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Environmental information systems
BaP is the third most common of the priority substances detected in European waters at concentrations exceeding threshold considered to be safe, posing a risk for humans and the environment. In this page we provide an overview of BaP in rivers, lakes, groundwater and coastal waters based on voluntarily reported Waterbase - Water Quality ICM, 2023 data. Dashboards show sampling locations and where measured concentrations are above the quality threshold. These exceedances indicate a potential environmental or health risk.
What we learnt from the Waterbase - Water Quality ICM data reported by countries in 2023
49%
monitored sites
in rivers and lakes
above the quality threshold
0.5%
monitored sites
in groundwater bodies
above the quality threshold
13%
monitored sites
in coastal waters
above the quality threshold
Sampling sites are displayed in the map accordingly to their chemical status based on BaP concentrations measured in lakes and rivers. Sites with yearly average concentrations below Environmental Quality Standards (EQS) are marked as in good status, while those with concentrations above EQS are marked as failing to achieve good status. The EQS used for surface water bodies is 0.00017 µg/L (Directive - 2013/39 - EN - EUR-Lex). Sampling sites marked as unknown are those where the measured concentration is reported as below a limit of quantification, which is above the EQS.
Sampling sites are displayed in the map accordingly to their chemical status based on BaP concentrations measured in coastal and transitional waters. Sites with yearly average concentrations below Environmental Quality Standards (EQS) are marked as in good status, while those with concentrations above EQS are marked as failing to achieve good status. The EQS used for surface water bodies is 0.00012957 µg/L (Directive - 2013/39 - EN - EUR-Lex). Sampling sites marked as unknown are those where measured concentrations is reported as below a limit of quantification, which is above the EQS.
Sampling sites are displayed in the map accordingly to their chemical status based on BaP concentrations measured in groundwater. Sites with average yearly concentrations below the threshold are marked as in good status, while those with concentrations above are marked as failing to achieve good status. The threshold used for groundwater is 0.01 µg/L, which is the threshold used by most countries delivering the data (Groundwater methodology - WFD). Sampling sites marked as unknown are those where the measured concentration is reported as below a limit of quantification, which is above the threshold.