3)  Detection limit flag ought to have been included in the data. A column indicating the degree of uniformity could 
be  included  in  the  database  and  together  with  the  number  of  values  behind  each  aggregate  will  tell  something 
about the resolution of the data. 

 57

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                                                   
and quarter is just optional information. For oxygen, sampling depth is specified with 
min., mean and max. 

4.1.4. Geographical information and coordinate format in ICES data 

Geographical location is given only by coordinates in the ICES data, no stations codes are 
specified. Countries have been inferred by field rlabo (reporting laboratory) using the list 
of laboratories available on the ICES web site. 
•  Water: Latitude and longitude as decimal numbers, degrees with fractional 

part + square size (20 x 20k). Negative sign of longitude for western coordinates. The 
fractional part resolves into whole minutes — so seconds is not specified. 

•  Biota: Coordinates given as latitude and longitude, with degrees, minutes, and whole 

100-part of minutes + E/W letter. Coordinate format: 7 

•  Sediment: Latitude and longitude are given in degrees, minutes and whole 100-parts of 

minutes + letter E-W for east/west longitude. Coordinate format: 7 

4.2.  MEDPOL 

The MEDPOL has submitted data only on metals and halogeners. For seawater there are 
only data on metals. These have not been included in the database. Tables for codes on 
country, matrix, parameter, species and tissue were also included. 

4.2.1. Contaminants in biota 

Biota data from location within the European 20-km coastal zone makes up 33 945 
records. Locations are identified by coordinates, area and/or station. All three sets of 
information are necessary to distinguish between locations. A large part of the data are for 
individual specimens, the rest is composite samples, with number of specimens given. The 
records contain information about specimen size (length, weight) and age, and in some 
cases sex. For a portion of the records the reported value is based on more than one 
analysis of the same sample (number of analyses in column NA), in those cases the analysis 
standard deviation is also given. A number of records have flag for ‘Below limit of 
detection’, with the detection limit as reported value (4). Basis (Fresh/Dry) is given in a 
Field FW. 

4.2.2. Sediment 

Sediment data has 3 925 records, all different combinations of locations, years and 
parameter/unit. Some records have >1 analysis, with analysis st.dev, and a number of 
records have flag for ‘Below limit of detection’. The data contains information about 
sediment depth interval, sampling method, fraction measured (with LT/GT-flag), and 
water content. Basis (Fresh/Wet) is given in a Field WW. There are no cases of multiple 
records within location and year, so aggregation is not an issue for these data. 

The sediment data tables contain a few records where no parameter has been specified 
(and where no value is given). The records are shown below: For two stations in the 
Yugoslavian data from MEDPOL (Area YU14, Station 10E and Area YU13, Station 8E), 
coordinates are missing. The MEDPOL data include three records containing no 
information on contaminants, these have been deleted. The records are: 

(4)  Changed from negative value. 

58 

 
                                                   
Owner 

Country
Code 

tribute 

Area 

Station  StationAt

LonDir  LonDeg 

lonMin lonSec

latDir 

latDeg  latMin 

latSec1
00 

Year 

MEDPOL  EX-YUG  YU11  3 
MEDPOL  EX-YUG  YU14  9 
MEDPOL  EX-YUG  YU13  7 

E 
E 
E 

18 
19 
19 

41 
17 
5 

N 
N 
N 

42 
41 
42 

25 
53 
6 

1986 
2 400  1986 
4 200  1986 

100 

0 
0 

For halocarbons in suspended matter there is a single record from Turkey, Station STA1, 
sample date 96.01.01, containing no data value, and with no parameter code specified. 

4.2.3. Date and time in MEDPOL data 

All MEDPOL data have full sampling date in Access date/time format and as a text item. 

Analysis date given as additional information, also for all data in duplicate format: as 
Access date/time format and as text. For a lot of data analysis date = sampling date. Year is 
also given in a separate column in the MEDPOL data. In most records this year is equal to 
the sampling date, but there are a number of records with a difference of 1 or –1, and a 
few records with larger differences. In the biota tables there are records where the year 
column gives a year 6 or 7 years after the sample date. In a majority of the records were 
year is given as sample year-1, the sample date is in January or April. In a majority of cases 
where the year is given as sample year+1 the sample is from months July to December. 
There are quite a few exceptions to this pattern, however. In any case the differences do 
no appear to be due to a consistent use of a non-calendar year for aggregating data. The 
Year column from MEDPOL is kept in a separate column labelled 
MEDPOL_YEAR_COLUMN in addition to the year derived from date. This column is 
blank for data from other sources and is only kept for reference to the original data 
source. 

4.2.4. Geographical information and coordinate format in MEDPOL data 

Country, area and station specified (for all data?). The same station may have different sets 
of coordinates for different records, even for same type of data. Some stations have data 
for more than one type of data (biota, sediments, plankton, suspended matter and 
seawater). 

The data tables contain Latitude and longitude in degrees, minutes, seconds, with a 
column containing a letter for direction (N|S, E|W) (fields xxxxDEGR, xxxxMINU, 
xxxxSEC, xxxSITU, with xxxx=LATI and LONG, respectively). In a large part of the 
records, however, seconds have not been specified (missing value code -9). 

4.3.  Data from individual countries 

The data tables from most of the countries contain data from more than one medium 
(seawater, sediment, biota). Data are specified according to medium, species, tissue and 
component in slightly different ways. 

 59

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Biota samples only specified broadly (mussel, fish), mostly no species are given. Tissue is 
unspecified, or specified as dry tissue (mussel), liver or muscle for fish. Values are given 
mostly as aggregates, with number, min., max. and median (in some cases number=1). 
Data from individual countries have mostly been reported as aggregates. The exception is 
Irish data from Dublin bay, which are reported as single values only. For this data set there 
is only one case where more than one value belong to the same station within one year, 
and then there are only two values. The number of values behind each real aggregate 
value varies from more than 1 000 down to only 2 values. Min., max. and median are most 
commonly reported, in some cases arithmetic mean is given instead of median, and in a 
few cases both are given. 

For ‘pseudo-aggregates’ based on only one value reporting practice varies: in most cases 
the value is reported as median, and in other cases as mean value, seldom as both. For 
some such cases the value is also listed in the min.and max. column. There are some 
records that obviously represent real aggregates, since min.<median<max., but where the 
number of values is not specified. Standard deviation is only listed for some of the 
Norwegian data. 

Data for mussels from France seem to be listed with wrong unit specified, as the table 
below indicates. It has been assumed that the correct unit is mg/kg for the listed values. 

