Presentation “Formula of a Ukrainian river: results of chemical research of the Siversky Donets and the Dnister basins, new risks and prospects” is to take place at 12:30 in the press center of the Ukrainian Crisis Media Center (Ukrainian House, Khreschatyk St., 2), on 12 March 2020.
According to the Ukraine-European Union Association Agreement, Ukraine is to comply with the provisions of so-called EU Water Framework Directive, which aims at achieving good ecological status of waters. One of the steps in the implementation of the Directive is to find out current chemical status of the water bodies, which is a basis for development of the river basin management plans.
Chemical research (screening) of the two rivers was performed upon request of the Government of Ukraine. The study in the Siverskyi Donets was carried out in the framework of the project by the OSCE Project Coordinator in Ukraine “Assistance to the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of Ukraine in improving environmental monitoring mechanisms”, and in the Dniester – within the GEF / UNDP / OSCE / UNECE project “Enabling Transboundary Co-operation and Integrated Water Resources Management in the Dniester River Basin”.
Water, sediments and fish were analyzed for presence of several thousand substances, with dozens of pollutants discovered in the rivers: pesticides, heavy metals, pharmaceuticals, surfactants, plasticizers, sweeteners, narcotic substances.
Representatives of relevant government bodies, international organizations and experts will discuss the results of the first large-scale analyzes of this type in two river basins, including the potential impact on ecosystems and human health. Measures to reduce pollution will also be discussed.
Speakers:
Mr Mykhaylo Khorev, Acting Head of the State Water Agency of Ukraine
Mr Mykhaylo Malkov, Deputy Coordinator of FAO Programmes in Ukraine
Ms Alla Koblyanska, Head of Department for State and International Relations in the State Institution “Institute of Public Health after O.M. Marzeev”
Mr Vitaliy Bashinsky, FAO Expert on Antimicrobial Resistance
Ms Tamara Kutonova, Regional Coordinator of the GEF Dniester Project, OSCE
Additional information: Andrii Dziubenko, National Communications Officer of the OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Ukraine, Mobile: +380 67 239 39 51 and +380 50 676 77 34 andrii.dziubenko@osce.org