Beached pilot whales off the coast of Fife, Scotland. Scientists later found high concentrations of toxic metals in the whales. Photograph: Andrew Milligan/PA

Europe's seas got poisoned by heavy metals and harmful chemicals

According to a report from the European Environment Agency, more than three-quarters of areas assessed are showing contamination of heavy metals and dangerous chemicals.

96% of the assessed is of the Baltic showed a very high level of harmful substances. Moreover, 91% of the Black Sea and 87% of the Mediterranean are also poisoned by harmful chemicals. Another high level of unsafe chemicals and metals were found in 75% of assessed areas in the north-east Atlantic.

Lead author of the EEA report, Johnny Reker said that it was important to be aware not only about the existing contaminants but also the new ones. Reker also stated that it only takes two minutes for new chemicals to be created and we never know the effects of it. 

People are called for greater controls of chemical used and monitoring marine health. The toxins found in Europe’s seas are affecting marine animals as well as human’s health.

Reker then cited an example of Germany, where it remains difficult to prove a causal link between specific contaminants and the reduction of fertility since young men have been found to produce only a third of the sperm that German men did 30 years ago. However, the presence of endocrine disruptors such as PCBs may be partially responsible for this reduction in fertility.

Source: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/may/15/heavy-metals-and-dangerous-chemicals-still-poisoning-europes-seas