Component 

Selected 

Country 

Unit 

MinOfMIN  AvgOfMEDIAN 

MaxOfMAX 

Cd 

Cd 

Cd 

Cd 

Cu 

Cu 

Cu 

Cu 

Hg 

Hg 

Hg 

Hg 

Pb 

Pb 

Pb 

Pb 

Zn 

Zn 

Zn 

Mussel 

Mussel 

Mussel 

Mussel 

Mussel 

Mussel 

Mussel 

Mussel 

Mussel 

Mussel 

Mussel 

Mussel 

Mussel 

Mussel 

Mussel 

Mussel 

Mussel 

Mussel 

Mussel 

France 

Greece 

µg/kg dw 

µg/kg dw 

0.12 

0.00 

1.94 

691.14 

Netherlands 

µg/kg dw 

500.00 

3007.69 

Sweden 

France 

Greece 

µg/kg dw 

µg/kg dw 

µg/kg dw 

3.20 

647.10 

8.20 

392.00 

6312.28 

Netherlands 

µg/kg dw 

7500.00 

10876.92 

Sweden 

France 

Greece 

µg/kg dw 

µg/kg dw 

µg/kg dw 

Netherlands 

µg/kg dw 

Sweden 

France 

Greece 

µg/kg dw 

µg/kg dw 

µg/kg dw 

Netherlands 

µg/kg dw 

Sweden 

France 

Greece 

µg/kg dw 

µg/kg dw 

µg/kg dw 

0.02 

25.00 

100.00 

0.13 

45.00 

100.00 

40.00 

4735.37 

0.15 

359.19 

207.69 

183.41 

3.32 

2667.07 

2853.85 

2000.80 

125.37 

13357.00 

139749.15 

Netherlands 

µg/kg dw 

74100.00 

190038.46 

0.60 

3601.00 

6600.00 

38.70 

90947.00 

40900.00 

0.60 

892.00 

1000.00 

15.90 

17603.00 

5700.00 

349.00 

447916.00 

298600.00 

Greek data are for contaminants in sediments, with some addition data on algal blooms in 
water and concentrations in biota. From Rhodes, St2+3, PCB have unspecified medium, 
but from the context it appears to be for fish (The unit is µg/kg dw as for metals in fish, 
and the records correspond in number and identificators to records of DDT+DDE+DDD. 
Tissue is not specified for this station. The table is edited by replacing blank medium with 
‘Fish’ for PCB from St2+3 for Rhodes, Greece. A column Attribute describes type of 
location or gives additional information about location within area. 

60 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Irish data are from two areas: Shannon Estuary and Dublin Bay. Data from Shannon are 
given as aggregates, with year and season specified. Data from Dublin Bay are given as 
single values, with date, year and season in separate columns. Nutrient values are from 
November to March, all assigned to winter season. There are some inconsistencies in year; 
some observations from nov. and dec. assigned to winter has monitoring year = calendar 
year. This has been corrected to calendar year+1. 

In the Swedish data, a suspiciously low values of Cr, which have assumed to be given as 
mg/kg: 

Component 
Cr 
Cr 
Cr 
Cr 
Cr 

Selected 
Fish 
Fish 
Mussel 
Mussel 
Mussel 

Country 
Greece 
Sweden 
Greece 
Netherlands 
Sweden 

Unit 
µg/kg dw 
µg/kg dw 
µg/kg dw 
µg/kg dw 
µg/kg dw 

4.3.1. Date and time in data from countries 

MinOfMIN AvgOfMEDIAN  MaxOfMAX 
98.00 

11752.00 

195.00 
1300.00 

27570.00 
15900.00 

1183.24 
100.00 
3578.07 
2523.08 
1.50 

Denmark 
Finland 
France 
Germany 
Greece 
Italy 
Shannon Estuary, Ireland   Two-digit monitoring year + date in format ddmmyy or dmmyy. Only data from nov-feb.  

Four-digit year, season 
Four-digit year, season 
Four-digit year, season 
Four-digit year, season, months = month range 
Four-digit year, season 
Four-digit year, season 

Dublin Bay, Ireland 
Netherlands 
Norway 
Sweden 
Season is text, may be blank, may contain text ’year’ 

Monitoring year = next year for November and December 
Four-digit year, month (11, 12 ,1 ,2 ,3), date and season (= winter for all months with data) 
Four-digit year, season 
Four-digit year, season, months = month range 
Four-digit year + season  

4.3.2. Coordinate format in data from countries 

All data have area specified. Station is not always given, but coordinates are always 
specified if station is missing. Location is missing only in one case, for some countries 
coordinates are given as decimal degrees. Others have specified degrees and minutes, and 
then either fraction of minutes or seconds. Comments on individual countries: 

• Denmark: 

• Finland: 
• France: 

Degrees with decimal digits — resolve into whole minutes and 100-parts 
of minutes. 
Three integers: degrees, minutes and minute fraction (hundredths). 
Degrees with decimal digits. Negative sign in separate column for 
western longitude. Minute fraction is whole seconds and 100-parts of 
minutes (few positions). 

 61

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
• Germany: 

• Greece: 

• Ireland: 

• Italy: 

Degrees with decimal fraction specified, almost always resolve into whole 
100-parts of minutes (better than resolving into seconds, but not 
completely). 
Three integers: degrees, minutes and seconds, in columns North and 
East. 
Degrees with decimal fraction specified, almost always resolve into whole 
100-parts of minutes. Parts of data have negative sign for western 
longitude. 
Degrees with decimal fraction specified, resolve into whole minutes and 
seconds. 

• Netherlands:  Coordinates in degrees with decimal fraction, resolve into whole 100-

parts of minutes, except for one position with 44.5 100-parts of minutes. 
Coordinates for Schaar van Ouden Doel given in e-mail: 
North: 
East:  
Coordinates in degrees with fraction, read directly from map. 
Degrees with decimal fraction: resolve into whole 100-parts of minutes. 

48 degrees 19 minutes and 33.4008 seconds, and 
4 degrees 19 minutes and 18.4050 seconds. 

• Norway: 
• Sweden: 

5.  Excerpts from the database 

Table 8 shows an excerpt from an Access table containing water data from ICES. 

Table 9 shows an excerpt from an Access table containing data on harmful substances in 
biota, supplied from ICES. 

Link to the laboratory (rlabo) or the geographical coordinates in code tables, which have 
got ‘country’ included, can link the ICES data to the original country. 

Table 10 and Table 11 show excerpts from Access tables containing local area water data 
and input data from Finland. 

62 

 
 
 
 
 
 
Table 8: 

Extract database table containing water data from ICES 

CountryCode  LonDir 

lonDeg 

lonMin 

lonSec 100 

lon Format 

lat Dir 

lat Deg 

lat Min 

latSec 100 lat Format 

Table 8 continues as additional columns to the right in table above. 

Depth  Max Depth  Component 

Unit 

NumV  MinV 

MaxV 

MedianV  MeanV 

Record 
Tag 
18276 

Owner 
Code 
ICES 

8543 

12856 

22289 

21916 

9901 

17100 

23017 

14756 

12613 

13151 

ICES 

ICES 

ICES 

ICES 

ICES 

ICES 

ICES 

ICES 

ICES 

ICES 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

FIN 

RUS 

GBR 

GBR 

SWE 

DNK 

DEU 

DEU 

SWE 

GBR 

BEL 

E 

E 

W 

W 

E 

E 

E 

E 

E 

W 

E 

21 

28 

1 

2 

12 

11 

10 

9 

11 

3 

3 

6818 

12 
NB: The column ‘season’ shows the quarter number of the year. 

SWE 

ICES 

E 

23 

Min 
Depth 
88 

88 

88 

14 

17 

19 

(1) 

Year 

Season  Months 

(2) 

(3) 

(4) 

(5) 

(6) 

(7) 

(8) 

(9) 

