New chemicals and other substances are introduced at unprecedented rates along with legacy pollutants that are still circulating and impacting the Baltic Sea. The combination of the large catchment area and the low water exchange rate allows for higher concentrations of contaminants to build up in the Baltic Sea compared to other marine areas. Organisms inhabiting the Baltic Sea are exposed to complex mixtures of diverse chemicals with unknown consequences for the overall ecosystem functioning.
The theme focuses on identifying potential new sources and effects of contaminants to the marine environment. This includes studies assessing short-term (acute), medium-term and long-term effects of different harmful substances (e.g. heavy metals, radionuclides, dumped chemical munition, persistent organic pollutants, emerging pollutants such as pharmaceuticals and personal care products, nanoparticles and plastics) at the level of organisms, communities, ecosystem as well as on ecosystem functioning. Studies on bioaccumulation, biomagnification and associated biological effects are welcome. The sessions under this theme will address basic questions such as: