Identification of potential contamination 'problem areas' and 'non-problem areas' based application of the CHASE+ methodology. The CHASE+ tool, combinesthe classifications of the matrices 'water', 'sediment'and 'biota' with indicators of 'biological effects' in anintegrated classification of chemical status. Chemicalstatus is evaluated in five classes, where NPAhigh andNPAgood are recognised as 'non-problem areas' andPAmoderate, PApoor and PAbad are recognised as 'problemareas'.

This dataset underpins the findings and cartographic representations published in the report Contaminants in Europe’s seas.This dataset presents the resulting assessment grid (based on the EEA reference grid) with the classification of chemical status of the transitional, coastal and marine waters in the context of the Water Framework Directive (WFD) and the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD).

The overall area of interest used is based on the marine regions and subregions under the Marine Strategy Framework Directive. Additionally, Norwegian (Barent Sea and Norwegian Sea) and Icelandic waters (’Iceland Sea’) have been added (see Surrounding seas of Europe). Note that within the North East Atlantic region only the subregions within EEZ boundaries (~200 nm) have been included.

A total of 1 541 assessment units have been assessed.All regional seas are covered by this thematicassessment of contaminants in Europe's seas,

See the EEA report “Contaminants in Europe’s seas” (No 25/2018) for further information as well as examples of classification excluding specific groups of substances(e.g. metals, PBDEs).

Identification of potential contamination 'problem areas' and 'non-problem areas' based application of the CHASE+ methodology. The CHASE+ tool, combinesthe classifications of the matrices 'water', 'sediment'and 'biota' with indicators of 'biological effects' in anintegrated classification of chemical status. Chemicalstatus is evaluated in five classes, where NPAhigh andNPAgood are recognised as 'non-problem areas' andPAmoderate, PApoor and PAbad are recognised as 'problemareas'.

This dataset underpins the findings and cartographic representations published in the report Contaminants in Europe’s seas.This dataset presents the resulting assessment grid (based on the EEA reference grid) with the classification of chemical status of the transitional, coastal and marine waters in the context of the Water Framework Directive (WFD) and the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD).

The overall area of interest used is based on the marine regions and subregions under the Marine Strategy Framework Directive. Additionally, Norwegian (Barent Sea and Norwegian Sea) and Icelandic waters (’Iceland Sea’) have been added (see Surrounding seas of Europe). Note that within the North East Atlantic region only the subregions within EEZ boundaries (~200 nm) have been included.

A total of 1 541 assessment units have been assessed.All regional seas are covered by this thematicassessment of contaminants in Europe's seas,

See the EEA report “Contaminants in Europe’s seas” (No 25/2018) for further information as well as examples of classification excluding specific groups of substances(e.g. metals, PBDEs).