1989 

1992 

1987 

1992 

1990 

1995 

1989 

1989 

Quarter_1   

Quarter_1  1_2 

Quarter_1   

Quarter_1   

Quarter_1   

Quarter_1   

(10)  1996 

Quarter_1   

(11)  1998 

Quarter_1  1_2 

(12)  1988 

Quarter_1   

6 

6 

30 

6 

42 

6 

18 

30 

54 

6 

18 

18 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

10 

10 

10 

10 

10 

10 

10 

10 

10 

10 

10 

10 

N 

N 

N 

N 

N 

N 

N 

N 

N 

N 

N 

N 

60 

60 

60 

57 

55 

56 

54 

53 

57 

58 

51 

65 

3 

9 

3 

45 

51 

9 

27 

39 

9 

15 

21 

27 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

10 

10 

10 

10 

10 

10 

10 

10 

10 

10 

10 

10 

3,60 

7,80 

4,10 

11,10 

212,27 

230,91 

307,73 

307,73 

0,10 

8,50 

3,90 

9,10 

0,25 

220,45 

564,00 

5,72 

8,00 

0,10 

3,88 

9,32 

0,25 

221,21 

564,00 

5,72 

St 
dev 

0,19 

1,10 

7,63 

75,70 

161,00 

85,77 

107,49 

38,06 

O2 
NH4-N 

NO3-N+ 
NO2-N 
SIO3-SI 

SIO3-SI 

NO2-N 

O2 
TOT-N 

NO3-N 

NO3-N+ 
NO2-N 
NO3-N 

µmol/l 

µmol/l 

µmol/l 

µmol/l 

µmol/l 

µmol/l 

µmol/l 

µmol/l 

µmol/l 

µmol/l 

µmol/l 

1 

1 

4 

5 

1 

3 

1 

1 

3 

63 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Table 9: 

Extract database table containing data on harmful substances in biota, supplied from ICES 

Record
Tag 

Owner 
Code 

Country
Code 

lonDir  lonDeg  lonMin LonSec1

latDir latDeg latMin latSec100  latFormat  Year  Month Day SpeciesCode  Tissu
eCod
e 
15  GADU MOR  LI 

1995 11 

69 

56 

12 

N 

0 

Comp. Unit 

NumV  MedianV Rep. 
Lab 

37609 

ICES  NOR 

37738 

ICES  NOR 

38421 

ICES 

DEU 

39290 

ICES 

ESP 

43891 

ICES 

DNK 

57164 

ICES 

ESP 

57170 

ICES 

ESP 

57719 

ICES 

SWE 

59518 

ICES 

SWE 

60692 

ICES  NOR 

66315 

ICES 

SWE 

66375 

ICES 

DEU 

66403 

ICES 

DEU 

68359 

ICES 

DNK 

E 

E 

E 

W 

E 

W 

W 

E 

E 

E 

E 

E 

E 

E 

81982 

ICES 

FRA  W 

83023 

ICES 

SWE 

83134 

ICES 

SWE 

83454 

ICES 

SWE 

83856 

ICES 

SWE 

83964 

ICES 

SWE 

84200 

ICES 

SWE 

93562 

ICES 

DEU 

93595 

ICES 

DEU 

E 

E 

E 

E 

E 

E 

E 

E 

95881 

ICES 

PRT 

W 

29 

21 

8 

8 

12 

6 

6 

17 

11 

6 

10 

8 

8 

12 

1 

11 

18 

18 

22 

18 

11 

8 

8 

9 

40 

22 

30 

49 

32 

50 

50 

52 

50 

34 

54 

44 

16 

32 

13 

50 

4 

4 

41 

4 

50 

38 

38 

30 

00 

0 

0 

0 

4800 

0 

0 

0 

2160 

0 

0 

0 

780 

3000 

0 

5400 

0 

840 

840 

4440 

840 

0 

0 

0 

0 

lon 
Format 

12 

12 

12 

12 

12 

12 

12 

12 

12 

12 

12 

12 

12 

12 

12 

12 

12 

12 

12 

12 

12 

12 

12 

12 

N 

N 

N 

N 

N 

N 

N 

N 

N 

N 

N 

N 

N 

N 

N 

N 

N 

N 

N 

N 

N 

N 

N 

70 

54 

42 

55 

37 

37 

60 

57 

60 

58 

53 

54 

55 

49 

57 

58 

58 

65 

58 

57 

53 

53 

38 

9 

15 

31 

55 

5 

5 

43 

13 

10 

31 

52 

3 

55 

28 

13 

41 

41 

35 

41 

13 

56 

56 

45 

12 

12 

12 

12 

12 

12 

12 

12 

12 

12 

12 

12 

12 

12 

12 

12 

12 

12 

12 

12 

12 

12 

12 

0 

0 

1200 

0 

0 

0 

5580 

2340 

0 

0 

1800 

0 

0 

2400 

2340 

4680 

4680 

2160 

4680 

2340 

0 

0 

0 

64 

Cd 

Cd 

Cd 

Cd 

Cd 

1996 2 

15  GADU MOR  LI 

1987 11 

11  LIMA LIM 

1987 9 

29  MYTI EDU 

1996 12 

4 

PLAT FLE 

LI 

SB 

LI 

1990 10 

26  SOLE VUL 

MU  Cu 

1990 10 

26  SOLE VUL 

MU  Cu 

1989 10 

17  CLUP HAR  MU  Hg 

1989 9 

4  GADU MOR  MU  Hg 

1994 9 

30  GADU MOR  MU  Hg 

1988 11 

30  PLAT FLE 

MU  Hg 

1989 2 

24  PLAT FLE 

MU  Hg 

1989 8 

10  PLAT FLE 

MU  Hg 

1994 10 

4 

PLAT FLE 

MU  Hg 

ppm 

ppm 

ppm 

ppm 

ppm 

ppm 

ppm 

ppm 

ppm 

ppm 

ppm 

ppm 

ppm 

ppm 

1990 11 

6  MYTI EDU 

SB 

PCB 

ppm 

1988 8 

17  CLUP HAR  MU 

SDDT  ppm 

1988 11 

24  CLUP HAR  MU 

SDDT  ppm 

1991 9 

23  CLUP HAR  MU 

SDDT  ppm 

1995 9 

24  CLUP HAR  MU 

SDDT  ppm 

1996 10 

3 

CLUP HAR  MU 

SDDT  ppm 

1994 12 

5  GADU MOR  LI 

SDDT  ppm 

1986 7 

1986 7 

2 

2 

PLAT FLE 

PLAT FLE 

MU 

MU 

Zn 

Zn 

1990 8 

31  MYTI GAL 

SB 

Cd 

ppm 

ppm 

ppm 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

0,381 

NIVA 

0,384 

NIVA 

0,382 

BFRG 

0,381 

IEOC 

0,385 

HFLD 

0,384 

IEOV 

0,381 

IEOV 

0,382 

MNHS 

0,382 

MNHS 

0,384 

NIVA 

0,384 

MNHS 

0,384 

BFRG 

0,381 

BFRG 

0,385 

HFLD 

0,385 

ICBF 

0,384 

MNHS 

0,383 

MNHS 

0,385 

MNHS 

0,385 

MNHS 

0,381 

MNHS 

0,381 

MNHS 

0,382  WGEG 

0,381  WGEG 

0,385 

INIP 

 
 
Table 10: 

Extract database table containing water data from stations in local areas in Finland 

Record 
Tag 

Owner 
Code 

Country 
Code 

Area  Station 

lon
Dir

Lon 
Deg 

Lon
Min

LonSec 
100 

lon 
Format 

lat
Dir

Lat 
Deg

Lat 
Min

latSe
c100 

lat
Fo
rm
at 

Year  Season 

Comp. 

