Controversy Over Chemical Weapons Dumped in the Baltic Sea

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to discuss and attempt to analyse the issue of chemical weaponscontaining chemical warfare agents (CWA) and conventional ammunition containing toxic chemicalsthat pose a threat to the ecological safety of the Baltic Sea waters. These substances have been dumpedin the Baltic Sea and they are a real problem, therefore, it is necessary to assess and try to determine,at least theoretically, the degree of risk to the marine environment and human health. Work ondetermining the ecological risk assessment is the subject of activities under the flagship project underthe Strategy of the Baltic Sea Region, in which the Baltic Sea Environment Protection Commission(HELCOM) and the State Environmental Monitoring (SEM) play a leading role, performing the tasksof the Chief Inspector of Environmental Protection as a government representative of the central officefor environmental protection.Keywords: chemical weapons, chemical warfare agents, ecological safety, contamination of the BalticSea, threats of the natural environment