Environmentalist says beach season in Odesa may be disrupted by sea pollution

The 2026 beach season in Odesa may be under threat due to the effects of the Black Sea pollution with vegetable oil.

Environmentalist Vladyslav Balinsky told Novyny.LIVE journalists about this.

Vladyslav Balinsky said that the absence of visible pollution does not mean that the sea has already been cleared. According to him, vegetable oil polymerizes after entering the water, changes its density and can settle to the bottom.

"The fact that we do not see pollution on the surface does not mean that the sea is completely clean. The consequences of such emissions can remain in the ecosystem for months or even years," the ecologist emphasized.

The ecologist explained that polymerized oil poses a threat to benthic organisms and food chains. These processes are not visible to vacationers, but they can have a long-term effect.

"The polymerized oil settles to the bottom and blocks oxygen from reaching the bottom habitats. This can affect specific areas of the coast and marine biocenoses," the ecologist noted.

Balinsky also noted that the visual cleanliness of the coast can be misleading. Storms have partially washed away the polymer film from the beaches, and now the sea looks clean, but this does not guarantee safety for people and nature.

According to him, without systematic monitoring, it is impossible to speak confidently about a safe beach season. The consequences of pollution may appear later, during people's outdoor activities.

Earlier, experts noted that the direct toxicological risk for people is usually low, but it is worth avoiding contact with oily spots on the water and in the sand and being careful on slippery areas of the coast. Therefore, if there is no new pollution, the likelihood of a significant impact on the season is low, but final conclusions can only be made based on the results of observations in the coming months.

A fire broke out in thePivdennyi port in Odesa region on December 22 as a result of a Russian army strike on the region, setting about 30 containers of flour and vegetable oil on fire.

Кирило Бойко