This volume offers a comprehensive review of the chemical, biological and hydromorphological quality of the Danube. The first part examines the chemical pollution of surface waters, focusing on organic compounds (with special emphasis given to EU WFD priority substances and Danube River Basin specific pollutants), heavy metals and nutrients. Attention is also given to pollution of groundwater and drinking water resources by hazardous substances and to radioactivity in the Danube. The second part highlights the biology and hydromorphology of the Danube. It focuses on benthic macroinvertebrates, phytobenthos, macrophytes, fish, phytoplankton as well as microbiology, with chapters dedicated to gaps and uncertainties in the ecological status assessment and to invasive alien species. Further chapters dealing with the hydromorphology, sediment management and isotope hydrology complete the overall picture of the status of the Danube.

Inhalt

International management of a river basin - the Danube case.- Nutrient Management in the Danube River Basin.- Pollution by nutrients in the Danube River Basin.- The Danube Water Quality Model and its application in the Danube River Basin.- Pollution by heavy metals in the Danube River Basin.- Identification of the Danube river basin specific pollutants and their retrospective risk assessment.-EU WFD organic priority substances in water, suspended particulate matter, sediments and biota in the Danube.- Semi-volatile organic compounds in water, suspended particulate matter, sediments and biota in the Danube.- Alkylphenolic compounds in the Danube River.- PAH and petroleum hydrocarbon contamination in water, suspended particulate matter, sediments and biota in the Danube.- Pollution of groundwater in the Danube River Basin by hazardous substances.- Hazardous and emerging substances in drinking water resources in the Danube River Basin.- Radioactivity in the Danube.- Short Overview on the Benthic Macroinvertebrate Fauna of the Danube River.- Phytobenthos of the River Danube.- Macrophytes in the Danube River.- Current status of fish communities in the Danube.- Invasive alien species in the Danube.- Phytoplankton of the River Danube: Composition, seasonality and long-term dynamics.- Gaps and uncertainties in the ecological status assessment in the Danube River Basin District.- Microbiological Water Quality of the Danube River: Status Quo and Future Perspectives.- Hydromorphology of the Danube.- Danube River sediment transport and morphodynamics.- Hydrological and biogeochemical characterisation of the Danube River system using isotopes.