Analysis and management of ecological risk for marine ecosystems and people in the Baltic Sea region

Abstract

Presently there exists a contradiction; on the one hand, between the findings of the Commission of HELCOM CHEMU (1996) stating the lack of threat for the marine ecosystems and population from submerged chemical weapons in the Baltic Sea and, on the other hand, the statements of a number of politicians of the Baltic States (among others, the Prime Minister of Sweden) about the impermissibility of constructing the North Stream underwater gas pipeline due to extremely high environmental threat caused by the possibility of inflow of toxic agents into the nearby environment. The present research suggests an alternative problem-solving approach based on a new concept of scientific research. To illustrate the long-term prospects of the suggested research direction, on the basis of DPSIR (Driving Force-Pressure-State-Impact-Response) methodology we make a "through" estimation of the ecological risk significance.