Unit 

NumV MinV  MaxV  MedianV  MeanV 

721 

732 

759 

834 

837 

1004 

1024 

1028 

1117 

1249 

1342 

1374 

1552 

1566 

6724 

8560 

18245 

18271 

20585 

20603 

20606 

20701 

25039 

25116 

25121 

FIN 

FIN 

FIN 

FIN 

FIN 

FIN 

FIN 

FIN 

FIN 

FIN 

FIN 

FIN 

FIN 

FIN 

ICES 

ICES 

ICES 

ICES 

ICES 

ICES 

ICES 

ICES 

ICES 

ICES 

ICES 

FIN 

FIN 

FIN 

FIN 

FIN 

FIN 

FIN 

FIN 

FIN 

FIN 

FIN 

FIN 

FIN 

FIN 

FIN 

FIN 

FIN 

FIN 

FIN 

FIN 

FIN 

FIN 

FIN 

FIN 

FIN 

Kymi  Kymi1  E 

Kymi  Kymi1  E 

Kymi  Kymi1  E 

Kymi  Kymi2  E 

Kymi  Kymi2  E 

Oulu  Oulu1  E 

Oulu  Oulu1  E 

Oulu  Oulu1  E 

Oulu  Oulu2  E 

Oulu  Oulu3  E 

Pori  Pori1 

Pori  Pori1 

Pori  Pori3 

Pori  Pori3 

E 

E 

E 

E 

E 

E 

E 

E 

E 

E 

E 

E 

E 

E 

E 

26 

26 

26 

26 

26 

25 

25 

25 

25 

24 

21 

21 

21 

21 

24 

21 

19 

25 

25 

21 

21 

21 

21 

20 

21 

29  3540 

29  3540 

29  3540 

36  600 

36  600 

17  0 

17  0 

17  0 

4 

0 

36  0 

36  1500 

36  1500 

16  300 

16  300 

6 

0 

42  0 

54  0 

6 

0 

30  0 

18  0 

18  0 

6 

0 

18  0 

54  0 

6 

0 

12 

12 

12 

12 

12 

12 

12 

12 

12 

12 

12 

12 

12 

12 

10 

10 

10 

10 

10 

10 

10 

10 

10 

10 

10 

N  60 

24  3300  12 1993  Winter 

TOT-N 

N  60 

24  3300  12 1994  Winter 

PO4-P 

µmol/l  1 

µmol/l  1 

45,00 

0,06 

N  60 

24  3300  12 1996  Year 

TOT-N 

µmol/l  4 

29,30  40,70  35,70 

N  60 

21  0 

12 1990  Summer  Chl-a 

µg/l 

12 

2,10 

7,40 

5,10 

N  60 

21  0 

12 1990  Winter 

PO4-P 

µmol/l  6 

0,81 

0,81 

0,81 

N  65 

N  65 

N  65 

N  65 

2 

2 

2 

4 

N  65 

8 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

12 1992  Winter 

TOT-P 

µmol/l  2 

0,26 

0,39 

0,32 

12 1994  Winter 

TOT-N 

µmol/l  1 

12 1994  Year 

TOT-N/TOT-P 

ratio 

23,60 

66,48 

12 1992  Winter 

12 1992  Year 

NO3-N+NO2-
N 
TOT-N 

µmol/l  4 

3,93 

14,60  7,46 

µmol/l  67 

17,10  29,30  19,30 

N  61 

35  60 

12 1992 

O2 

 %sat 

2 

88,00  90,00  89,00 

N  61 

35  60 

12 1995  Winter 

PO4-P 

µmol/l  1 

0,55 

N  61 

38  60 

12 1988  Year 

TOT-P 

µmol/l  8 

0,42 

0,61 

0,45 

N  61 

38  60 

12 1990 

N  59 

45  0 

10 1997 

SIO3-SI 

Chl-a 

N  60 

21  0 

10 1988  Quarter_1 NH4-N 

N  59 

45  0 

10 1992 

N  59 

57  0 

10 1989 

O2 
O2 

N  59 

57  0 

10 1994  Quarter_1 PO4-P 

N  60 

N  60 

N  61 

3 

3 

9 

0 

0 

0 

10 1985  Quarter_1 PO4-P 

10 1995  Quarter_1 PO4-P 

10 1993  Quarter_1 PO4-P 

N  59 

57  0 

10 1988  Quarter_1 TOT-P 

N  60 

45  0 

10 1988  Quarter_1 TOT-P 

N  61 

9 

0 

10 1988  Quarter_1 TOT-P 

µmol/l  5 

15,00  25,00  15,00 

µg/l 

1 

µmol/l  1 

µmol/l  1 

µmol/l  1 

µmol/l  1 

µmol/l  1 

µmol/l  1 

µmol/l  1 

µmol/l  1 

µmol/l  1 

µmol/l  1 

6,90 

0,40 

6,90 

0,40 

260,00 

260,00 

203,18 

203,18 

0,74 

0,51 

0,62 

0,35 

0,68 

0,68 

0,60 

0,74 

0,51 

0,62 

0,35 

0,68 

0,68 

0,60 

65 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Table 11: 

Extract database table showing input of nitrogen and phosphorous to local areas in Finland 

CountryCODE  Area 

lonFormat  latFormat 

YEAR  COMPONENT  VALUE 

UNIT 

 % agriculture   % 

industrial 
emissions 

 % river 

 % point 
source 

 % waste 
water 
treatment 
plants 

FIN 

FIN 

FIN 

FIN 

FIN 

FIN 

FIN 

FIN 

FIN 

FIN 

FIN 

FIN 

FIN 

FIN 

FIN 

FIN 

FIN 

FIN 

FIN 

FIN 

FIN 

FIN 

Kymi  12 

Kymi  12 

Kymi  12 

Kymi  12 

Kymi  12 

Kymi  12 

Kymi  12 

Oulu  12 

Oulu  12 

Oulu  12 

Oulu  12 

Oulu  12 

Oulu  12 

Pori 

Pori 

Pori 

Pori 

Pori 

Pori 

Pori 

Pori 

Pori 

12 

12 

12 

12 

12 

12 

12 

12 

12 

12 

12 

12 

12 

12 

12 

12 

12 

12 

12 

12 

12 

12 

12 

12 

12 

12 

12 

12 

12 

12 

12 

1994  Tot-P 

1995  Tot-N 

1995  Tot-P 

1996  Tot-N 

1996  Tot-P 

1997  Tot-N 

1997  Tot-P 

1985  Tot-N 

1985  Tot-P 

1986  Tot-N 

1986  Tot-P 

1987  Tot-N 

1989  Tot-N 

1987  Tot-N 

1987  Tot-P 

1988  Tot-N 

1988  Tot-P 

1989  Tot-N 

1989  Tot-P 

1990  Tot-N 

1990  Tot-P 

1991  Tot-N 

140 

3369 

130 

2715 

110 

2433 

96 

4426 

224 

3841 

191 

4002 

4979 

7779 

689 

7779 

732 

10537 

500 

12545 

583 

11014 

103 kg 

103 kg 

103 kg 

103 kg 

103 kg 

103 kg 

103 kg 

103 kg  14 

103 kg  24 

103 kg  14 

103 kg  23 

103 kg  15 

103 kg  15 

103 kg 

103 kg 

103 kg 

103 kg 

103 kg 

103 kg 

103 kg 

103 kg 

103 kg 

66 

8 

12 

7 

15 

4 

6 

13 

6 

14 

6 

13 

11 

95,5 

97,5 

95,5 

98 

96,5 

97 

97 

98 

4,5 

2,5 

4,5 

2 

3,5 

3 

3 

2 

96,5 

3,5 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The stations data (Table 10) and area input data (Table 11) can be linked using 
the area column as a common ‘hinge’. This is useful for analysing the correlation 
between input to the area and concentrations found in the recipient. 

