Arsenic in sediments from the southeastern Baltic Sea

Area of Science:

• Environmental Chemistry
• Marine Pollution
• Chemical Oceanography

Background:

• The Baltic Sea contains numerous chemical weapons, posing environmental risks.
• Arsenic is a key component of these munitions and can indicate their dispersal.
• Understanding arsenic distribution is vital for assessing marine pollution from dumped chemical warfare agents.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze total arsenic concentrations in sediments from the Lithuanian economic zone of the Baltic Sea.
• To investigate arsenic levels near a known chemical munitions dumpsite in the Gotland Basin.
• To assess arsenic as a potential indicator of chemical weapons leakage and dispersal in the marine environment.

Main Methods:

• Sediment samples were collected from the Lithuanian economic zone, including the Gotland Basin dumpsite and monitoring stations.
• Total arsenic concentrations were determined using standard analytical techniques.
• Geochemical analysis of sediment composition was performed to contextualize arsenic levels.

Main Results:

• Arsenic concentrations in Baltic Sea sediments ranged from 1.1 to 19.0 mg kg(-1), with an average of 3.4 mg kg(-1).
• Slightly elevated arsenic content was observed in sediments proximate to the chemical weapons dumpsite.
• Arsenic levels were generally low compared to findings from other Baltic and North Sea investigations.

Conclusions:

• Arsenic serves as a potential indicator for the dispersal of chemical munitions in the Baltic Sea.
• While localized increases exist near dumpsites, overall arsenic concentrations in the studied area are not alarmingly high.
• Continued monitoring is recommended to track potential long-term environmental impacts of dumped chemical weapons.