3 Causes and Effects of Water Pollution in Romania
91
and transfer chemicals, persistent, bioaccumulative and toxic (PBT) substances, such
as polychlorinated biphenyls, PCBs to organisms [124].
Microplastics have been detected in Asia, the EU and North America. They are
in remote and protected areas (e.g. Hovsgol Lake, Mongolia) and in quantities large
enough to overcome natural particles (e.g. the Danube River, Austria). It is considered to be a significant share of landfill trash traded to the oceans, for example,
it is estimated that 1533 tones of plastic trash per year enter the Black Sea on the
Danube. Initial studies suggest that both invertebrates in freshwater and fish consume
microplastics by ingestion resulting in physical effects including physiological stress
responses and even signs of tumor formation [139].
Alien Species
Invasive alien species refer to all species and subspecies introduced outside their natural habitat, both past and present, from all taxonomic groups. This includes any part
of the organism: gametes, seeds, eggs or propagules that could survive and reproduce
later. Invasive alien species refers to any foreign species of which introduction causes
or is likely to cause economic or environmental damage or harm human health. The
invasive state is usually assessed by exponential population growth and/or gamma
expansion. In recent years, invasive species have become a policy with high levels
of proliferation worldwide. Represent a major threat requiring international cooperation and a multidisciplinary approach at different levels: academic, administrative
and local communities. The current list of freshwater alien species reported in Romania includes 44 species: 28 fishes and 16 invertebrate species, most of them from
North America and Southeast Asia. Along the Black Sea coast of Romania, a total
of 58 species of foreign animals were reported, of which one was a fish species,
the rest being invertebrates. The largest group is crustaceans, easily transported with
ballast water or body load. Very few species have been deliberately introduced, e.g.
Crassostrea virginica, for aquaculture. Most of the foreign species reported in the
Black Sea come from the Atlantic Ocean or are cosmopolitan [2, 44].
Accidental Pollution
The distribution on hydrographic basins shows that most accidental pollutions
occurred in the Mures (67), Arges-Vedea (61), Olt (43), Siret (40) and Prut (36),
basins with accidental pollution cases ranging between 67 and 3, a few cases being
recorded in Banat (3) and Crisuri (6) (Fig. 3.26). By year, most cases have been
noticed in 2017 (70), 2012 (65), 2015 (63). The cause of oil pollution is largely due
to damage to oil and saltwater pipelines due to their spillage. In 2015, the decreased
oxygen concentration due to high summer temperatures led to 9.5% fish mortality,
91
and transfer chemicals, persistent, bioaccumulative and toxic (PBT) substances, such
as polychlorinated biphenyls, PCBs to organisms [124].
Microplastics have been detected in Asia, the EU and North America. They are
in remote and protected areas (e.g. Hovsgol Lake, Mongolia) and in quantities large
enough to overcome natural particles (e.g. the Danube River, Austria). It is considered to be a significant share of landfill trash traded to the oceans, for example,
it is estimated that 1533 tones of plastic trash per year enter the Black Sea on the
Danube. Initial studies suggest that both invertebrates in freshwater and fish consume
microplastics by ingestion resulting in physical effects including physiological stress
responses and even signs of tumor formation [139].
Alien Species
Invasive alien species refer to all species and subspecies introduced outside their natural habitat, both past and present, from all taxonomic groups. This includes any part
of the organism: gametes, seeds, eggs or propagules that could survive and reproduce
later. Invasive alien species refers to any foreign species of which introduction causes
or is likely to cause economic or environmental damage or harm human health. The
invasive state is usually assessed by exponential population growth and/or gamma
expansion. In recent years, invasive species have become a policy with high levels
of proliferation worldwide. Represent a major threat requiring international cooperation and a multidisciplinary approach at different levels: academic, administrative
and local communities. The current list of freshwater alien species reported in Romania includes 44 species: 28 fishes and 16 invertebrate species, most of them from
North America and Southeast Asia. Along the Black Sea coast of Romania, a total
of 58 species of foreign animals were reported, of which one was a fish species,
the rest being invertebrates. The largest group is crustaceans, easily transported with
ballast water or body load. Very few species have been deliberately introduced, e.g.
Crassostrea virginica, for aquaculture. Most of the foreign species reported in the
Black Sea come from the Atlantic Ocean or are cosmopolitan [2, 44].
Accidental Pollution
The distribution on hydrographic basins shows that most accidental pollutions
occurred in the Mures (67), Arges-Vedea (61), Olt (43), Siret (40) and Prut (36),
basins with accidental pollution cases ranging between 67 and 3, a few cases being
recorded in Banat (3) and Crisuri (6) (Fig. 3.26). By year, most cases have been
noticed in 2017 (70), 2012 (65), 2015 (63). The cause of oil pollution is largely due
to damage to oil and saltwater pipelines due to their spillage. In 2015, the decreased
oxygen concentration due to high summer temperatures led to 9.5% fish mortality,