Sustainable Mediterranean
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Sustainable Mediterranean MEDITERRANEE DURABLE • BIΩΣIMH MEΣOΓEIOΣ • MEDITERRANEO SOSTENIBLE • Issue No 71, Dec 2015 Proceedings of the International Conference “Environmental Perspectives of the Gulf of Elefsis A Mediterranean case study where Science meets the Society” Elefsis, Greece, 11-12 September 2015 This issue of Sustainable Mediterranean is co-produced by the City of Elefsis, UNEP/MAP, the Ministry of Environment and Energy, the University of Athens and MIO-ECSDE. Issue No 71, Dec 2015 Sustainable Mediterranean M. Pouqueville, Grèce, Paris, Firmin Didot Freres, Editeurs, M DCCC XXXV (1835). L’ Univers - Histoire et Description de tous les peuples. Sustainable Mediterranean - issue 71 1 EDITORIAL This special issue of the “Sustainable Mediterranean” Journal of the Mediterranean Information Oce for Environment, Culture and Sustainable Development (MIO-ECSDE) celebrates the 40 years of UNEP/MAP and is a contribution to the 19th Conference of the Parties to the Barcelona Convention. It is a concrete demonstration of partnership in action. The issues is co-produced by UNEP/MAP, Secretariat of the Barcelona Convention, the Ministry of Environment and Energy of Greece, the City of Elefsis, the University of Athens (UoA) and, of course, MIO-ECSDE. It is devoted to the case study of the Gulf of Elefsis. The articles included, virtually encapsulate most of the and policies. Both the research and the eorts for the elements one would like to see developed and combined protection of the environment of the GoE were initiated in in the interface between good science and meaningful the early 1970s by committed Civil Society involvement. A public participation, when dealing with the protection of lone student, rst, with minimum support, then a young the environment and the sustainable development of the academic and his undergraduate students, supported Mediterranean region. In fact, they are the outputs of the for their rst experiments by instrumentation bought “International Conference on the Environmental Prospects of by the Greek NGO Elliniki Etairia/The Hellenic Society for the Gulf of Elefsis: A Mediterranean case study where Science the Protection of the Environment and Cultural Heritage meets Society”. (which was also one of the founding members of MIO- ECSDE together with the EEB and RAED) were the rst The Gulf of Elefsis (GoE) is a site of immense natural, documented pioneers. archaeological/historic and economic value, but also a notorious pollution “hot spot” because of its rapid Signicant innovative research in the GoE, concerning industrialization in the second half of the 20th century. In metals, magnetic parameters, etc., was continued and the northern coasts of the GoE and in a distance of few carried out also abroad (in the University of Liverpool). kilometers two of the major crude oil reneries of Greece, This experience was brought back and replicated not major steel mills, cement factories, harbours, shipyards, only in the GoE but throughout Greece. The results back food processing and other manufacturing industries in 1979-81 were publically announced, widely reported operate in a densely populated area. The western part in the daily press and debated, stimulating a series of of the Gulf hosts summer resorts, places for recreation measures and further initiatives, while also shaping and and even thriving mussel growing farms. Despite the “stamping” the character and career of a large number pressures and thanks to a series of favourable bio-geo- of post-graduate students and scientists who worked in chemical characteristics, the area is still a biodiversity the area and beyond, and participated in environmental treasure house where even rare and threatened species management protection and/or educational initiatives, exist (such as Pinna nobilis, Pecten Jacobaeus, etc.). multiplying through the involvement of many other local Dolphins and even a sea turtle Caretta caretta (!!) were actors, teachers and schools, the impact of the scientic spotted there, last summer. work. From the historic and cultural point of view, its eastern In this publication, among other important outputs, is entrance was the place of the famous naval battle of an account of the work supported by the “Horizon 2020 Salamis in 480 BC between Greeks and Persians which Initiative to Depollute the Mediterranean”, demonstrating shaped international history, while Elefsis was one of the through concrete ndings, for the rst time in the most famous sites of the Mediterranean, because of the Mediterranean and beyond, the benecial impact on the “Elefsinian Mysteries”. environment that has resulted from the introduction and implementation of environmental policies and legislation Although, undoubtedly