site.btaElevated Values of Ammoniacal Nitrogen Are Measured in Waters Off Kamen Bryag

October 17 (BTA) - The waters around the stranded ship Vera Su are polluted, a monitoring has shown. The samples were taken from a coastal station 60 m south of the stranded ship and a station in immediate proximity to the ship's bow, the Environment Ministry said.

Elevated levels of ammoniacal nitrogen and nitrite nitrogen have been recorded at the two stations, with values of ammoniacal nitrogen being highest in the waters next to the ship's bow (0.252mg/l).

Previously the values of ammoniacal nitrogen ranged between 0.030-0.050 mg/l whereas Saturday's samples were three times over the limit at the coastal station and seven times over the limit at the ship.

The concentration of nitrite nitrogen 60 m south of the ship was 0.0083 mg/l at 07:40 hrs, and 0.0074 mg/l at 17:30 hrs and 0.0094 mg/l at the ship's bow.

The Maritime Adminstration Executive Agency and the regional coordination task force were notified promptly about the results of the monitoring.

Teams of the Environment Ministry continiue to monitor daily the waters in the Black Sea in the immediate proximity to the stranded ship and are ready to assist in the operation for unloading of the ship.

Ammoniacal nitrogen is a measure for the amount of ammonia, a toxic pollutant, and can also be used as a measure of the health of water in natural bodies.