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Environmental Impact of Unexploded Ordnance in the Baltic Sea
Germany's €100 million pilot project aims to safely remove 300,000 tonnes of WWII munitions from the Baltic Sea to reduce toxic pollution and ecological risks, researchers said.
- Beneath Germany's northern coast, approximately 300,000 tonnes of unexploded World War II munitions lie on the Baltic Sea floor, prompting researchers from the GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel to map the hazard.
- Most of this hazardous waste was dumped by Allied powers following Germany's 1945 surrender to dismantle the Nazi war machine; almost 80 years later, salt water corrosion releases toxic explosives into the ecosystem.
- Researchers detected about 3,000 kilograms of dissolved munitions chemicals in the region, while geochemist Dr. Aaron Beck of GEOMAR warns these compounds are "toxic and carcinogenic," threatening marine organisms.
- To address this, the German government launched a 100 million euro pilot project in Luebeck Bay, with divers and underwater robots sorting through dumped munitions at four sites.
- Beyond explosives, sunken warships like the Franken contain up to 200 tonnes of fuel, which experts call a "time bomb"; cleanup processes are projected to continue for at least 800 years.
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Scientists are conducting an expedition to the Baltic Sea to assess the pollution caused by the millions of tons of ammunition submerged after 1945 A few kilometres from the beaches in the Bay of
·France
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Environmental impact of unexploded ordnance in the Baltic Sea
The south-western Baltic Sea has about 3,000 kilograms of dissolved toxic chemicals released from unexploded ordnance, according to a new study. The substances were detected in almost all water samples taken in 2017 and 2018, with particularly high concentrations in the Bights of Kiel and L beck. The levels are still below thresholds for health risk, but highlight the urgent need for munitions clearance to minimize long-term risks.
·United States
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Slowly rusting away: Germany's WWII munitions a toxic legacy on Baltic Sea floor
·Luxembourg City, Luxembourg
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Total News Sources45
Leaning Left7Leaning Right8Center14Last UpdatedBias Distribution48% Center
Bias Distribution
- 48% of the sources are Center
48% Center
L 24%
C 48%
R 28%
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