DTI Strategic Environmental Assessment Area 7 (SEA7). Contamination of water and sediments metadata

This report describes work carried out under commission to the Department of Trade and Industry to compile an inventory of metadata on contamination of water and sediments for Strategic Assessment Area 7 (SEA7). The area concerned is shown in Figure 1. The database of published data has been compiled in EndNote© 6 format and produced on a compact disc. It is largely based on the contractors’ experience of work on contamination in the Irish Sea backed up by extensive on-line literature surveys and information from personal contacts. For a naturally occurring element or compound, contamination can be defined as its presence at a concentration above the natural background level. This background level will itself vary with geological and/or oceanographic conditions and the metadata assembled will thus include papers and reports that give general geochemical data as well as data on specific contamination. For synthetic substances, any presence can be regarded as contamination.