a very special place, in combination with the adoption and employment of characteristics similar to those of the GoE are found Best Available Techniques (BATs) by industry. in many other coastal embayments throughout the Mediterranean, making the GoE a “typical” Mediterranean Since the 70s, the research and management work has example and a valuable “open” biogeochemical been continued by the Laboratory of Environmental laboratory. Chemistry and the UNESCO Chair and Network for What is of particular importance in this case is the early Sustainable Development Management and Education interaction of science with public awareness, mobilisation of the University of Athens and resulted in more than 150 2 Sustainable Mediterranean - issue 71 papers, mostly in peer reviewed journals and one of the The fact that the City of Elefsis not only graciously hosted best “time series” of data reported by Greece to UNEP/ the International Conference but also supported the MAP. A major part of these studies was communicated publication of the present edition is a very promising to the Local Authorities of Elefsis, presented in public sign for the commitment of the Mayor and the Council meetings and inspired or supported the activities and to this end. The Ministry for the Environment and Energy initiatives of local and national NGOs. gave a positive signal, as well. The UoA, MIO-ECSDE and UNEP-MAP have already stated their willingness to further The publication also includes related signicant results support the protection and sustainable development of of the work of the Hellenic Centre for Marine Research the area. and concludes with a preliminary proposal for Strategic Guidelines aiming at facilitating the creation of a All the elements mentioned above justify why this Common Vision and the drafting of a truly Integrated case study deserved a special edition of “Sustainable Coastal Management Plan for the area, inspired by Mediterranean” to mark the 40th Anniversary of the a similar procedure undertaken under the Horizon Barcelona Convention and UNEP/MAP, the institutional 2020 Initiative for Lake Bizerte (Tunisia). The Strategic and practical work of which has inspired, stimulated Guidelines also take into consideration the Integrative and framed the initiatives for the protection of the Methodological Framework (IMF), recently published by environment of the Mediterranean Sea and the UNEP/MAP-PAP/RAC, GWP-Med and UNESCO-IHP, hoping sustainable development of the Region. that the competent local and national authorities will follow it up. Prof. Michael J. Scoullos Hendrik Hondius, “Attica, Megarica, Corinthiaca, Boeutia, Phocis Locri”, Atlas Novus…, Amsterdam 1639. Sustainable Mediterranean - issue 71 3 Table Of Contents EDITORIAL 2 Messages 6 The United Nations Environment Programme Mediterranean Action Plan (UNEP/MAP) and the Barcelona Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment and the Coastal Region of the Mediterranean 9 and its Protocols Scientic presentations 12 The Aristeia (“Excellence”) Project for the “Integrated Study of Trace Metals Biogeochemistry in the 12 Coastal Marine Environment” Trace metals in seawater and sediments of the Gulf of Elefsis: 1977 – 2015 16 Evolution over the last 30 years of the trophic conditions in the Gulf of Elefsis 20 Pollutant levels and evidence of eects in biota from Elefsis bay 23 The sea surface microlayer in the Gulf of Elefsis: trace metals and organic matter Speciation studies of copper in the Gulf of Elefsis: the role of the macroalga Ulva rigida 33 Nutrient benthic uxes and porewater concentrations in the Gulf of Elefsis 36 Nutrient cycle alterations in Elefsis Gulf under simulated ocean acidication conditions 40 Sea bottom sediments of Elefsis Gulf: A potential secondary source of metals under simulated ocean 44 acidication conditions Metal uxes in the bottom – water interface in Elefsis bay, Greece 48 Rare earth elements in marine sediments of Elefsis Bay, Greece 51 Mercury levels in Greek coastal areas 54 Bioaccumulation of trace metals in marine mollusks from coastal areas aected by industrial activity 58 Benthic communities in Elefsis Gulf 62 Ιnterannual changes and trends in the pelagic ecosystem of Elefsis bay 65 Indicator bacteria concentrations in microenvironments of the Gulf of Elefsis (Greece) 68 Assessment of Elefsis Bay Bathing Waters Based on their Microbiological Quality 71 4 Sustainable Mediterranean - issue 71 Biogeochemical processes under anoxic conditions aecting Arsenic (As) distribution in Elefsis Gulf: pos- 74 sible alterations due to simulated ocean acidication conditions - a preliminary assessment Investigating the pollution from BTEX in the groundwater of the Thriassio Plain, W. Attica 79 Trace metal pollution in the marine environment of Evripus Straits and Larymna Bay