This dataset contains core indicator data developed under the HELCOM Third Holistic Assessment of the Ecosystem Health of the Baltic Sea (HOLAS 3).

This core indicator evaluates the status of the marine environment based on the presence of hazardous substances in the bottom sediments. The rate of embryo malformations indicates reproductive toxicity due to the presence of hazardous substances in the bottom sediments. The threshold value has not been achieved on all stations within each basin indicating that toxic effects of contaminants may be present. The variability of the malformation rate is much greater within a basin than between the Bothnian Sea and the Baltic proper. This dataset displays the result of the indicator in HELCOM Assessment Scale 2 (Division of the Baltic Sea into 17 sub-basins). Attribute information: "HELCOM_ID" = Code of the HELCOM scale 4 assessment unit "level_2" = name of subbasin "Area (km2)" = Area of the HELCOM scale 2 assessment unit "L2" = ID for the HELCOM scale 2 assessment unit "AULEVEL" = Assessment unit level used for the indicator "STATUS" = Status of the indicator (“Achieve”, “Fail”, "Not assessed" or “Not applicable”)

This core indicator evaluates the status of the marine environment based on the presence of hazardous substances in the bottom sediments. The rate of embryo malformations indicates reproductive toxicity due to the presence of hazardous substances in the bottom sediments. The threshold value has not been achieved on all stations within each basin indicating that toxic effects of contaminants may be present. The variability of the malformation rate is much greater within a basin than between the Bothnian Sea and the Baltic proper. This dataset displays the result of the indicator in HELCOM Assessment Scale 2 (Division of the Baltic Sea into 17 sub-basins). Attribute information: "HELCOM_ID" = Code of the HELCOM scale 4 assessment unit "level_2" = name of subbasin "Area (km2)" = Area of the HELCOM scale 2 assessment unit "L2" = ID for the HELCOM scale 2 assessment unit "AULEVEL" = Assessment unit level used for the indicator "STATUS" = Status of the indicator (“Achieve”, “Fail”, "Not assessed" or “Not applicable”)

In 2010, HELCOM completed the initial assessment (HOLAS I) of the ecosystem health of the Baltic Sea – including the associated costs and benefits to the society. The assessment was based on data from 2003 to 2007. The summary report can be found at: https://helcom.fi/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/BSEP122.pdf and more information about HOLAS I at: https://helcom.fi/baltic-sea-trends/holistic-assessments/2010-initial-holistic-assessment/ All datasets for HOLAS I and associated metadata were here compiled. The datasets are: BaP in mussel BaP in sediment BDE47 Status Benzo[b]fluoranthene status BghiP in mussels BghiP in sediment Bisphenol A in biota Cadmium in fish liver Cadmium in fish muscle Cadmium in mussels CB118 in fish CB118 in mussels CB118 in sediment Chlorophyll a status 2007-2011 Chlorophyll a status confidence 2007-2011 Chlorophyll a status distance to target 2007-2011 Coastal areas chl-a Coastal areas nitrogen Coastal areas overall eutrophication status Coastal areas phosphorus Coastal areas secchi DDE in herring DDE in mussels DDE in sediment DEHP in biota DEHP in sediment Dioxin and PCB in herring Dioxin and PCB in perch Dioxin in herring Dioxin in mussels Dioxin in perch Eutrophication status 2007-2011 Eutrophication status confidence 2007-2011 HCH in sediment HCH in water Interpolated benthic invertebrate status classification Interpolated chemical status Interpolated Chlorophyll a status classification Interpolated DIN status classification Interpolated DIP status classification Interpolated ecosystem health status Interpolated ecosystem health status Interpolated eutrophication status classification Interpolated secchi depth status classification Mercury in fish muscle Mercury in mussels Nitrogen status 2007-2011 Nitrogen status confidence 2007-2011 Nitrogen status distance to target 2007-2011 Nonylphenols Octylphenols Open sea areas benthic invertebrates Open sea areas chl-a Open sea areas nitrogen Open sea areas overall eutrophication status Open sea areas phosphorus Open sea areas secchi Overall biodiversity status coastal area Overall biodiversity status open sea Overall chemical status coastal areas Overall chemical status open sea Overall ecosystem health status coastal area Overall ecosystem health status open sea Oxygen status 2007-2011 Oxygen status confidence 2007-2011 Oxygen status distance to target 2007-2011 PFOS in herring liver PFOS in seal liver Phosphorus status 2007-2011 Phosphorus status confidence 2007-2011 Phosphorus status distance to target 2007-2011 SCCP in fish TBT in fish TBT in mussels TBT in sediment Water clarity status 2007-2011 Water clarity status confidence 2007-2011 Water clarity status distance to target 2007-2011 More information about the HELCOM holistic assessments can be found here: https://helcom.fi/baltic-sea-trends/holistic-assessments/

This dataset contains all indicator and assessment results and data for the State of the Baltic Sea (HOLAS II) 2017 version. Final 2018 versions are included separately in HELCOM Map and Data service and metadata catalogue. All datasets for HOLAS II and associated metadata were here compiled. The datasets are: Abundance of coastal fish key functional group cyprinids Abundance of coastal fish key functional group piscivores Abundance of coastal fish species Abundance of salmon spawners and smolt Abundance of waterbirds in the breeding season Abundance of waterbirds in the wintering season Chlorophyll a status Cyanobacterial bloom Dissolved inorganic nitrogen Dissolved inorganic phosphorous Distribution of grey seals Distribution of harbour seals Distribution of ringed seals Eutrophication assessment insitu data Heavy metals – Cadmium (Cd) levels Heavy metals – Lead (Pb) levels Heavy metals – Mercury (Hg) levels Hexabromocyclododecane (HBCDD) levels Integrated biodiversity status assessment for benthic habitats Integrated biodiversity status assessment for fish Integrated biodiversity status assessment for grey seals Integrated biodiversity status assessment for harbour porpoises Integrated biodiversity status assessment for pelagichabitats Integrated biodiversity status assessment for ringed seals Integrated biodiversity status assessment for seals Integrated contamination status assessment Integrated eutrophication status assessment Oxygen det PCB dioxin and furan Perfluorooctane sulphonate (PFOS) Polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) and their metabolites Polybrominated diphenyl ethers Cesium-137 in fish Cesium-137 in flatfish Cesium-137 in herring Cesium-137 in seawater Malformed embryos of amphipods State of the soft bottom macrofauna community TBT and imposex Total nitrogen Total phosphorous Trend in arrival of new non-indigenous species Water clarity Zooplankton mean size and total stock MSTS