MEPA Coastal Water Survey - Pollutants in sediment 2012

The survey was conducted at 17 stations in the coastal waters of the Maltese Islands in 2012. Sediment samples were collected using a Van Veen grab sampler. The collected sediment was collected in a container of adequate size, photographed and immediately sampled. At each station two samples were collected in order to execute and compare two chemical analyses. These were placed in a cool box and transported to the warehouse and stored in a refrigerator. Later, they were shipped by express courier to the laboratory within 3 working days. The samples were analysed for the level of pollutants using International Organization for Standardization and US Environmental Protection Agency standard procedures. The pollutants tested for are important metals, hydrocarbons and PAHs and persistent organic compounds that can cause bioaccumulation. The measurements were made in connection with a monitoring survey of Maltese coastal waters. The resultant datasets generated provide the benchmark for long term monitoring programs and assessments that are required in order to implement EU Directives on water resources.