The most commonly observed components in biota and sediments, and the 
species most often sampled for analysis are shown in Table 12 to Table 16. 

Table 12: 

Components and species ranked by number of observations  
(ICES data set) 

Harmful substances in biota — ICES data 

Param 

CountOfparam 

HG 

CU 

ZN 

CD 

PB 

PCB 

SDDT 

CR 

PAH 

RA228 

RA226 

CS137 

CS134 

CO60 

TBTIN 

12 355 

11 505 

11 337 

10 612 

10 305 

2 812 

1 994 

1 140 

102 

17 

17 

17 

17 

15 

1 

Genus 

PLAT 

GADU 

MYTI 

CLUP 

LIMA 

PLEU 

CRAS 

MERL 

LEPI 

SOLE 

MULL 

PAGE 

MYTI 

MICR 

POLL 

species 

CountOfgenus 

FLE 

MOR 

EDU 

HAR 

LIM 

PLA 

GIG 

MNG 

WHI 

VUL 

BAR 

ERY 

GAL 

KIT 

POL 

15 199 

14 652 

14 186 

8 616 

3 007 

2 858 

1 900 

464 

312 

282 

186 

94 

90 

76 

50 

Table 13: 

Components in sediments ranked by number of observations  
(ICES data set) 

Harmful substances in sediments — ICES data 

Param 

CountOfparam 

ZN 

CU 

PB 

HG 

CD 

CR 

SDDT 

PCB 

TBTIN 

1 262 

1 257 

1 209 

1 106 

1 089 

466 

37 

27 

17 

67 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Table 14: 

Species ranked by number of observations (MEDPOL data set) 

Heavy metals in biota — MEDPOL data 

SPECY 

DESCRIP 

Count of species

MB 

MG 

MC 

NN 

MS 

DS 

EE 

SP 

LM 

BB 

TT 

PP 

PL 

AA 

NG 

PK 

MAU 

PGE 

NE 

CG 

AT 

NM 

DP 

SR 

TRT 

LD 

SYS 

DT 

SAR 

UM 

CM 

XG 

PGA 

TA 

OE 

MM 

SI 

AF 

BBR 

Mullus barbatus 

Mytilus galloprovincialis 

Mactra corrallina (Syn. Mactra stultorum) 

Nephrops norvegicus 

Mullus surmuletus 

Diplodus sargus 

Engraulis encrasicolus 

Sardina pilchardus 

Lithognathus mormyrus (Syn. Pagellus mormyrus) 

Boops boops 

Thunnus thynnus 

Perna perna 

Parapenaeus longirostris 

Aristeus antennatus 

Nassarius gibbosulus (Syn. Arcularia gibbosula) 

Penaeus kerathurus 

Mugil auratus 

Pagellus erythrinus 

Neverita josephinia (Syn. Natica josephinia) 

Chamelea gallina (Syn. Venus gallina) 

Acanthocardia tuberculata (Syn. Rudicardium and Cardium 
tuberculatum) 
Nassarius mutabilis (Syn. Sphaeronassa mutabilis) 

Diogenes pugilator 

Siganus rivulatus 

Trachurus trachurus 

Liocarcinus depurator (Syn. Macropipus depurator) 

Saurida undosquamis 

Donax trunculus 

Sarda sarda 

Upeneus moluccensis 

Carcinus mediterraneus 

Xiphias gladius 

Pagellus acarne 

Thunnus alalunga 

Ostrea edulis 

Merluccius merluccius 

Scapharca inaequivalvis 

Aristaeomorpha foliacea 

Bolinus brandaris (syn. Murex brandaris) 

7 803 

5 914 

3 127 

2 286 

1 811 

1 073 

1 010 

982 

940 

673 

653 

596 

595 

545 

520 

407 

358 

343 

305 

303 

275 

271 

246 

225 

202 

190 

186 

177 

163 

161 

156 

156 

142 

141 

136 

133 

126 

114 

101 

68 

 
 
 
Table 15 

Heavy metals in biota ranked by number of observations  
(MEDPOL data set) 

Heavy metals in biota — MEDPOL data 
PAR 

DESCRIP 

HGT 

Total mercury 

CD 

PB 

ZN 

CU 

FE 

CR 

MN 

NI 

AS 

Cadmium 

Lead 

Zinc 

Copper 

Iron 

Chromium 

Manganese 

Nickel 

Arsenic 

HGO 

Organic mercury 

CO 

SE 

CS 

SB 

AG 

RB 

Cobalt 

Selenium 

Caesium 

Antimony 

Silver 

Rubidium 

Count of parameter 

8 337 

7 172 

4 416 

3 924 

3 842 

1 440 

1 416 

1 330 

911 

792 

424 

213 

201 

66 

50 

27 

13 

Table 16: 

Halogenated hydrocarbons in biota ranked by number of  
observations (MEDPOL data set) 

Halogenated hydrocarbons in biota — MEDPOL data 
PAR 
DDEP 
PCBA 
DDTP 
DDDP 
LIN 
DIE 
HCH 
ALD 
HCB 
PCBB 
HEP 
HOX 
END 
DDTO 
DDDO 
DDD 
DDT 
DDEO 
DDTS 
ENDOA 
ENDOB 
ENDOS 
CLRDB 
CLRDA 

CountOfPAR 
DESCRIP 
2 939 
Dichloro-Diphenyl Dichloroethene pp 
2 869 
Polychlorinated Biphenyls (as Arochlor 1254) 
2 735 
Dichloro-Diphenyl Trichloroethane pp 
2 527 
Dichloro-Diphenyl Dichloroethane pp. (same as 
909 
Lindane 
Dieldrin 
711 
Hexachlorohexane (same as BHC) (excluding Lindane) 621 
602 
Aldrin 
282 
Hexachlorobenzene 
238 
Polychlorinated Biphenyls (as Arochlor 1260) 
207 
Heptachlor 
182 
Heptachlor Epoxide (same as EPOX) 
153 
Endrin 
Dichloro-Diphenyl Trichloroethane op 
72 
Dichloro-Diphenyl Dichloroethane op (same as TDEO) 34 
21 
opDDD + ppDDD 
21 
opDDT + ppDDT 
20 
Dichloro-Diphenyl Dichloroethene op 
opDDT + ppDDT + opDDE + ppDDE + opDDD + pp 4 
3 
Alpha-Endosulfan 
3 
Beta-Endosulfan 
3 
Endosulfan sulphate 
3 
Beta-Chlordane 
3 
Alpha-Chlordane 

