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Research article2024Peer reviewedOpen access

Effects of climate and anthropogenic pressures on chemical warfare agent transfer in the Baltic Sea food web

Czub, Michal J.; Silberberger, Marc J.; Beldowski, Jacek; Kotwicki, Lech; Muller-Karulis, Barbel; Tomczak, Maciej T.

Abstract

The Baltic Sea is a severely disturbed marine ecosystem previously used as a dumping ground for chemical warfare agents (CWA), which are now known to enter its food web. We have performed a modelling exercise using a calibrated and validated Central Baltic Ecopath with Ecosim (EwE) model to recreate the potential environmental pathways of the infamous Clark I (diphenylchlorarsine). Observations from modelling timestamps covering recent times correspond with in situ detections in sediments and Atlantic cod ( Gadus morhua). ). Under applied modelling conditions and scenarios, there is an active transfer of Clark I from sediments through the Baltic Sea food-web. According to our results, Clark I bioaccumulates within the Baltic Sea food web exclusively throughout the detritus-based food chain. The EwE model for the Central Baltic Sea also allows the simulation of changes in the food web under multiple anthropogenic stressors and management efforts, including recommendations from the Helsinki Commission Baltic Sea Action Plan (HELCOM BSAP). Among all investigated scentarios and factors, the commercial fishing is the most impactful on Clark I accumulation rate and contamination transfer within the Baltic Sea food web. The study indicates the need to extend the existing monitoring

Keywords

Clark I; Phenylarsenicals; Ecopath with Ecosim; Bioaccumulation; Modelling

Published in

Science of the Total Environment
2024, Volume: 951, article number: 175455Publisher: ELSEVIER

    UKÄ Subject classification

    Environmental Sciences

    Publication identifier

    DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.175455

    Permanent link to this page (URI)

    https://res.slu.se/id/publ/132515