Marine pollution in Gdansk Bay, Puck Bay and the Vistula Lagoon, Poland: An overview

The highest concentrations of Cu, Zn, Pb, Cd and Ag in marine sediments from Gdansk Bay, Poland, occur near the mouth of the Vistula River. These elements are probably scavenged at the hydrological front by Mn and Fe oxyhydroxides where mixing of Vistula river water with brackish Baltic Sea water takes place. Vistula Lagoon sediments are much less polluted with Zn, Pb, Cd and Ag than those from Puck Bay and Gdansk Bay. This reflects the fact that the heavily-polluted Vistula River no longer flows directly into the Vistula Lagoon. Remediation of these areas will be costly, but this is an essential stage in the cleaning up of the Baltic Sea. Remediation will require the upgrading of present industrial systems, adoption of modern technology and the installation of municipal sewage treatment plants.