BaltActHaz :: Publications

Hazardous substances screening & Source tracking

Hazardous Substances Screening Results in the Aquatic Environment

130 different substances from 12 substances groups were investigated many of which have been investigated for the first time in the Baltic states. Samples were taken from the surface waters and their bottom sediments as well as from the effluents and sewage sludge of waste water treatment plants in Estonia and Latvia. For both countries the screening reports were also produced in English.

Estonian Screening Results

ENG, EE

Latvian Screening Results

ENG, LV

Hazardous Substances Source Tracking in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania

In order to investigate the possible sources of the previously mentioned substances in the Baltic Sea, analyses were conducted in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania of hazardous substances in the waste water produced in different industries, waste water produced in specific types of businesses, such as laundries and car washing facilities,
filtrates from landfills, and sewage water from residential areas.

EE, LV, LT

A summary for the Baltic States
ENG

Proposals for state monitoring programmes
& national hazardous substance reduction programmes

Proposals for State Monitoring Programme

The proposals are mainly based on the results of the screening activities performed within the project for improvements of the state monitoring programmes with regard to detection and monitoring hazardous substances.

For Latvia: LV, ENG
For Estonia: EE, ENG
For Lithuania: LT, ENG

Recommendations for the Reduction of Hazardous Substances

EE, LV, LT

Enhancing better implementation of legislation

Permitting Guidance

Project experts have compiled guidance material about the environmental permitting system with useful information for all different stakeholders who are involved in this process (industries and other institutions who need to apply environmental permits, authorities who check the documentation and issue permits, also consultants and environmental experts who are involved in this process). The aim of this guidance materials is to enhance the quality of environmental permits to protect the environment (especially form the aspect of integrating the control of hazardous substances into them).

EE, LV, LT

REACH, IPPC and WFD- the interactions beyond

This brochure aims to investigate and present how diff erent pieces of legislation, like IPPC and REACH could
support the implementation of WFD goals and examine what are the most important interactions between these
frameworks as well as what challenges they pose to the competent authorities in the Baltic States and how these
might be addressed.

ENG, EE, LV, LT

Hazardous Substances
of Environmental Concern:
What does that mean?

This brochure is meant for industry and specialists from the state authorities, first of all those directly dealing with industry (permitting and controlling authorities) who should have very versatile understanding of the concept of hazardous substances under different frameworks. This publication aims at bringing the reader to more general view and holistic understanding on the hazard concept in EU while the following publications within project will focus more on the practical tools and hints for the implementation and enforcement of the hazardous substances related legislation. (1st print 2009/ 2nd updated print 2011)

ENG, EE, LV, LT

Chemicals management at enterprises

Industries should be especially interested in Part C of the guidance material, which is about chemicals management at industries. Also the guidance material includes useful information about the environmental permitting system for all different stakeholders who are involved in this process (industries and other institutions who need to apply environmental permits, authorities who check the documentation and issue permits, also consultants and environmental experts who are involved in this process).

Permitting Guidance

EE, LV, LT

Hazardous Substances
of Environmental Concern:
What does that mean?

This brochure is meant for industry and specialists from the state authorities, first of all those directly dealing with industry (permitting and controlling authorities) who should have very versatile understanding of the concept of hazardous substances under different frameworks. This publication aims at bringing the reader to more general view and holistic understanding on the hazard concept in EU while the following publications within project will focus more on the practical tools and hints for the implementation and enforcement of the hazardous substances related legislation

ENG, EE, LV, LT

Substitution of hazardous chemicals

Substitution leaflet

A short leaflet which explains the main principles of substitution. What does it mean, when it is neccessary to think about substitution and gives an overview of the requirements coming from legislation when industries are obliged to substitute chemicals.

Substitution leaflet

EE, LV, LT

Substitution handbook for industries

Includes information how to start planning a substitution process in a product or process, which stages need to be thought through and considered before actually making such decision. First part includes more theoretical information and background about substitution. And second part is giving more practical examples how to assess the risks related to chemicals, how to set the priorities what to substitute and how to find suitable alternatives.

EE, LV, LT

Background info about Best Available Techniques

A short overview about hazardous substances used in different industry branches, how their use and production is regulated by different legislastion and gives reference to best available techniques documents to substitute or reduce the use of a certain hazardous chemical.

EE, LV, LT

Million reasons to know about Hazardous Substances

Our "best-seller" brochure. In easy language and with attractive illustrations to explain about hazardous substances in our everyday lives. Why they are hazardous? Why it is important to know about them?
Shortly describes five chemicals, explains why they are problematic and what You could do to avoid exposure to such chemicals.

ENG, EE, LV, LT, RU

Layman's Report (Project summary)

The project "Layman's Report" is a short brochure in easy language which sums up the project activities and explains our project in a nutshell. Starting from the background and where the project idea developed, what was done and what we found out about the presence of hazardous substances in the Baltic States and their possible sources. You can also read what were the main conclusions and outcomes of our project and how the results will be used in the future.

ENG, EE, LV, LT

Information boards

Alltogether 45 notice boards were set up at different locations in the three Baltic states to raise the awareness about hazardous substances in the Baltic Sea and why it is important to protect the Baltic Sea. The purpose of the information boards was also to inform about our project and our activities and they were set up at different locations, e.g. libraries, universities and schools, at recreational info centres near the Baltic Sea. The picture illustrates how hazardous substances are released into our environment and how from different sources they end up in the Baltic Sea and cause harm to the ecosystems and human health.

View larger image: EE, LT, LV

Project introductory Flyer

In the beginning of the project an introductory flyer was produced to explain to different interested stakeholders the BaltActHaz project. To whom the activities are targetes, who are project partners and financers, how the project addresses the problem of hazardous substances in the water environment and which actions it foresees to tackle them. The project flyer was produced in English, Estonian, Latvian and Lithuanian langugaes.

Project Intro Flyer

BaltActHaz project - Final Report
/public version/