69 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Appendix D:  Data supplied from  

national reference centres 

Table 17: 

Data supplied from the national reference centre of Denmark 

Denmark — number of observations in local areas 

 Component 

Medium 

1985  1986  1987  1988  1989  1990  1991  1992  1993  1994  1995  1996  1997 

5 

1 

5 

1 

1 

4 

1 

4 

4 

2 

 Total-P 

 PO4-P 

 Tot-N 

Water 

Water 

Water 

 NO3+NO2 

Water 

 NO3+ 
NO2/PO4 
 Total-N/ 
Total-P 
 SiO3-Si 

 O2 

 Chl.a 

 Secchi 

Water 

Water 

Water 

Water 

Water 

Water 

 Seagrass max. 
Depth 
 Seaweed max. 
Depth 

Benthos 

Benthos 

8 

3 

8 

3 

3 

5 

2 

5 

5 

6 

8 

3 

8 

3 

3 

5 

2 

5 

5 

5 

10 

10 

10 

10 

10 

10 

10 

10 

10 

10 

5 

5 

5 

5 

5 

5 

5 

5 

5 

5 

10 

10 

10 

10 

10 

10 

10 

10 

10 

10 

5 

5 

5 

2 

5 

5 

5 

5 

5 

5 

4 

5 

5 

5 

3 

1 

5 

5 

5 

4 

5 

5 

5 

3 

1 

5 

5 

5 

4 

5 

5 

5 

3 

1 

5 

5 

5 

3 

5 

5 

5 

3 

1 

5 

5 

5 

4 

5 

5 

5 

2 

1 

5 

5 

5 

3 

5 

5 

5 

2 

1 

5 

5 

5 

5 

5 

5 

3 

1 

5 

5 

5 

5 

5 

5 

3 

1 

5 

5 

5 

5 

5 

5 

2 

1 

Table 18: 

Data supplied from the national reference centre of Finland 

Finland — number of observations in local areas 

 Parameter 

Medium 

1985  1986  1987  1988  1989  1990  1991  1992  1993  1994  1995  1996  1997 

 Total-P 

 PO4-P 

Water 

15 

14 

16 

15 

14 

15 

16 

16 

15 

16 

15 

14 

12 

Water 

6 

5 

6 

4 

5 

6 

7 

7 

7 

8 

5 

5 

3 

 Total-N 

Water 

15 

14 

16 

15 

14 

15 

16 

16 

15 

16 

15 

15 

13 

 NO3+NO2 

Water 

 NH4-N 

 NO3+NO2/ 
PO4 Ratio 
 Total-N/ 
Total-P Ratio 
 SiO3-Si 

 O2 Sat. % 

 Chl. a 

Water 

Water 

Water 

Water 

Water 

Water 

5 

6 

5 

8 

3 

7 

6 

5 

5 

5 

8 

3 

7 

5 

6 

6 

6 

8 

4 

6 

8 

5 

5 

4 

8 

3 

4 

7 

5 

5 

5 

8 

4 

7 

8 

6 

6 

6 

8 

4 

8 

8 

7 

7 

7 

8 

5 

8 

8 

7 

7 

7 

8 

5 

7 

8 

7 

7 

7 

8 

5 

7 

7 

8 

8 

8 

8 

5 

7 

7 

5 

5 

5 

8 

4 

7 

7 

6 

6 

6 

7 

5 

6 

7 

4 

4 

4 

7 

3 

6 

7 

70 

  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Table 19: 

Data supplied from the national reference centre of France 

France — number of observations in local areas 

 Component 

Medium 

1985  1986  1987  1988  1989  1990  1991  1992  1993  1994  1995  1996  1997 

 PO4-P 

 NO3-N+ 
NO2-N 
 Algal blooms 

Water 

Water 

Water 

 Phaeocystis sp.  Water 

3 

2 

3 

2 

3 

2 

1 

3 

2 

1 

3 

2 

1 

3 

2 

1 

 Toxic algae 

Water 

2 

2 

4 

4 

4 

4 

 Cd 

 Cu 

 Hg 

 Pb 

 Zn 

 PAH 

 PCB 

 Cd 

 Cu 

 Hg 

 Pb 

 Zn 

Sediment 

Sediment 

Sediment 

Sediment 

Sediment 

Sediment 

Sediment 

Mussel 

Mussel 

Mussel 

Mussel 

Mussel 

3 

3 

3 

3 

3 

3 

3 

3 

3 

3 

3 

3 

3 

3 

3 

3 

3 

3 

3 

3 

3 

3 

3 

3 

3 

3 

3 

3 

3 

3 

2 

1 

1 

1 

3 

2 

1 

4 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

3 

3 

3 

3 

3 

3 

2 

1 

3 

3 

3 

3 

3 

3 

3 

2 

3 

4 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

3 

3 

3 

3 

3 

3 

2 

3 

4 

3 

3 

3 

3 

3 

3 

2 

3 

1 

4 

3 

3 

3 

3 

3 

3 

2 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

3 

3 

3 

3 

3 

71 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Table 20: 

Data supplied from the national reference centre of Germany 

Germany — number of observations in local areas 

 Component 

Medium 

1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993  1994  1995  1996 1997

 Total-P 

 PO4-P 

 Total-N 

 NH4-N 

 NO2-N 

 NO3-N 

 NO3-N+ 
NO2-N 
 NO3+ 
NO2/PO4 
 Tot-N/Tot-P 

 SiO3-Si 

 O2 

 Chl. A 

 Diatom/ 
Flagellate 
 Cd 

 Cr 

 Cu 

 Hg 

 Pb 

 Zn 

 DDT+DDE 
+DDD 
 PAH 

 PCB 

 DDT+DDE 
+DDD 
 DDT+DDE 
+DDD 
 PAH 

 Oil spills 

6 

5 

6 

6 

1 

6 

1 

7 

6 

7 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

6 

1 

6 

1 

6 

5 

6 

6 

1 

6 

1 

2 

7 

6 

7 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

6 

1 

6 

1 

2 

7 

6 

7 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

6 

2 

6 

1 

2 

7 

6 

7 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

6 

4 

6 

1 

1 

7 

6 

7 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

6 

5 

6 

1 

7 

6 

7 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

6 

4 

6 

1 

2 

7 

6 

7 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

6 

5 

6 

1 

2 

6 

5 

6 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

5 

5 

5 

1 

Water 

Water 

Water 

Water 

Water 

Water 

Water 

Water 

Water 

Water 

Water 

Water 

Water 

Sediment 

Sediment 

Sediment 

Sediment 

Sediment 

Sediment 

Sediment 

1 

1 

1 

5 

1 

5 

1 

5 

6 

5 

6 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

5 

3 

5 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

2 

1 

1 

5 

4 

1 

5 

4 

5 

5 

3 

5 

1 

5 

3 

1 

6 

5 

6 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

5 

5 

5 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

2 

1 

1 

5 

1 

5 

3 

1 

5 

3 

1 

4 

4 

1 

55 

37 

42 

34 

42 

23 

34 

Sediment 

Sediment 

Fish 

Mussel 

Mussel 

Water 

72 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Table 21: 

