Copper Baltic

Wrembel [485] gives details of a procedure for the determination of mercury in seawater by low-pressure ring-discharge atomic emission spectrometry with electrolytic preconcentration on copper and platinum mesh electrodes. Between 40 5 (open sea) and 50 8 (shore area) xg/l mercury was found in Baltic sea waters. 

Brugmann [784] discussed different approaches to trace metal speciation (bioassays, computer modelling, analytical methods). The electrochemical techniques include conventional polarography, ASV, and potentiometry. ASV diagnosis of seawater was useful for investigating the properties of metal complexes in seawater. Differences in the lead and copper values yielded for Baltic seawater by methods based on differential pulse ASV or AAS are discussed with respect to speciation. 

The withdrawal of a number of copper-containing antifouling paints for pleasure boats and marine vessels in the Baltic, based on alleged minor environmental effects localized to marinas, led to a number of protests to the Swedish government. Although the government upheld the mandated withdrawals, these restrictions will likely also be appealed to the EU Commission and then further to the European Court of Justice. 

Andersson, S., Kautsky, L. (1996) Copper effects on reproductive stages of Baltic Sea Fucus vesiculosis. Marine Biology 125 171-176. 

Szefer, P., Domagala-Wieloszewska, M., Warzocha, J., Garbacik-Wesolowska, A., Ciesielski, T. Distribution and relationships of mercury, lead, cadmium, copper and zinc in perch Perea fluviatilis) from the Pomeranian Bay and Szczecin Lagoon, southern Baltic. Food Chem. 81, 73-83 (2003)... 

FIGURE 13.4 Trends for dissolved (diss) cadmium and copper in the western Baltic as well as above and below the halocline in the Baltic Proper between 1993-2005. 

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