Aging Military Weapons Piles in the Northern and Baltic Seas: Suggestions for Action
Ticking Time Bomb Beneath the Waves: WWII Munitions in North and Baltic Seas Pose Grave Danger
Kiel - Submerged in the murky depths of the North and Baltic Seas lies an alarming time bomb: an estimated 1.6 million tons of dangerous WWII ammunition, according to geologist Jens Greinert from Kiel's renowned Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research (GEOMAR). Unsurprisingly, the entire German Baltic Sea bears the ominous label of contamination, Greinert asserts.
These grenades, torpedoes, bombs, mines, and cartridges have been decaying for eight decades, leaking cached explosives such as TNT, a potent, cancer-causing agent.
FYI:
World War II saw quite a bit of toxic dumping in these seas. Authorities have long known that mustard gas and other chemical agents continue to seep from deteriorating munitions, contaminating the marine environment.
Over 200 experts from 16 countries, convened in Kiel's "Munition Clearance Week" conference from Monday to Friday, hotly debated the best approaches to retrieve these explosives from the seabed and tackle the challenges. The objective is to protect critical infrastructure in the North and Baltic Seas. TKMS, Kiel's shipyard, will showcase an innovative floating disposal platform for munitions during a tech fair accompanying the event.
In light of these disturbing findings, the German government has earmarked 100 million euros for the immediate removal of WWII ammunition from the North and Baltic Seas. A pilot salvage operation, coordinated by three salvage companies commissioned by the Federal Ministry for the Environment, kicked off in September in Lübeck Bay. The project aims to gather crucial insights for systematic salvage via a platform.
On a Side Note:
Greinert, a munitions expert, anticipates that the German Baltic Sea might be free of such remnants by the end of the 2040s, provided ample funding is secured. In some instances, the munitions are disturbingly close to the shore, as is the case with the so-called Kolberger Heath, located near Kiel.
Researchers have already detected traces of explosives in the water and fish near known storage sites.
Health Concerns:
Before the conference, Jennifer Strehse, an expert from Kiel's Institute for Toxicology and Pharmacology, voiced her concerns about detectable levels of TNT and its transformation products. Fortunately, at present, there's no immediate risk to human health from eating contaminated fish.
Strehse, however, warned that continued entry of these substances into the sea or release from the munitions might heighten the threats in the coming years.
In other words, we're treading on dangerous waters, folks. Let's hope these experts get their act together before the situation escalates further.
The imminent removal of World War II ammunition from the North and Baltic Seas is a critical step towards safeguarding both the environment and the infrastructure of these seas. This initiative, backed by a 100 million euro budget, is reflective of the government's dedication to addressing the threat posed by these decaying munitions.
Given the potential health risks associated with the residual TNT and its transformation products, it is essential that the experts convened in Kiel's "Munition Clearance Week" conference develop effective strategies for retrieving these explosives from the seabed.
As the danger from WWII munitions in the Baltic Sea becomes increasingly apparent, the field of environmental science and the finance sector will play crucial roles in securing the necessary funds and implementing solutions to mitigate the hazards posed by this ticking time bomb beneath the waves.
