Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Sedimentary record of environmental pollution in the Western Baltic Sea

  • Published:
Naturwissenschaften Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The chronological development of environmental pollution in the Western Baltic Sea for the past hundred years was investigated in dated sediment cores. An artificial radionuclide (137Cs), nutrients, heavy metals, chlorinated hydrocarbons (PCB, DDT, Lindane) and plasticizers (phthalate esters) show characteristic distribution patterns within the various cores. They can be related to the production and use of specific chemicals and goods, to emissions associated with the increased combustion of coal parallel to industrialization and —in the case of 137Cs — to emissions associated with atomic weapons tests in the high atmosphere. Characteristic trends in the general development of pollution may be superimposed by specific emissions from local sources.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Züllig, H.: Schweiz. Z. Hydrol. 18, 5 (1956)

    Google Scholar 

  2. Müller, G.: Umschau 79, 778 (1979)

    Google Scholar 

  3. Müller, G., Grimmer, G., Böhnke, H.: Naturwissenschaften 64, 427 (1977)

    Google Scholar 

  4. Leppäkosi, E.: Ambio 9, 168 (1960)

    Google Scholar 

  5. Reineck, H.-E.: Natur u. Museum 93, 65 (1963)

    Google Scholar 

  6. Müller, G.: Methods in Sedimentary Petrology. Stuttgart: Schweizerbart, New York-London: Hafner 1967

    Google Scholar 

  7. Biscaye, P.E.: Geol. Soc. Am. Bull. 76, 803 (1965)

    Google Scholar 

  8. Krishnaswami, S., et al.: Earth Planet. Sci. Lett. 11, 407 (1971)

    Google Scholar 

  9. Koide, M., Burland, K., Goldberg, E.O.: Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta 37, 1171 (1973)

    Google Scholar 

  10. Dominik, J., Mangini, A., Müller, G.: Sedimentology (in print)

  11. Simola, K., et al.: Proc. 4th Int. Congr. Int. Radiat. Protect. Assoc., Paris 1977, 2, 857 (1977)

    Google Scholar 

  12. Pawlak, J.: Ambio 9, 163 (1980)

    Google Scholar 

  13. Brandt, E.: Vom Wasser 48, 225 (1977)

    Google Scholar 

  14. Müller, G.: Z. Naturforsch. 32c, 920 (1977)

    Google Scholar 

  15. Erlenkeuser, H., Suess, E., Willkomm, H.: Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta 38, 823 (1974)

    Google Scholar 

  16. Hallberg, R.: Ambio 8, 265 (1979)

    Google Scholar 

  17. Jensen, S.: New Scient. 32, 612 (1966)

    Google Scholar 

  18. Acker, L., Schulte, E.: Dtsch. Lebensm. Rdsch. 66, 385 (1970)

    Google Scholar 

  19. Acker, L., Schulte, E.: Naturwissenschaften 57, 497 (1970)

    Google Scholar 

  20. Kihlström, J.E., Berglund, E.: Ambio 7, 175 (1978)

    Google Scholar 

  21. Olsson, M.: Finnish Mar. Res. 44, 227 (1978)

    Google Scholar 

  22. Luckas, B., Wetzel, H., Rechlin, O.: Nahrung 24, 405 (1980)

    Google Scholar 

  23. Ehrhardt, M., Derenbach, J.: Mar. Chem. 8, 339 (1980)

    Google Scholar 

  24. Robbins, J.A., in: The Biogeochemistry of Lead in the Environment, p. 283 (J.O. Nriagu, ed.). Amsterdam: Elsevier 1978

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institut für Sedimentforschung der Universität, D-6900, Heidelberg

    German Müller, J. Dominik & R. Reuther

  2. Institut für Lebensmittelchemie der Universität, D-4400, Münster

    R. Malisch, E. Schulte & L. Acker

  3. Institut für Meeresgeologie und -Biologie Senckenberg, D-2940, Wilhelmshaven

    G. Irion

Authors
  1. German Müller
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. J. Dominik
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. R. Reuther
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. R. Malisch
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. E. Schulte
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. L. Acker
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. G. Irion
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Additional information

We express our thanks to the Senckenbergische Naturforschende Gesellschaft, Frankfurt/M., for providing us with their research vessel “Senckenberg”, and to the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft for financial support. The Institut für Umweltphysik, Heidelberg University, kindly permitted us to use their facilities for 137Cs and 210Pb determinations; D. Godfrey gave us his assistance for the English version of the manuscript.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Müller, G., Dominik, J., Reuther, R. et al. Sedimentary record of environmental pollution in the Western Baltic Sea. Naturwissenschaften 67, 595–600 (1980). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00396539

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00396539

Keywords

Search

Navigation