Status of European Estuaries

Studies of pollution status in particular estuaries provide information which may be useful generally in studies of other estuaries. Most estuarine pollution issues concern 1) point and nonpoint source contaminants, 2) eutrophication and hypoxia, 3) pathogen introduction and 4) urbanization and industrial development. Most of the estuarine pollution issues in the United States have been well known in Europe for decades. Assessment and monitoring of thermal discharges and of a variety of point and nonpoint source inorganic and organic chemical contaminants have been conducted in the Baltic Sea, Danish coast, French coast, German Bight, Netherlands coast, North Sea and Oslofjord.