Data supplied from the national reference centre of Greece 

Greece — number of observations in local areas 

 Component 

Medium 

1985  1986  1987  1988  1989  1990  1991  1992  1993  1994  1995  1996  1997 

2 

6 

1 

2 

2 

2 

1 

2 

2 

2 

2 

2 

2 

2 

9 

17 

17 

17 

7 

1 

16 

10 

1 

2 

2 

2 

1 

2 

3 

3 

3 

2 

3 

2 

2 

2 

1 

5 

1 

1 

4 

5 

8 

8 

14 

14 

7 

1 

14 

7 

1 

2 

2 

2 

1 

2 

3 

3 

4 

2 

3 

3 

2 

2 

5 

5 

4 

2 

2 

3 

8 

2 

15 

21 

24 

30 

8 

1 

24 

13 

1 

4 

2 

2 

2 

1 

2 

7 

3 

4 

2 

5 

7 

2 

3 

13 

7 

16 

5 

20 

6 

14 

1 

14 

24 

30 

30 

7 

1 

30 

13 

3 

2 

1 

2 

3 

1 

1 

3 

1 

7 

3 

3 

2 

4 

6 

2 

3 

20 

8 

15 

7 

4 

20 

6 

16 

1 

15 

23 

23 

29 

7 

1 

23 

10 

5 

2 

1 

2 

3 

2 

1 

1 

3 

1 

8 

3 

4 

2 

5 

5 

2 

3 

16 

7 

12 

5 

1 

16 

4 

11 

 Algal blooms  Water 

2 

 Chl. a 

 NH4-N 

 NO2-N 

 NO3-N 

 O2 

 PCB 

 PO4-P 

 SiO3-Si 

 Tot-N 

 Tot-P 

 Cd 

 Cr 

 Cu 

Water 

Water 

Water 

Water 

Water 

Water 

Water 

Water 

Water 

Water 

Fish 

Fish 

Fish 

DDT+DDE+DDD  Fish 

 Pb 

 PCB 

 Zn 

 Cd 

 Cd 

 Cr 

 Cu 

Fish 

Fish 

Fish 

Mulus 
barbatus 
Mussel 

Mussel 

Mussel 

2 

2 

2 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

2 

2 

2 

1 

2 

2 

2 

1 

2 

2 

2 

2 

2 

2 

DDT+DDE+DDD  Mussel 

 Hg 

 Pb 

 PCB 

 Zn 

 Cd 

 Cr 

 Cu 

Mussel 

Mussel 

Mussel 

Mussel 

Sediment 

Sediment 

Sediment 

DDT+DDE+DDD  Sediment 

 Hg 

 PAH 

 Pb 

 PCB 

 Zn 

Sediment 

Sediment 

Sediment 

Sediment 

Sediment 

2 

4 

2 

4 

2 

4 

1 

2 

2 

4 

1 

1 

1 

2 

2 

2 

1 

2 

2 

2 

2 

2 

2 

2 

1 

2 

2 

1 

1 

2 

2 

2 

2 

1 

1 

2 

1 

2 

2 

2 

1 

2 

2 

2 

2 

2 

1 

2 

2 

2 

73 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Table 22: 

Data supplied from the national reference centre of Italy 

Italy — number of observations in local areas 

 Component 

Medium 

1990  1991  1992  1993  1994  1995  1996  1997 

 Total-P 

 PO4-P 

 NO3-N 

 NO2-N 

 NH4-N 

 (NO3+NO2)/PO4 

 Chl. A 

 Diatoms n/l 

 Dinoflagellates n/l 

 Diatom/Flagellate ratio 

 O2 

 Oil layer 

 Tar residue 

 Transparency 

Water 

Water 

Water 

Water 

Water 

Water 

Water 

Water 

Water 

Water 

Water 

Water 

Water 

Water 

8 

4 

4 

4 

4 

4 

6 

10 

26 

20 

20 

4 

20 

10 

20 

22 

10 

10 

28 

22 

22 

4 

22 

10 

20 

24 

10 

10 

13 

9 

9 

4 

9 

4 

6 

8 

2 

2 

8 

4 

4 

4 

4 

4 

4 

8 

4 

4 

4 

4 

4 

4 

8 

4 

4 

4 

4 

4 

4 

4 

4 

4 

54 

45 

45 

45 

45 

15 

49 

20 

20 

37 

29 

18 

Table 23: 

Data supplied from the national reference centre of Norway 

Norway — number of observations in local areas 

 Component  Medium 

1986  1987  1988  1989  1990  1991  1992  1993  1994  1995  1996  1997 

 Total-P 

 PO4-P 

 Total-N 

 NO3-N 

 NH4-N 

 SiO3-Si 

 Chl. A 

 Secchi 

 O2 

 Hg 

 Cd 

 Pb 

 Cu 

 Zn 

 Ni 

 Cr 

 PAH 

 PCB(7) 

Water 

Water 

Water 

Water 

Water 

Water 

Water 

Water 

Water 

Sediment  7 

Sediment  7 

Sediment  7 

Sediment  7 

Sediment  7 

Sediment  7 

Sediment  7 

Sediment  7 

Sediment 

 DDE+DDD 

Sediment 

4 

4 

4 

4 

4 

4 

3 

4 

4 

4 

4 

4 

4 

3 

3 

3 

3 

3 

3 

3 

3 

7 

7 

7 

7 

7 

7 

7 

7 

3 

3 

4 

4 

4 

4 

4 

4 

4 

2 

4 

4 

4 

4 

4 

4 

4 

3 

3 

3 

3 

3 

3 

3 

3 

9 

9 

9 

9 

3 

3 

3 

3 

3 

135 

135 

135 

35 

7 

7 

7 

28 

110 

105 

34 

9 

9 

3 

3 

3 

3 

3 

3 

4 

13 

13 

13 

4 

4 

4 

11 

9 

9 

3 

3 

3 

3 

3 

1 

16 

16 

16 

19 

18 

6 

6 

6 

6 

3 

6 

7 

6 

6 

6 

6 

6 

6 

74 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Table 24: 

