The Ministry of Environment and Water has taken immediate action to dispel doubts about potential pollution of the Black Sea waters after a tanker was blocked off the coast of Ahtopol. In this regard, the Basin Directorate “Black Sea Region“ (BDCHR) – Varna deployed measuring devices and took samples between Sozopol and Rezovo, which will provide data on the state of the sea water.
The samples will be tested for the following indicators: presence of petroleum products, polychlorobiphenyls (PCBs 28, 52, 101, 138, 153, 180), benzene, ethylbenzene, toluene, styrene, incl. vegetable oils.
The results obtained will be interpreted according to the environmental quality standards (EQS) specified in the Regulation on the Characterization of Surface Waters and the Regulation on EQS for Priority Substances and Certain Pollutants. If deviations are identified or if pollution is detected, follow-up actions will be taken, of which the public will be promptly informed.
Currently, the regular monitoring of the Ministry of Environment and Water does not report deviations indicating pollution of marine waters in the Bulgarian waters.