Lab tests found no oil products in sea water at three places on Bulgaria's Black Sea coast, including the Buджака area near Sozopol. Samples were taken on 9 and 14 October, the Black Sea Basin Directorate said.
On Wednesday 14 October, the directorate took new samples at the same places to look for oil after drone attacks on ships. It was the third check in a row. The monitoring follows incidents involving vessels in the Black Sea.
Where it began: New water samples tested for oil off Sozopol, Kavarna and Byala
Both Sozopol samples had ammonium nitrogen above the limit. The directorate said this has no link to the incidents.
The lab tested oxygen levels in the water, biochemical oxygen demand (BOD5), nitrogen and phosphorus compounds, oil products, metals and polychlorinated biphenyls. When the samples were taken, there were no oil slicks on the water, and it looked clean and clear.
The 9 October sample from Cape St Athanasius near Byala showed raised zinc, but a repeat test on 14 October did not confirm this. The sample from Bolata Bay in Kavarna municipality does not exceed the limits for good condition of sea waters. All other readings at the three places are within the limits.
The directorate took new samples from the same three places on 23 October. Results are still awaited.