Data supplied from the national reference centre of the  
Netherlands 

Netherlands — number of observations in local areas 

 Component 

Medium 

1985  1986  1987  1988  1989  1990  1991  1992  1993  1994  1995  1996  1997 

 NH4-N 

 NO2-N 

 NO3+NO2 

Water 

Water 

Water 

 NO3+NO2/PO4  Water 

 NO3-N 

Water 

 NO3-N+NO2-N  Water 

 Total-N 

 Total-N/Tot-P 

 Total-P 

 PO4-P 

 SiO3-Si 
 O2 
 Chl. A 

Water 

Water 

Water 

Water 

Water 

Water 

Water 

 Phaeocystis sp.  Water 

 Toxic algae 

 Seagrasses 

Water 

5 

2 

4 

5 

2 

1 

3 

3 

4 

5 

5 

5 

4 

5 

2 

4 

5 

2 

1 

3 

3 

4 

5 

5 

5 

3 

 PAH 

 PAH 

 PAH 

 Pb 

 Pb 

 PCB 

 PCB 

 PCB 

 PCB 

 Zn 

 Zn 

 Cd 

 Cd 

 Cd 

 Cr 

 Cr 

 Cu 

 Cu 

 Hg 

 Hg 

 Hg 

 Radiation 

Mussel 

1 

1 

Sediment 

Suspended 
matter 
Mussel 

Sediment 

Fish 

Mussel 

Sediment 

Suspended 
matter 
Mussel 

Sediment 

Fish 

Mussel 

Sediment 

Mussel 

Sediment 

Mussel 

Sediment 

Fish 

Mussel 

Sediment 

1 

1 

1 

1 

2 

1 

1 

1 

2 

1 

4 

1 

1 

1 

1 

2 

1 

1 

1 

2 

1 

4 

5 

2 

2 

3 

3 

4 

5 

5 

5 

4 

2 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

4 

5 

1 

4 

5 

2 

1 

4 

4 

5 

5 

5 

5 

5 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

2 

1 

1 

1 

2 

1 

5 

2 

4 

5 

2 

1 

4 

4 

5 

5 

5 

5 

5 

1 

3 

1 

1 

1 

2 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

5 

2 

4 

5 

2 

1 

4 

4 

5 

5 

5 

5 

5 

2 

3 

1 

3 

1 

1 

1 

2 

1 

2 

1 

1 

1 

2 

1 

10 

10 

10 

5 

2 

4 

5 

2 

1 

4 

4 

5 

5 

5 

5 

5 

2 

3 

1 

1 

3 

1 

1 

1 

2 

1 

2 

1 

1 

1 

2 

1 

8 

5 

2 

4 

5 

2 

1 

4 

4 

5 

5 

5 

5 

5 

2 

3 

1 

3 

1 

1 

1 

2 

1 

2 

1 

1 

1 

2 

1 

8 

5 

2 

4 

5 

2 

1 

4 

4 

5 

5 

5 

5 

5 

2 

3 

1 

1 

2 

1 

1 

1 

2 

1 

2 

1 

1 

1 

2 

1 

8 

5 

2 

4 

5 

2 

1 

4 

4 

5 

5 

5 

5 

5 

2 

3 

2 

1 

2 

1 

1 

1 

2 

1 

2 

1 

1 

1 

2 

1 

10 

5 

2 

4 

5 

2 

1 

4 

4 

5 

5 

5 

5 

5 

2 

3 

2 

1 

2 

1 

1 

1 

2 

1 

2 

1 

1 

1 

2 

1 

8 

5 

2 

4 

5 

2 

1 

4 

4 

5 

5 

5 

5 

5 

4 

8 

1 

4 

2 

1 

4 

1 

1 

4 

2 

1 

4 

2 

1 

4 

1 

4 

1 

4 

2 

1 

4 

8 

5 

2 

4 

5 

2 

1 

4 

4 

5 

5 

5 

5 

5 

4 

8 

1 

2 

1 

1 

1 

2 

1 

2 

1 

1 

1 

2 

1 

8 

75 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Table 25: 

Input data (number of stations) presented from the national  
reference centres 

COMPONENT 
Total-N 
Total-P 

COMPONENT 
PAH 
Total-N 
Total-P 

COMPONENT 
Total-C 
Total-N 
Total-P 

COMPONENT 
Cd 
Cr 
Cu 
DDT+DDE+DDD 
Hg 
PAH 
Pb 
PCB 
Sum PCB:28,52, 
101,138,153,180 
TBT 
Total-C 
Total-N 
Total-P 
Zn 

COMPONENT 
Total-N 
Total-P 

COMPONENT 
Cd 
Cr 
Cu 
Hg 
PAH 
Pb 
PCB 
PCB(7) 
Total-N 
Total-P 
Zn 

COMPONENT 
Total-N 
Total-P 

11 
9 
11 
1 
11 
2 
11 
3 
1 

1 
1 
11 
10 
11 

11 
9 
11 
1 
11 
2 
11 
3 
1 

2 
1 
11 
10 
11 

11 
8 
11 
1 
11 
1 
11 
2 
1 

1 
1 
11 
10 
11 

Denmark 
1985  1986  1987  1988  1989  1990  1991  1992  1993  1994  1995  1996  1997 
3 
3 
3 
3 
Sweden 
1985  1986  1987  1988  1989  1990  1991  1992  1993  1994  1995  1996  1997 

4 
4 

4 
4 

4 
4 

4 
4 

4 
4 

4 
4 

4 
4 

4 
4 

4 
4 

2 
2 

2 
2 

1 
1 
1 

1 
4 
4 

1 
4 
4 

1 
4 
4 

1 
1 

1 
1 

1 
1 
1 
1 
Norway 
1985  1986  1987  1988  1989  1990  1991  1992  1993  1994  1995  1996  1997 
1 
1 
1 
Germany 
1985  1986  1987  1988  1989  1990  1991  1992  1993  1994  1995  1996  1997 
2 

1 
1 
1 

1 
1 
1 

1 
1 
1 

1 
1 
1 

1 
1 
1 

1 
1 
1 

4 

2 

2 

2 

2 

1 
1 
1 

7 
4 
7 
1 
7 

7 
1 
1 

1 
1 
1 

4 
1 
4 

4 
3 
1 

1 
4 
4 

7 
4 
8 
1 
8 

1 
4 
4 

8 
6 
8 
1 
8 

1 
4 
4 

9 
7 
9 
1 
9 

8 
2 
1 

8 
2 
1 

9 
3 
1 

2 

2 

2 

1 

2 

2 

2 

1 

2 

2 

2 
1 
1 

2 

2 

2 
1 
1 

2 

2 

2 
1 
1 

1 
1 
11 
10 
8 

1 
1 
11 
10 
8 

2 
1 
11 
10 
9 

1 
3 
3 
2 

1 
3 
3 
2 

1 
5 
5 
2 

1 
5 
5 
2 

1 
10 
9 
7 

1 
11 
11 
4 

1 
2 
2 
2 
Finland 
1985  1986  1987  1988  1989  1990  1991  1992  1993  1994  1995  1996  1997 
3 
3 
3 
3 
3 
3 
The Netherlands 
1985  1986  1987  1988  1989  1990  1991  1992  1993  1994  1995  1996  1997 

3 
3 

3 
3 

3 
3 

3 
3 

3 
3 

3 
3 

3 
3 

3 
3 

3 
3 

3 
3 

3 
3 
4 
3 

3 

5 
5 
3 

5 
5 
5 
4 

5 

5 
5 
5 

5 
5 
5 
5 
4 
5 
1 
3 
5 
5 
5 

5 
5 
5 
5 
4 
5 

4 
5 
5 
5 

5 
5 
5 
5 
4 
5 

4 
5 
5 
5 

5 
5 
5 
5 
4 
5 

4 
5 
5 
5 

5 
5 
5 
5 
4 
5 

4 
5 
5 
5 

5 
5 
5 
5 
5 
5 
1 
4 
5 
5 
5 

5 
5 
5 
5 
5 
5 
1 
4 
5 
5 
5 

5 
5 
5 
5 
5 
5 
1 
4 
5 
5 
4 

5 
5 
5 
5 
5 
5 
1 
4 
5 
5 
4 

5 
5 
5 
5 
4 
5 

4 
4 
4 
5 

1 
1 

France 
1985  1986  1987  1988  1989  1990  1991  1992  1993  1994  1995  1996  1997 

1 

1 

1 

1 
1 

1 
1 

1 
1 

1 
1 

1 
1 

1 
1 

1 
1 

76